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Reviews For: LDG AT-11MP Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG AT-11MP Autotuner
Reviews: 99MSRP: 239
Description:
Automatic antenna tuner kit
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.ldgelectronics.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15994.7
N9VV Rating: 2003-08-14
Outstanding service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have a very nice AT-11MP. It has been in use for three years in QRP and QRO work with three different ANTs. One day the meter light went out and then I had trouble tuning. I sent it back to LDG for a tuneup. They do not issue "RMA" numbers because so few tuners ever come back for repair. LDG checked the hardware, updated the firmware and realigned the tuner. They sent it back in 5 days and it works better than ever! LDG service after the sale is exelplary. Their tuners cover the entire legal power range and each can be a reliable addition to your shack. When your's needs a bit of service, just let Dwayne know and he will make sure it comes back in tip top shape. In this Ham's opinion, they are great people and offer consistently great products.
KD4AVP Rating: 2003-08-04
Awesome tuner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is by far one of the best tuners I have ever used. Simple to operate. Clean and neat looking on the shelf. Don't let the noise comments change your mind on this tuner. It is a minor thing and really not a big deal. After looking at the internals of this tuner, I understood why it made those sounds. Excellent components on the inside. It will tune almost anything. I have yet to find a spot that will not load. If you use an FT847, get the one-touch tune feature from W4RT.com and really enjoy your 847. Best money I have ever spent. Far exceeds the FC20 tuner that Yaesu sells for the 847. Not sure if it will do 6m. Dont think it will...but maybe LDG will work on that one. Otherwise...buy it..you will not just like..you will love it.
W5USB Rating: 2003-07-25
Nice kit, a true performer. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This was my first "kit". I had never soldered anything but cable connectors before. This kit was easy enough to build that it gave me the confidence needed to move on to more difficult soldering endeavors, like the Elecraft K2. All in all, I think building this autotuner, and the K2 combined, gives any ham interested in how things work a large advantage over those who choose only to use their equipment.

As to the operation of the tuner, it meets all claims made by LDG. Some think its a little loud, but it sounds the same as all other relay based autotuners. No biggie really. Good job LDG!

Art
HB9DWS Rating: 2003-07-25
Easy to built, easy to use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I built the kit up in a few hours even I'm from Switzerland - hi! "Great thing" is the summary I can say! Don't forget to solder the "HOT PIN"s of the SO239 even it's not mentioned in the Manual. Be careful with the adjustment of the Cap-Trimmer and prevent that the tuner stay in the "Auto"-Position for the first adjustement! Use always Dummyload instead of a real antenna for the real exact adjustment! To insulate the noise during the tuning use some 2inch isolation-foil. After this -just enjoy the silent "machine gun".
W2LJ Rating: 2003-07-17
Overall a 5! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought mine as a kit; and it went together really well. The unit works great getting a flat SWR on all bands with my G5RV in under 5 seconds. I was afraid it might not have the range to tune my G5RV on all bands; but it does a great job - even on 80 Meters! I can live with the noise - the convenience of an autotuner far outways the relay chatter.

Two things, however, detract from a "perfect" experience. First, the kit came missing a piece of hardware - the "L" bracket which secures the meter in place. LDG, however, rectified that so I didn't have to continue holding the meter in place with electrical tape.

Second, the assembly instructions still reference the DB9 connector that used to be used with the remote module. My "errata sheet" was also missing; and I thought I was missing something that I wasn't. Again, really quick responsive e-mails on the part of LDG clarified that.

Other than that, this is a SUPERB kit that goes together well and works great. For the price, you can't go wrong. One word of caution from a stupid mistake on my part. To any of you who are contemplating buying this as a kit --- I messed up by winding the toroid T1 wrong. It is very importsnt that you follow directions and wind it COUNTERCLOCKWISE from the six o'clock starting position !!! If you do it the opposite way, as I did for some unbeknownst reason, the forward and reverse readings get mixed up!

But, as a bottom line --- great kit, great price, great customer support (thanks, Wayne at LDG!), great finished product!
K2CAD Rating: 2003-06-11
Great Tuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I built this as a kit in about three hours. It is an easy kit to build and works great. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the relay noise every one is talking about is not nearly as bad as they describe. I think it is more like a mild buzz than a "nuclear explosion". Mine tunes my End Fed Vee antenna to a perfect match on almost all bands in about 2 seconds. The worst case for both SWR and time are on 10 meters with it taking about 3 seconds to come up with a 1.3:1 SWR. A little manual adjustment from here gets it down to 1.1:1. I have it connected to my Icom 718 and it works perfectly with the tune button on the radio a quick press and 2 seconds later I am ready to go. Overall this is one of the better kits I have seen recently. Combine the performance with a price tag about $200 cheaper than the Icom tuner and it rates a 5/5.
CASPER669 Rating: 2003-05-07
The Perfect Tuner! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've had this tuner for a little over 3 months now and I can only find one thing that I would change... THE NOISE! It sounds like someone dropping their bus fare into the change machine. It only lasts about 6 seconds, though (worst case scenario). I will happily put up with the noise, if that's the trade off. It will tune anything, given that you have a 4:1 balun attached. It will tune my Antron 99 antenna on 10, 12, 15, 17 (although I lose a little output) and even 20 meters! It tunes my 70' dipole on the 30, 40, 80 and 160 meter bands - no problem! Now, our prayers have been answered with their new AT-1000 Automatic Antenna Tuner, which covers 160 through 6 meters at up to 1 kilowatt! If this new product is anything like the AT-11MP, sign me up!
KE5GK Rating: 2003-03-10
Take the Other Tuners To A Hamfest Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the years, I have owned several tuners. This one is simply the best. Get this tuner! Clean up your shack. Take all of the others to a hamfest.
W2MSK Rating: 2003-03-10
Unsurpassed! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the third tuner I've purchased from LDG. I bought the original AT-11, the QRP Z-11 and now the AT-11MP with the W4RT One Touch Tune for the FT-897. All have been faultless. If all US manufacturers produced this much quality and functionality for such a reasonable price, we would not have a balance of trade problem! Works as advertised, pride in workmanship and just plain quality throughout.
WD4AOG Rating: 2003-03-05
LDG AT-11MP Autotuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Reading the reviews here of this tuner convinced me that I would enjoy owning one. I do. As far as I can tell, it is well-built and works reasonably well.

The only two drawbacks I've found are these:
1) The relays inside make quite a bit of noise. I got a chuckle from G3VGR's review note that it keeps squirrels away. I can see (or rather hear) how it would.
2) In auto mode, it will get you well into the ballpark but doesn't always tune as close to 1:1 as you can get. Switching out of auto mode and doing some fine tuning manually will often yield a better match... not something you can usually do if you are mobile.

It will, as others have said, tune a wide variety of antennea. If you buy one, chances are you'll like it.