|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the ICOM AT-180.
|
KG7UY
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Feb 8, 2007 16:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
ICOMS MOST USELESS PRODUCT
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Icom makes some great products, but the AT-180 is not one of them. The cheapest LDG tuner blows it away. I will admit that it looked good next to the 706 MII G but would not reduce a 3:1 down to 2:1. I sent it back to Icom , they sent it back with a note that it was ok. That is it. I gave it away to sweeten the deal on a used 706 that I sold. I am using the LDG tuners now and have had zero problems so far(maybe lucky?) I still have the 706 and it has been a great radio the last 4 years. Buy a 706, forget the tuner.
|
|
NC2F
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 23, 2007 09:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Top Notch tuner
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have used this tuner since buying it new with several different radios. iCom 718, IC-706MKIIG and my latest acquisition, the IC-7000.
My antenna is a Carolina Windom 137' for 80 through 10. This tuner tunes all the bands and frequencies I use to a sold 1:1 ratio match.
For those using G5RV antennas, I see you have found the AT-180 works well with that to, and just think about that, the G5RV without a trans-match is not resonant on ANY of the ham bands. So this tuner must be really good. Though I would still not use a G5RV under any circumstance because of it's lack of resonance on the ham bands.
I would recommend anyone spend the few extra dollars on this well-built AT-180 tuner over say MFJ or the LDG stuff. In this case, you're not just paying for the brand name alone.
I'll have my AT-180 for as long as I am operating radios...
|
|
K3DAV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 3, 2006 12:36
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Best little tuner.
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
This is a follow up to my last review. I have had the last 4 months now to play with this wonderful piece of technology. The AT-180 is a superb top quality tuner that goes beyond the call of duty. On any HF frequency, it tunes itself without you even knowing it, and quietly. On 6 meters, a single touch of the tune button and you are tuned in a few seconds. I have never heard such a quiet tuner in my life. You have to have absolute silence in the room to hear the little motors tune. No loud relays clicking through your head. I have never seen it tune and leave an SWR above 1.2:1. on any frequency.
I tried the LDG 100Pro, and it couldn't tune much below a 2.1:1 on most frequencies. Most of the time, it wouldn't even tune, and kept going into bypass mode. What a joke. What a waste of time and money.
So if you have an Icom 706MK2G and need the PERFECT tuner,search no more. The Icom AT-180 is the final answer. This tuner was made for the 706, and becomes an important part of the radio. Just hook it up, and forget it's there. It may cost more than other models, but it's worth every penny. This is one case where you DO get what you pay for.
|
|
W2NSF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 7, 2006 12:15
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Follow up - still a great tuner for the 706
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
Mine's been in constant use since my May '04 review and my opinion hasn't changed. This weekend, I even found out it'd handle my 7-band Off-Center-Feed Dipole on 15m, even though the antenna's not supposed to work on this band. I made most of my DX Phone contest contacts on 15m using my trusty 706MkIIG (my ONLY rig), this tuner, and this antenna. This tuner has an amazing memory capacity, as you tune up and down the bands, you see the 706's tune light blinking as the AT-180 keeps up with the tasks. Highly recommended for all 706 owners.
|
|
K3DAV
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 7, 2006 11:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Top Quality Tuner
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
This is a very top quality tuner. And it's intelligent. The AT-180 tunes very quickly and quietly. It tunes my Comet GP-15 on 6 meters, and a random wire on HF with less than a 1.2:1 SWR every time.
It has a CPU that when connected to the Icom 706MKIIG, will tune and remember each setting. The AT-180 follows the frequency display in the 706, and automatically sets it self every time you tune past a frequency that has already been tuned before. And without transmitting. It follows the VFO and knows what frequencies you have already tuned. And for the other frequencies, all it takes is one touch of the (TUNE) button on the radio, and 3 seconds later, you are tuned and ready to talk.
I highly recoment the AT-180 tuner for everyone with an Icom 706MKIIG. You will not be disappointed you spent the extra cash for this quality tuner.
|
|
G7CNF
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 18, 2006 04:29
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Does what it's meant to.
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Bought a faulty radio on eBay which came bundled with an AT-180. Fixed the radio, tried the tuner and bingo!
I have used an awful lot of different tuners over the years, manual, auto, built-in, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu. This one does what it's meant to; i.e. it works within specification. Don't expect it to tune a random long wire with no balun.
I really like its quietness, especically compared to the MFJ-993 series with their chattering relays.
The AT-180 is reasonably quick, very quiet and has tuned all moderate mis-matches I have thrown at it from top band to 6m. No complaints from me. A worthy 5 out of 5.
|
|
K7ZP
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 3, 2005 14:45
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
WORKS WELL FOR MY APPLICATION
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
My AT-180 has operated as described.
My question to all here is why do folks rate down a piece of hardware that is performing to spec..... the AT-180 is spec'd to operate 16.6 - 150 ohms HF or 3:1 and 20 - 125 ohms or 2.5:1 at 50 Mhz.
The specs are on the Icom web site.
The good side of our reviews is that they help to make new prospective buyers understand what they are about to purchase.
Frank
|
|
ZS5J
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Feb 3, 2005 10:18
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
mediocre but usefull
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I purchased a new Icom 706mk2G and matching AT-180, from Denver a few weeks ago while on vacation to the USA. When I opened the box, I, too, was dissapointed that there was no manual (or warranty card) in the box. I called HRO, and they said none of them came with manuals. Sure, there is not much to learn about an ATU, it's pretty straight forward, but a schematic and information on the additional ports would be useful. There is a brief description about the AT-180 in the 706mk2G manual - but I was looking for more. What if I wanted to connect a non Icom rig to the tuner, I would have liked to have known what the control voltages are set at for changing bands.
Apart from the manual gripe, the tuner works fine, tunes most antenna's that are not too far off, and it's pretty quick.
Of course it's also great to have an ATU that matches the 706 so well. An MFJ tuner next to the 706 would look ugly. MFJ ATU's work well, especially the ones with rotary inductors, but the exterior finish is extremely poor. I have one, and the paint work started peeling off, and the knobs started working loose after a year.
73 John ZS5J
|
|
WIRELESS
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 3, 2005 06:27
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Its a line flatener
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Icom rates this tuner for use with loads of about 25 to 150 ohms. IT WAS NEVER MADE TO BE USED WITH ANTENNAS 5 TO 5000 OHMS FEED Z. This tuner works well with resonant antennas that are not resonant across the whole band. Why Icom didn't make it like the AH4 in a AT-180 box is the real question. But if buyers who blasted the usefulness of this tuner actually read the specs and understood the feed Z of the antennas they used, they wouldn't make stupid statements in this review section which makes the reviews useless.
For the Z spec'd by Icom, this tuner is fast and works great.
|
|
K7KRT
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Feb 3, 2005 01:29
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Unbelievably NEGATIVE
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I thought HRO forgot to pack the manual. Who Knew!
There isn't one. I picked 20m for my first tune attempt. Whir Buzz Hiss.. Terrible SWR. Long story short it doesn't tune my dipole on 10, 20 or 80. It works great (SWR 1:1) on 40, 30, 17, 15, 12. I'm replacing my MFJ 949E which tuned all bands and if It could why not the AT-180. I think I'm going to dump it. Blast !!!!! I was really looking forward to the smooth integration with my 706.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
