Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Am-Com Automatic Screwdriver Antenna Controller

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Am-Com Automatic Screwdriver Antenna Controller
Reviews: 21MSRP: 210.00
Description:
An Automatic Controller for Screwdriver Antennas
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.amcominc.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00213.7
N7PTM Rating: 2003-03-30
Essential for mobile HF! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The unit is essential for mobile HFing with a screwdriver-type antenna. I wouldn't be surprised to read somewhere that sales of screwdriver antennas has increased following the launch of this product.

I do agree with one poster though; the unit's 4-pin power connector needs to be changed. Too much vibration and it will fall out.
N7NHS Rating: 2003-01-14
GREAT PRODUCT Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use this with my Icom 706MKIIG and the ATAS 100 antenna. I received the unit in the mail from AM-COM and did the usual 2 minute installation. Directions.... who reads the stinking directions. It would work but seemed to have problems. After talking to Carlos the problem was my entire fault. I did not check my grounding. After going around my truck and adding a couple of simple grounding straps and a couple minutes of time WOW what a difference. This thing really works......and fast to. Tell you I really enjoy driving down the road and jumping from band to band and pushing the button and you are ready to play. Thanks Am-Com
N6RDE Rating: 2002-12-25
Did not work with TS2000 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I read the ad, that the ASAC 100 will work with the ATAS 100 and any radio. Well I have the Kenwood TS 2000, a new unit received a few days before ordering the asac via next day air. When I got the antenna, I immediately put it on my mobile mount and it tuned by itself, then it burned my antenna out despite comments that it could not send enough voltage to my antenna. Well after many test and sending the unit back I was advised that the board had a small fracture and turns out that the boards used had defects int them.

They sent a new unit and I purchased a new ATAS 100 thinking all would work. I could tune the antenna "manually" I verfied the up/down voltage at the ASAC, however I could not use the auto function. The TS2000 has a built in antenna tuner, however the Kenwood cable sent with the ASAC plugs in to the external tuner jack on the TS2000. It just did not work. I was sent a replacement "blue" cable, and still the same problem. I have a TS 2000 as my base and I tried that in place of the TS B2000, same issue.

I am so frusrated with the product. I know they have told me that the ASAC has been used with the TS 50 and other kenwoods, but they never tested or knew anyone who used it with the TS2000. Please Please make sure you check compatibility and verify with them that other have sucessfully used the asac with a given radio. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has used it the with TS 2000. I did call tech support for Kenwood and verified operation of the tuner.

Greg n6rde@arrl.net
KC7MM Rating: 2002-08-15
Great product and Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased one of these units when I ordered a Tarheel screwdriver antenna. During installation I discovered that the antenna SO-239 hadn't been tightened sufficeintly, and the solder joint connecting it to an internal PC board snapped when I tried to connect it to the coax. I called Linda at AmCom and told her I would passing through Lakeside, MT, the following week. She promptly suggested bringing the unit with me and exchanging it for a new one.
Once I got there, Carlos and Russ gave me outstanding support. First they gave me the newer model controller. Then once I installed it in my truck (using some of their tools!) Russ checked it out for me. We were able to find a SWR of 1.2 or less on each of the bands between 10 and 75 meters. That night I was able to make my first mobile QSO's from Montana. I even had a KH6 station call me.

This is a great product and is supported fully by the people at Am-Com. I fully endorse it.

Dale KC7MM
K7RTM Rating: 2002-08-07
Wonderful Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked up the ASAC-100 direct from Am-Com. Tech support was very frendly and helpful with my pre-order questions. Using this with an IC706MKIIG and a Yaesu ATAS-100 - works as advertised - one touch tuning. Love it.

Thanks Am-Com
K5SWA Rating: 2002-08-07
Great Device Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the AM COM auto controller this June at Dallas Ham Comm. I installed it recently and have used it now for several days with my IC 706MKIIG and my Yaesu ATAS-100 antenna. The controller has worked flawlessly. Just follow the directions after intallation. One push of the IC 706 tune button and the ATAS-100 is driven by the contoller to the SWR it memorized during the set up for the band. Works Great.....! K5SWA
KG5EB Rating: 2002-08-06
Great addition to a 706 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is not an antenna tuner but interfaces with a screwdriver type antenna, a High Sierra HS-1800DX in my case, to raise/lower the antenna for the best SWR. It fully integrates with an ICOM706 and by pressing the TUNE button the antenna SWR is matched to the transmit frequency (does not work with 2 meter and 440). It operates in automatic mode or manual mode and arrives with a manual control box as well as the controller main unit through which your coax connection to your antenna will pass (2 SO239s). The controller box also requires a 13.8v power feed, a Cat-5 connector for the manual control box and a Cat-5 connector for the interface cable to ICOM706. And lastly the power feed to the antenna. When using the ICOM706 the unit is automatically powered on when the 706 is power up. The only problem I had with installation, and a potential improvement that AmCom may consider, is the connector for the 13.8v input and power leads to the antenna. The connector does not give a comfortable feeling that the very important power leads are correctly attached and in my case one was not. This lead me to calling AmCom support who provided outstanding customer service! Once corrected the unit was up and running on the first attempt. Also, a dropping resistor is not needed for the HS-1800DX. Highly recommended for a mobile installation.
K0JRR Rating: 2002-03-15
COULD NOT GET IT TO TUNE Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I HAD THIS TUNER FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS BEFORE RETURNING IT TO THE PURCHASE SOURSE. IT WAS VERY HARD TO TUNE. WHEN ASKED THE COMPANY THEY SAID TO CHECK THE GROUNDING AND GROUND STRAP ALL DOORS AND OPENINGS INCLUDING CAR BODY AND FRAME. I FOLLOWED THEIR STEPS CAREFULLY AND THE ANTENNA JUST BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH A INCH AND REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. I GOT THE FEELING THAT THEY HATED TO HEAR FROM ME AFTER A FEW TIMES. LATER THEY TOOK A MESSAGE AND SAID THE CALL WOULOD BE RETURNED, BUT IT WAS NOT.I THINK THE IDEA OF THE PRODUCT IS GOOD BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A BUG OR TWO THAT THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED YET.
WE8Q Rating: 2001-12-08
Works Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Installed the AM-COM Screwdriver Antenna Controller today with my N7LYY model DK3 screwdriver and Icom IC-706MKIIG that I have been using for about 18 months in my Chevrolet 2000 Silverado extended cab pickup truck. The AM-COM works great and as advertised! What else do I need to say?
PA3DUV Rating: 2001-11-28
Great tool for mobile ham Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Spending approx. 50 000 miles per year on the road a mobile ham radio station is a good way of making good use of all that lost time. I decided to build a mobile HF station for phone and pactor use.
Careful investigation learned that a screwdriver antenna is the best option for HF multiband operation from 80 meters up to 10 meters. I decided to purchase the Stealth II-3 Screwdriver antenna, a decision I do not regret.(see my review in the HF Mobile Antenna Section, Stealth II subheader and http://www.qth.com/stealthantennas/)
The superion Stealth II makes long haul amateur radio operation a pleasure. Screwdriver antennas do have (should have) by their nature a narrow bandwith, especially on the lower frequencies. This makes precise tuning obligatory, which is not always convenient when driving on the German Autobahn. I decided to purchase the SAM Screwdriver Antenna Memory from KO6YD Designs (http://www.ko6yd.com/sam/index.htm). This unit counts the number of turns of the antenna motor and can be used to store the position of the contactor in respect to the screwdriver antenna center loading coil. Although this unit has never let me down the disadvantage was that contactor positions could not be recalled exactly due to the resolution of the controller (one pulse per 360 degrees rotation of the motor), the unavoidable backlash in the motor drive and due to variations in contactor positions caused by to road vibrations. On the lower bands it was necessary to adjust the antenna manually after initial tune-up. The AM-COM ASAC solves this problem. This controller controls the contactor position by measuring the SWR. This allows hands-free tune-up without the need of keeping an eye on the SWR meter. The ASAC is completely integrated with the ICOM 706, a push on the tune button on the 706 starts the tuning process.
The ICOM 706 allows the tuning process only for a limited time span, if tuning takes more than approx. 20 sec the 706 quits tuning. In that case an additional push on the tune button finishes the tuning process. Icom could improve on this to make the tuning time span user presettable in the set-up menu. All the feed back from the ASAC to the user is done by audio beeps, a succesfull tune results in 2 short beeps, a fault or interupted tune in 6 short beeps so reading the SWR meter is not necessary. The problem with the ASAC sometimes starting to tune in the wrong direction (see previous review)is already solved by AM-COM. A new firmware version is available for previously delivered ASAC's. The installation of the ASAC is a breeze, it comes with controller and trx connection cables in proper lengthts complete with connectors. The combination of the superior StealthII Screwdriver Antenna and the AM-COM Automatic Screwdriver Antenna Controller is in my opinion a winning team and makes HF multiband mobile operation a joy. Daily long path qso's with ZL2BSJ (14 000 miles, 100 watt, 30, 20 and 17 meter band) prove this. The smart auto tune-options of the ICOM 706 like auto tune on PTT(see the 706 set-up menu and manual) make the IC 706 interface perfectly with above metioned antenna and controller. I can recommend the AM-COM ASAC to any radio amateur who wants a professional equipped HF mobile radio station.
Dick Knol, PA3DUV