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Reviews For: ICOM AH4 auto tuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : ICOM AH4 auto tuner
Reviews: 144MSRP: 319 street price 8/2000
Description:
small mobile/base wire tuner 160-6 meters. Remote control with ICOM HF rigs
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/hf/ah4.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
351444.8
K2WPM Rating: 2023-03-22
Wow Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had tried, unsuccessfully, to use other antennas during a contest recently; gale force winds knocked down several masts. Finally gave up, threw an 82-foot wire over a tree limb, and hooked it up to my new (second hand) AH-4 as an inverted vee. Wow, what great signal reports. Tuning every frequency 20, 40, 75 and 90, flat 1:1 SWR. I attached a 17-foot counterpoise to the "ground" lug. 15 minute set up, 5 minute take down. I have a new go-to antenna.
David, K2WPM
N4SJW Rating: 2023-01-23
Super mobile tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Update from prior review in the mobile, the AH-4 has been back at the house for a few years. Dipole cut for 80M, fed with 300 ohm ladder line in inverted V from a tree above the house into an ICOM IC-7610: 5 Band +1 WAS and DXCC running FT8 and PSK31/RTTY at 25-30 watts. I have the ladder line across the AH-4 terminals (see older reviews below) tunes 160 to 6M in 6 seconds or less. Note: I was fortunate to have direct access in the basement to just outside so the 15 ft limitation of the cables was not an issue. Also, I am using a ladder line lightning protection prior to the AH-4.
EA7AQV Rating: 2022-11-13
It works better that I expected Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used it to couple my IC7200 (25 to 100 w)to my homemade vertical (8,45 m telescoping aluminium tube 28 to 8 mm diammeter, guyed at 2 levels with 2 mm nylon rope to ensure that "any" wind could take it down.
The counterpoise are 18 radials 6 m long 1,5 insulated wire on the roof of my atico, and I am very happy with the results in all bands 80 to 10 m. Band change takes only a couple of seconds.
The next step: To double, at least the number of radials. You will know the results...
After using the AH-4 with the vertical that I commented in the previus review, I have used it in a lot of configurartions, even to match loops and balanced lines, using RF chokes in it's inputs and outputs, and ALWAYS has worked ok, with almost instantaneus response. I have another one in my sailing boat, with an IC706 MK2, feeding a 6 m homebrew vertical, and I have no doubts of its quality and confiability.
I think it's the ideal complement in our station, at home, or mobile.
TNX vy much Icom!
KC1OVP Rating: 2022-07-12
Great tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great tuner. hooked it to its companion antenna AH-2B and matched all band near perfectly except 160 meters was too high swr to use band, with no cutting of the stainless-steel whip antenna. Easy install in Jeep Wrangler, very happy with its performance.
N4GRF Rating: 2021-12-23
Best ICOM accessory I've ever owned... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased one in 1999. Worked flawlessly until recently, having suffered a Florida-special lightning strike.

Just ordered another from DX-Engineering to replace the damaged predecessor.

An AH-4 can match anything to anything. I've used it with random length horizontals, verticals, and loops.

Easily the most useful and dependable ICOM accessory I've ever owned. Used with IC-756 and 7600.
W5GNB Rating: 2021-06-01
Works OK ~~ BUT ~!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It appears this thing does NOT like an 8-foot whip on the mobile. I tried using it on my RV and it did OK above 20 meters but on the lower bands, the SWR would slowly climb (when using CW) indicating something is heating up and changing resonance. Probably a poor choice in the inductors during its design. On the RV, I now operate with a MFJ 30-ft collapsible mast and a 30-ft wire taped to the side of it. All works great with this arrangement. Just a little better choice of materials during manufacturing would have made a BIG difference in performance and quality of this tuner, but that did not happen ~~~~~
W4HRB Rating: 2021-03-20
AH-4 is a superb remote tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my AH-4 at the base of a 31ft. vertical for the past 7 years. Connected to an Icom 756 Pro ii it's worked flawlessly and the tuner's compatibility with the front panel control on the rig is great. It never fails to quickly find a match on 80 through 10m. It has also survived multiple hurricanes and tropical storms. Build quality is superb and it's excellent value for the reasonable price.
PY2ONU Rating: 2021-03-20
gorgeous Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the very good tunner, made with quality materials it is able to couple almost any piece of wire. It is often the only option we have in a restricted location for antennas or in a portable operation. Good job Icom!
K5RWD Rating: 2019-10-03
Too many RF Problems for Me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have tried this unit a few times as well as a couple of friends of mine and we have all struggled with RF issues. In my case I have a composite bed which makes things really difficult with grounding. Tried the ground braid to the chassis but that did not work. My buddy has a full size truck (non-composite) and he experienced the same problems with RF. They do work, but for mobile use it's too much of a hassle. Perhaps for home use it would be better.

NOTE: I have tried the LDG tuners and they work much better at least in my case.

Good luck,
VE4MM Rating: 2018-10-12
100% Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of these connected to Shakespeare marine antennas and it works flawless.

I keep the tuner inside as well.