Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Kenwood AT-130

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Kenwood AT-130
Reviews: 25MSRP: 144.95 / 1983
Description:
100W Antenna Tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15255
NY4D Rating: 2010-08-01
Built Like A Tank & Just Works Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Happy to have one of these. This is a solid built tuner, bandswitched so no guessing which position to use.

The circuit is a little different than the T type tuners, has C both in series and parallel to the coil on the output side. I find the matching range way wider than the specs say. It matches my G5RV on all bands 80-10 though 15 is a tad flaky.

This is coax output only, but I imagine would be a good candidate for use with a balanced fed antenna with the 4:1 balun outdoors and then coax inside to the tuner.

My opinion - if you can find one of these it is a superior choice the ones from Mississippi. Mine needed a bit of deoxit on the bandswitch and meter controls.

Only negative is the dc cable to light the thing up is impossible to find. Easy to put a different one in though if you need it lit.
KD4VLF Rating: 2010-01-18
You won't get mine ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned mine for several years now and it is a great tuner. its built very well and works great. I've used it in the shack as well as portable, QRP and QRO. I usally use compromise antennas due to a small lot and minimalist portable setups, and it has handled everything I've thrown at it. If you're lucky enough to find one "BUY IT".
2I0BHK Rating: 2010-01-05
excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
this is my second kenwood at-130, having made the mistake and selling on the first this one stays now until they give me the SK label..
still tunes the wiskers on my beard...hi hi.
it also came with the orignal dc lead for the meter lamp.
paid £75.00 sterling for it, which some may think alittle too much but what the hell, we only live once..


WB5JEO Rating: 2009-12-02
Nice For Mobile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked one up to use with my TS-50 mobile. I need a very short antenna and use the less than 3-foot Shark Mini's during the week to clear the parking garage. The Mini's are a little tough to tune nicely, and the AT-130 gives me a very nice match. I don't have to tweak as I move up and down the band, at least not on 20. It's small enough that it tucks between the arm rests where I can get to it when I need to. Nice heft. SO much more a solid piece of gear than things like MFJ. Smooth controls that stay where you put them. SWR meter is easy to use.
G7MIW Rating: 2009-04-21
Amazing Performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this little tuner for a while now and I have to say it is a real gem. It has managed to tune just about everything I've ever attached to it including random wire lengths from 20 to 260 feet (6 to 80 M).

I also used it on my radios that have built in automatic tuners where they couldn't cope, it out performed them.

It was a perfect companion to my G5RV that I used on various expeditions.

These rarely come up for sale, probably because those who have them don't want to part with them.

26TM119 Rating: 2008-10-04
bombproof Time Owned: more than 12 months.
fantastic build quality,buy one if you get the chance
KI4CRA Rating: 2008-08-24
Well Engineered Tuner!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
At the present time I have 4 antenna tuners in and around my shack. I am currently using the Kenwood AT-130 on my Kenwood TS-680 what a great match! I was at first suprised at what a small tuner this was, but then after picking it up at our local hamfest was again suprised at how heavy it was for such a small tuner. I had read in the owners manual for my 680 that the AT-130 and the AT-250 were tuners that complimented the rig, WOW does it. Mine also came with the 12v pwr cord for the back light and the manual.

What really did it for me was when I was tuning my 102' G5RV and it was like a hot knife through butter. True it doesn't have 160 meters nor a power meter, but who needs em, I don't do 160 (don't have the room) and I pretty much know what my rigs output is.

I paid $100 for this tuner, when examining the manual, the original I might ad the limited warranty certificate AND the original receipt. The guy I bought it from paid $129.95 in 1989, so yea I paid almost what it sold for new, I would do it again in a heart beat. I liken the ease of tuning to my Daiwa CNW-419, both are smooth, no muss no fuss, simple but at the same time a well engineered piece of equipment.
Now here's the quandry, I like my CNW-419, as it has the cross needle meter, and is easy to tune, on the other hand the AT-130, doesn't have the cross needle meter nor does it tune 160 meters, see above concerning 160. The AT-130 is sweet and easy to use. This unit I have is pristine, looks like it came off the shelf. So do I use the AT-130 or the Daiwa CNW-419, both are great tuners. I'll have to give it some more thought and testing, we shall see. See you on the air!


73 de Mark
AI4HO


N6QPU Rating: 2008-05-01
Great little tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my AT-130 for over 3 years now and I love it. It is very simple to use and works great on my IC-730, IC-751A and FT-857D. I use it with my G5RV and it tunes it to 1 to 1 with no trouble. A great tunner and I may get another one.
ON4ATW Rating: 2007-03-11
Best on the market ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
First of all i like to mention i don't like antenna tuners. We need to build our antennas in such a way we don't have to put a tuner in line and waste power or performance. On the other hand sometimes it is just impossible to build an antenna that would work on all the bands we need it to work and than with the help of a tuner we can keep the output of our solid state transmitters happy. Therefore i looked around for this AT-130 because it is simply the best tuner ever build. It weights about 1.6 Kgr and the knobs are rock solid. The inside is evenly
ruggedly build with state of the art components and it can match virtually any impedance to match our transceivers 50 ohm output. Wire/vertical/center fed/off center fed you name it. I like the feed trough position when you don't need to match your antenna. I only use this tuner when i'm abroad with my FT897D and my home brew multi band wires / verticals. It's a snap to match any of these antennas to keep my FT897D happy. If you are in the market for a tuner don't waste money on anythings else, just try to find one of these AT-130's. Hurry 'cause they are getting scares...
K7LZR Rating: 2006-07-22
Solid Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just acquired a Kenwood AT-130 for use with an Alinco DX-70T.

These units are a very good match for each other and work very well together. The build quality of the AT-130 is incredible. It has a heavy and solid feel. Much, Much better quality than alot of today's small manual tuners(MFJ,etc.). The bandswitch has a good, positive snap, even after xx years and several owners.

I've owned several small tuners over the last 30 years, and homebrewed several more. The AT-130 is probably the best so far.