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Reviews For: LDG Z-11 Automatic Antenna Tuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG Z-11 Automatic Antenna Tuner
Reviews: 41MSRP: 179.00
Description:
QRP (30W Max) Automatic Antenna Tuner with latching relays for zero power draw once tuned.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ldgelectronics.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00414.9
K8RJA Rating: 2001-10-11
Works as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Nice addition to my QRP setup. I have tried it with inverted vees, straight dipoles, verticals and random wire (with 4:1 ballun). It tuned all effortlessly to my satisfaction. The only thing I did not like was the size of the power connector. All of my other equipment uses a 5.5/2.1 mm connector and the Z11 has a 5.5/2.5 mm connector. Rather than make an adapter I replaced it with a RS #274-1582 5.5/2.1 mm connector. Now it's perfect!
K6FQ Rating: 2001-10-11
Great Tuner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just bought my Z-11 to use with my FT-817. Was impressed at how quickly it matches the antenna to the rig. To get an idea how easy the unit is to operate, I put the Z-11 in auto, keyed the 817 and whistled into the mike, two seconds later it was tuned! At first I thought I made a mistake and should have used the "tune" button, which is how you do the manual method. This little unit played right out of the box and has tuned my 40 meter NVIS dipole (up 15 feet) on every band 160 thru 10 meters in less than 2 seconds.
AB8JC Rating: 2001-08-13
Tastes great, less filling! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a spectacular unit! Tunes the proverbial wet noodle, and FAST! It's not happy about trying 80M on a 102" CB whip, but hey, what can you expect? The $600 SGC units won't do that very well either, and my Z-11 was only $169!

Great tuner, and perfect match for my FT-817. Thanks, LDG!
W2MSK Rating: 2001-07-06
Quality, Quality, Quality Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
What a pleasure to work with a product so well designed and available at a reasonable price. The unit operates as you would expect, it tunes most antennas/wires immediately. It is a perfect match for rigs such as the new Yaesu FT-817. When you work with a quality product there is a certain satisfaction that you sense. You won't be disappointed with this tuner.
WA6YSY Rating: 2001-03-01
FANTASTIC PORTABLE TUNER Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought my Z-11 as a kit. It went together like a glove. Lot's of toroids to wind, but they are all inductors not transformers so was a snap. Manual is well done (with a few areas for improvement). Best part is how well the small tuner works. I've added a 4:1 balun and two mini binding posts on the rear for balanced lines and end fed antennas. All in all, the unit works very well. Sounds like it's going to jump out of it's housing when it's tuning, but the end result is worth it. I also like the ability to turn it off with the relays staying latched for low power operation. GREAT PRODUCT; GREAT SERVICE from LDG. I'd do it again. John, WA6YSY
WB8NUT Rating: 2001-01-27
Great Tuner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it to use with the new FT-817 Yaesu QRP radio. This thing works great. Fast and easy and small enough for packing on trips with the radio and power supply. The tuner itself can be easily powered with two 9 volt RECHARGABLE batteries (don't use standard, too much voltage)hooked in series. I liked it so much, I just bought their higher power capable AT-11MP to use with my Ten Tec Omni 6+. It also works great.
KC4CQS Rating: 2001-01-23
EXCELLENT TUNER Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works great with my Model 538 TEN-TEC JUPITER and
the 746 ICOM. The company response by e-mail is
also excellent. I highly suggest anyone looking
for an autotuner try this one. You won't be sorry.
Sure beats the tuner built into the ICOM. Tunes
all my antennas with no problem in under 5 seconds
and there in the attic!
KC4TXR Rating: 2001-01-08
Cool! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I never worry about SWR anymore. Very cool widget! Always keeps me under 1.5:1, usually better than 1.1:1 Try it, you'll love it.
DK3IP Rating: 2000-11-11
UFB Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The kit went together easily, nearly no misunderstandable things in the manual (I didn't expect it to be printed in colour). No troubleshooting needed.

It works exactly as advertised and tunes my 10 m indoor longwire on any frequency (except 160 m, hi).

The relays sound quite funny when tuning, I was very surprised the first time I aligned and tested the tuner, I thought I made some mistake... After having tuned, the Z-11 draws nearly no current.

I can recommend this kit to anyone in need of a fast and easy-to-use tuner, but you should at least have some experience in building kits.
OZ1GIY Rating: 2000-10-20
Great QRP tuner!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received my Z-11 yesterday and got it assembled in 3 hrs. flat. plus one hour troubleshooting :-(

My mistake - Watch out when assembling the front-panel PCB and read the instructions... I didn't....(RTFM)
It is very easy to do a 180 of the PCB and it will fit in the enclosure.

However, after rectifying the above, everything worked fine. Calibration is straight forward.

Operation of the tuner is fantastic, I can tune my 10 M (30 ft.) longwire for 160 - 28 Mhz without problems.
I am using a 1:4 balun for the longwire and am already considering to modify the tuner with a built-in 1:4 balun.
This would be handy for portable operation.

All in all – great value for your money.