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| Reviews Summary for Heathkit SA-2060A |
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Reviews: 39
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $(1991 Kit) 279.95
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Description: HeathKit SA-2060A Antenna tuner
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Product is not in production.
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write your own review of the Heathkit SA-2060A.
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KE5AKG
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 22, 2011 17:51
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best tuner I ever bought
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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This is close to being the ultimate tuner. I use it for 40-160m, and it will load up everything on these bands for me. I can load up my 43ft vertical on 160m and tune it to a SWR of 1.2 or better anywhere throughout the band. Using 900-1000w PEP with an AL-80B, it has never arced even once( my Palstar AT2K did). There is no need to switch in extra inductance as on the Palstar. I love both those tuners, but in my opinion the 2060A is the clear winner. Best 300$ I ever spent on a tuner. Heathkit should bring it back...maybe with lighted, peak-reading meters and a larger coax switch...this would be the last tuner anyone ever needed to buy!
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KA4KOE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 22, 2011 09:20
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Nice tuner
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought mine from the estate of a friend who recently passed. The only issue I had was the hex screws would not stay tight on the various cap/inductor shafts. I replaced the hardware with standard computer case screws and torqued them down with a Philips---careful though, or the brass couplings may strip out.
I have the non - "A" version.
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W0EAJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 26, 2011 22:09
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Outstanding
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Understand that there IS a difference between the 2060 & 2060A - you must leave 1 output open with the 2060-no biggie. Important also, is no matter how tight you think it is, go inside and tighten up ALL the hardware, and that includes the hand-built capacitors. (also verify the output posts in the power/SWR "box" are tight - they usually aren't) Set the torques right and pay attention to the little adjustments that make a difference. This thing is based on the original "Ultimate Matchbox", and the description is spot on - sucker will load up a coathanger. One of only TWO impedance-matchers (they are NOT antenna tuners, if you get right down to it) that Heath ever made.
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K3ROJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 19, 2010 18:37
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What a Tuner
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Over the past 10 years I have tried 4 different auto tuners even the high power MFJ994b but always had little quirks with them, either not tuning right or just too noisy and knew there was no problem with RF in the shack. Then I received an offer from the XYL of a friend that passed away. She had sold his main rig, power supply, antenna, key etc. and only the tuner remained. I had no idea as to it's worth and gave her $150 for it since when taking the cover off, could not believe the solid look and nice large roller inductor. Since I do not jump from one band to another, this tuner is now used everyday and tunes my horizontal skyloop antenna perfectly from 160 to 6 meters. I made up a chart to keep nearby and can quickly tune it on another band if I want. In a matter of 6 months, have worked many countries and all states. It feels so solid and built like a brick outbuilding. By the way, my rig is a Flex Radio 5000A and an Ameritron 611.
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W8KZW
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 14, 2009 19:30
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Will keep forever!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is a tuner you will not regret owning. I use it with my SB-200 routinely, and it's a real pleasure to use ... tunes flat smoothly and with ease.
It replaced my Dentron MT-3000A about two years ago and has never let me down. I've used tuners from MFJ, Nye Viking, and Palstar, but found none I'd rather have more than the 2060A.
And remember, it's important to judge equipment by its design, the quality of components and the quality of manufacture. This tuner is exceptionally well designed, and uses surprisingly high quality components. As it is a kit, the quality of construction may vary. Mine is built very, very well.
Don't let someone's review complaining of a dirty roller inductor or loose parts (it's not Heathkit's fault if, for example, the unit was left uncovered by a prior owner or screws were not properly torqued when the kit was assembled) keep you from enjoying this tuner if you have a chance to. Take the time to distinguish between the quality of a device versus the condition you happen to find it in.
Also, regarding 'screw count' for shielding, it's a myth. Tuners don't even require RF shielding to prevent TVI. Read Doug DeMaw's column in CQ, August 1995.
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KM3F
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 14, 2009 16:25
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Aessement of used SA2060.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Picked one up at a hamfest after looking at the assembly manuel. It's much the same as an ATR 20.
I has several issues that were all able to be corrected.
The Roller inductor needed to be cleaned.
The Cin and Cout caps needed to have there friction increased by adjusting the rear sets.
The roller to turns indicator coupling needed the set screws replaced with hardened 3/32 set screws.
The roller drive shaft was loose.
After all these items are checked and corrected, the tuner works well with my AL80B amplifier.
The cover only has 8 screws and is not as RF tight as it should be besides the clearence issues already discribed by others.
Don't over pay for this tuner on the basis of it being said it's so good. An ATR 20 or 30 would still be a better unit in quality and with it's peak reading meters.
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K2HAT
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2009 11:50
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Good working older tuner
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had this tuner for about 18 months,
Works Great! I can even tune an Imax 2000 verticle for 40 meters, and a "30" meter dipole
for 20 meters.
The only thing I have noticed, was when I first unpakced the Tuner, I heard something rattling inside.I opened the cover and found a small ball bearing, I had no clue where it came from, and put the cover back on.
Today I was moving my "Ham Shack" equipment around and heard a rattle inside again,
took the cover of, and another ball bearing.
The switch used to choose an antenna has a spot which the ball bearing fits into; with 2 tension springs to keep some tension on the knob/shaft assembly.
I had considered adding a couple LED lights behind the meters to make them easier to see, but, I dont want to modify the case.
73 K2HAT
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W6RTW
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 8, 2008 21:28
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This Tuner Is Amazing
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have been using this tuner for several years. When my TS-940 internal tuner couldn't do the job, the SA-2060A could. When I added a Drake L7 Amp, it never complained, even on 160. I switched to an ICOM Pro II and still no problem. Now I have assembled an SO2R station made up of a Pro III with the L7 and a ProII with an AL80B. Since I only had one tuner, I needed a second. Of course, another SA-2060A. Can't beat perfection. It's a steal at almost any price!
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WB0SND
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 23, 2007 21:32
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Nice Tuner
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Leave it to me, Mr. Everywhere I put my foot I step on a landmine to actually blow up my SA2060A. It worked fine until I tried my L4B with it. Then, there was a lightshow inside. I was using a dipole with 300 ohm feedline (DX Engineering). The problem was that there are some large straps connecting the capacitors. The straps were literally resting on the balun. The higher power caused the balun to arc to the straps leaving a lovely hole in the balun wire with a nice burn mark across the balun. I don't know if it was designed this way or the guy who built it put it together wrong. I can't imagine Heath designed it to be this way. So, I'm going to have to repair it and figure out how to keep it from happening again. Still a VERY nice tuner, though.
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KD6MXE
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 25, 2007 15:35
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Old Reliable
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I built my Heath SA-2060 when it first came out in the late 1970's early 80's and it has never failed. I have loaded long wires, short wires, dipoles, yagi's on every frequency imaginable from 1.8 to 30 MHZ in ham, CAP, SHARES service. I have done NVIS experiments and loaded some rather strange antenna designs. Good meters. The set screws do come loose but annual maintenance does wonders. I have three rigs and two auto tuners but for high power this can not be beat. KD6MXE
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