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Reviews For: LDG AT-897 Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG AT-897 Autotuner
Reviews: 54MSRP: 239.00
Description:
Bolt on wide range autotuner for the Yaesu FT-897. No cooling fan! Latching relays means no current draw once tuned. Provides access to CAT port for computer control of the radio.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ldgelectronics.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00544
KN8A Rating: 2009-05-24
Cable it right, and you're golden. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It's all about the cables. Wire it wrong, or pay no attention to how tight the connections are and it'll not work well. Make sure the connections are tight, and that the grounds are secure, and it works just as advertised.

I find that it'll tune anyting I ask it to, but if the the cables are loose, or the connectors in the tuner are loose, then it's really finicky.

I have a 160M full wave loop, a 102+ foot G5RV, and a 33 ft vertical, and the LDG can make any of them acceptable to the 897d. Of course, the loop is best on 160 and 80, and the G5RV on 40 and above, but the LDG always makes the chosen antenna come alive.

I also have an MFJ 949c, and it will work if you twiddle enough, but the LDG is sheer luxury.

Finally, I also use a buddistick, and the LDG is just right to finish the tuning.

I can't conceive of a better buy for the money than the LDG-897.

73.
KB3RSB Rating: 2009-05-23
ldg at 897 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
bad commutaion nasty to deal with ! tunner kept detunning called ldg they said rf problem, sent back for repair , worked one week maby . took tuner out of line put in box ! another friend has same problem with his. they cant get it right !!! save your money !
N4SJW Rating: 2009-01-03
Reasonably good Time Owned: N.A.
I haven't had any of the problems noted below. It tunes my Carolina Windom 80 from 160 to 6M. I like the ability to use the CAT control with HRD. Minor issues: the cables are a bit long, and the holes for the Yaesu feet are a smidge too small requiring drilling them out . . . LDG gets the MFJ award on that one :-'
KC5MFJ Rating: 2008-11-25
No Factory Help Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the LDG AT-897 Autotuner and could not get it to work. I emailed LDG and asked for help and it was non-existent. Please don't waste you money on the item. If you had a perfect antenna with a flat SWR it may work. The tuner is a joke. If you are the kind of person that has to find out for yourself good luck.
KD0BZT Rating: 2008-11-24
GREAT MATCH TO YAESAU 897 AFTER INITIAL DEFECTIVE ONE REPLACED Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
MY INITIAL TUNER DID EXACTLY WHAT K7RFW EXPERIENCED. LDG WORKED ON IT FIRST AND REPLACED A RELAY AND REPORGRAMED IT BUT AFTER IT CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION, WERE KIND ENOUGH TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE.
THE NEW TUNER HAS WORKED GREAT SINCE I GOT IT.
VK3BSF Rating: 2008-08-30
Auto tuner for all FT 897 owners..a must have Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
LDG have a winner here..but they MUST include the one touch tune cable with the tuner (see site:
http://www.eham.net/articles/8013?ehamsid=66f406cafd2cce947e74a49e5ff9b111)
if u want to brew your own easy to make cable...

If u buy a Yaesu FP 30 tuner over the LDG 897 tuner u are not reading the reviews here..the Yaesu tuner is so inferior it is almost useless!!...
The addition of a parallel CAT interface on the tuner is a winner and no need to use the mike plug for a CAT connection...Note that the Tuner CAT connector is set too deep for the CT 62 CAT connector and u must remove the CT 62 cable shroud and tape up the housing to enable a fit..something LDG need to fix on the next model...
Also note that menu items 20 and 85 MUST be set to CAT and not TUNER else the HAM DELUXE software doesn't recognise the FT 897..
N0FPE Rating: 2008-07-05
Not bad Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Has worked without a fault for me for over a year. I dont use it hard. maybe 5-10 hours a week. Only complaint I have is it is UGLY!! Does not match the 897 at all but hat does not keep it from working.
KI5SO Rating: 2008-07-05
Got some help Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After a couple of e-mails, I got a reply from the company. After about week after they got the tuner, it was returned, reprogramed, led light replaced, and a diode replace. The tuner is working great now.

I am happy to say that the company honored their warranty without any difficulty. I think good communication is the key. If they are convinced you did not abuse the tuner, they will fix it. Honesty impresses me highly. My personal experience with the LDG company causes me to praise them highly.

I've changed my mind about getting another tuner now. I'll use this LDG tuner as long as it works. It does the job and it's automatic. One word of worthy note: they upgraded my tuner from version 1.0 to 2.0. The tuner now takes only about half the time it used to take to tune when it was at it's best.

I recommend this tuner for those who want a tuner that is fast and without fuss.

Mikefromms KI5S)
KC2BYV Rating: 2008-02-04
Excellent Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I'm glad I checked the reviews first and didn't order the Yaesu tuner with the rig. This tuner works great. Flat SWR 80-10 with a G5RV Jr. Tunes fast and holds it.
KB9VLR Rating: 2008-01-13
Great value, super performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The only reason why I'm not giving this product a "5" is because of LDG technical support. Right out of the box, I had a problem with the radio transmitting when the tuner was hooked up. The TX LED would light, but no power was being put out.

After several emails to LDG, they could not offer any insight into the issue. They should remove the "technical" phraseology from their support contact info. The email replies were exceptionally short, uninformed, and void of any form of troubleshooting suggestions to identify the true cause of the problem.

After diagnosing a bad CAT cable, they did not return my email. I made my own replacement CAT cable using an Appletalk serial cable, and the tuner/radio work just awesome now!

A great product. Performance is just like the rest of the reviewers here say it is. (I like the wet piece of string comment... I think that might even be true!)