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Reviews For: Yaesu ATAS-120

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Yaesu ATAS-120
Reviews: 97MSRP: 325
Description:
Motorized Mobile Screwdriver Antenna 40m-70cm. Updated version of ATAS-100. Band change control with Yaesu radios FT-100, FT-897, & FT-847.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00973.6
N7KHH Rating: 2019-02-15
Seems OK so far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received this unit used. I give it a 4 because I have not had it long enough to give it a 5.
Installed back of 2019 Silverado in vertical Pillar hole just behind the cab. grounded with grounding strap at same time. tested with antenna analyzer then put FT-891 on back seat of vehicle with bioenno battery for first test from NE Oregon yielded 57 from Florida running 50 watts. This will not be a full time install so we will see how it goes. Main idea was to use truck as a mobile mount for easy setup when camping. tuning is easy. I use up/dwn controls and tune for loudest background noise then fine tune for 1.5:1 or less on 20-40 meters. I
G0WFV Rating: 2018-09-29
Another one dead due to water ingress Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The bottom section is completely stuck to the shaft with corrosion and I suspect the internals have also had a good soaking, but the motor still powers the mechanism when power is applied to to it alone (had to detach the motor wires from the board with force, unfortunately!) It should convert to a manually tuning screwdriver quite well with a bit of luck though ....
VE6ND Rating: 2016-04-18
Works well for what it is. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two of these now and have had everyone from the original to the 120A of which I have that and the 120.
I don't know how people are getting water into them unless they use a power washer. Even on my 100 I never had water or ingress of any kind from the boot to the base, and this is Alberta!
The last one I picked up had a stuck motor and a broken solder joint. Fixed that and it works well. For what it is is does okay from V/U to about 15 meters perhaps 20 but it works about the same as a Hustler system with the short mast as I compared the two of them side be side.
KH6ITY Rating: 2014-09-06
Worked Very Well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I must admit I was a little concerned about many of the reviews being so negative but took the leap and bought one. I was sure that many of the reported problems were from poor grounding. So I did a super job on RF grounding as I installed it. It worked first time perfectly. Not a single problem. If you would like to discuss it my cell number is 956-371-5018. Feel free to call. Regards, Larry kh6ity
KQ1S Rating: 2013-11-07
It Does Work! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reading the significant number of negative reviews of the ATAS-120, I took a chance and bought one anyway. Like so many others, my first experience was that it wouldn't tune properly and was buggy with my 857. I fiddled with it doing it my way until I was totally frustrated. Then I decided to follow the manufacturer's instructions. I grounded the mount to the trucks body, then ran a ground from that point into the cab, along with the antenna coax, and connected it to my 857. Voila! Darned if it didn't start working flawlessly. It is a great little antenna after all. Save the trouble and ground everything.
W4KVW Rating: 2012-10-03
PURE JUNK! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Motor runs the antenna up & down several to find a tune most of the time.Worked OK on 6 & 17 meters but only when it stopped running up & down.Hold rain water VERY well.The Hustler & Ham Sticks worked better on all bands than this antenna.Friend had one as well & the top fell off of it & when we looked at it,it was full of water & rust.Do NOT buy this antenna.Buy a Little Tarheel or Tarheel II or other brand the first time & save yourself the headache & money.This is PURE GARBAGE!
KB1RXA Rating: 2012-10-02
Fine Antenna Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is the first commercially made HF antenna I've purchased, having made a variety of vertical loops and other wire antennas. I was very surprised to receive good reports on 40M from California (I'm in Florida). Have had 6 months; no mechanical issues; have worked stations in the middle east, eastern europe and south america on phone.
WD8TA Rating: 2012-09-08
Tuning Issue Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This antenna is great I do however have one strange thing going on. No matter what I do it will not tune 20m - all other bands will tune perfectly fine but 20m will not. It's mounted on the trunk lip and I've run big copper braid from the trunk to the car body and measure 0 ohms DC on the chassis to the antenna braid and mount. But it will not tune 20m at all. Otherwise it's great to run 40m mobile. I'll have to see if it's still a grounding issue.
VA6GC Rating: 2012-03-11
Bad Choice Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have 2 of these antennas, yes I didn't learn the first time.
The first one the chip failed and would not move. $100 for a new chip and of course a cold solder joint.
Second one did not work out of the box. This one would only extend. Another $100 repair.
When these antennas work, they work very well. But these are a maintenance nightmare
DO NOT BUY THIS ANTENNA!
MM0DXH Rating: 2011-09-23
Works well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this antenna on two vehicles. The first was an Alfa GT. It worked well but picked up a lot of noise when the car was running, even with lots of rf chokes and grounding. I now have it on the tailgate of a Nissan x-trail and hardly any noise when the car is running. brilliant. Work VK 9M YB 59 both way often. Great piece of kit. Use it with FT857.