Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: LDG Z-100 Low Cost Autotuner

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 : LDG Z-100 Low Cost Autotuner
Reviews: 116MSRP: 149
Description:
Low cost 0.1 to 125 watt autotuner. 200 memories, zero power consumption when not tuning, latching relays, interfaces for all popular radios and 160 thru 6 meter coverage.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ldgelectronics.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
151164.5
VE7IG Rating: 2008-11-30
Works well in my applications. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got this tuner for portable use with a Butternut HF6 vertical. It has performed very well although you do need an SWR meter because not all its positions when it stops tuning are the lowest SWR possible, in fact some are quite high. But in my applications, it always has reached a satisfactory match after a couple of tries. The HF6 is usable on 17m with this tuner and works very well. I used it daily and for long periods on a recent IOTA islands portable operation that netted 6000 contacts and was very happy with its performance.

Recently I have been using it between an older transceiver and an Ameritron AL-80B on 30m. The 20/30 metre bands are on the same switch position on that amplifier and the input tuning is optimized for 20m with a mismatch on 30. This has been working well.

I gave it a 4/5 rating because of the need for an SWR meter, otherwise its fine.
N7BUI Rating: 2008-11-28
Gobble Gobble! Avoid this turkey get a Z-11Pro for $30 more Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I've owned several LDG tuners. An early AT-11, Z-11, AT897, AT100, and the Z-11Pro. I've ran across two models to avoid. The AT100 and now the Z100. There just isn't any range in the Z100. It might be alright if you have just minor SWR to match the radio to, but after owning the Z11PRO (which is the BEST LDG tuner I've owned!) I'd avoid this turkey at all costs. It just isn't worth the hassle. Spend the extra $30 for the Z-11Pro. Same watt rating, FAR greater range, and you don't need to push the button to have it operate. Just key the radio and it takes off. I use mine on a 265 foot Windom from the bottom of 160 to 6 meters with no tuning issues at all. The Z100 on the same antenna barely worked on 160, about 1/2 of 80, and most other bands was temperamental as to whether it would supply a match or not. Sorry LDG, I like most of your products but this isn't one of them.
DH5JBR Rating: 2008-11-21
ib spite of other comments Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Before I give this little box what it deserves I had a look at those reviews that came out less favorably.
My approach was to replace my MFJ tuner and Daiwa cross-hair instrument which could tune my long wire flat after some considerable effort and long tuning with valuable portable energy.
So, out went the MFJ and the LDG went in. Tuning was a bit noisy - as described - but yielded something below 1:1.5.
It seems logical that a circuitry that is trying to optimize a value is best served with a lot of variation of that value if input values are changed.
This means that the tuner is at a loss about what to do if the antenna is almost resonant already. Inserting a tuner is a bad idea in those cases and you are better off without it, but it is not the tuner“s fault, but YOURS for trying to use it.

Some comment about the cabinet shape. I think that it is GREAT. Yes, there are minor issues of not being able to stack things, but they are far outweighed by the nice way that I can use it to wind up my counterpoise and antenna wire onto. I used to wind my antenna wire onto the MFJ and the insulation got cracked on its sharp edges, necessitating a replacement of the antenna wire. The form of the Z-100 is just great for that.

The manual tuner allowed me to find the narrow dip in SWR, but the Z100 comes very close to it.
Use it for those cases and use NO TUNER for antennas that have a broad dip below 1:2.
Tuners and meters invariably will have an insertion loss.
I rely on the Z-100 and if it does give me a "green" it will be better than a manual tuner and the extra meter in the antenna line.
KE5OYZ Rating: 2008-11-05
Great tuner! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This tuner matches almost anything I throw at it and does it quickly. The latching relays create quite a din while tuning, but the tuner finds a match fast and is quite small and light. Great work, LDG!
K5WLF Rating: 2008-10-18
Outstanding Unit! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my Z-100 at the Belton (TX) Ham Expo in spring of last year. It replaced a Mighty Fine Junk 941E on my G5RV Jr. I was running an FT-857D at the time and the transition from peaky, overly twitchy knobs with the MFJ to a simple one-touch tune was wonderful. The Z-100 made the change with me to a Hustler 5BTV and we've talked to Kwajalein and New Zealand on 100 watts with no problem and one-button convenience.

I've updated recently to an FT-897D and the Z-100 is still working magnificently on the Hustler with the new rig. I'm adding a low dipole soon for NVIS and I'll be using the Z-100 on that too for the time being.

I'm going to put an AT-897 on the rig for portability, but I'll definitely be keeping the Z-100 for any future needs. It's a great little tuner and I heartily recommend it.

73 de K5WLF
WX4O Rating: 2008-10-16
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used mine for 4 or 5 years with many different rigs and antennas, at home and Field Day.
Very simple and works like a champ.
PD2JHP Rating: 2008-10-16
Great nice priced little tuner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this nice little fellow a few years ago and I use it mostly during the holidays and fielddays with my FT-817 and often during my antenna experiments at home.....
Perhaps the former user, who bought it on Ebay, got a DOA or the first owner used too much power? I should say: look at those other revieuws!

Greetings from Holland and I hope to hear you on the frequency soon!

Jan (PD2JHP)
N7JBH Rating: 2008-10-15
Not what you think it is Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased an LDG Z100 tuner from ebay and am not very satisfied with it. I hooked it up to my home rig, Yaesu FT 840 and Alpha Delta DX-CC multiband dipole in the attic. I noticed that the radio did not draw as much current as it does with my regular tuner, an LDG 11MP with rev 1.6 upgrade. When I tested the setup with the LDG 11MP in bypass mode (thruline) between the radio and Z100, I found out why.. The Z100 never matched the antenna below about 2:1 SWR, except close to the resonant points of the DXCC antenna. The FT840 sensed the high SWR and reduced output RF power. The Z100 gave good SWR indications on the green LED, even when the actual SWR was marginal. For those of you who have a Z100, check out it's performance with a good SWR meter, you may be surprised at what you find.
W6RTW Rating: 2008-10-08
What a bargain Time Owned: more than 12 months.
A few years ago, I went to Dayton. I had a rental car and brought along my ICOM 706 MKII G and a big mag mount with Hustler whips. Found I could only stray several KHz either side of resonance. I visited the LDG Reps. and was impressed with the Z-100 specs. So, I bought one. This is the closest thing to an internal tuner in the 706. It allows me to operate phone and CW on any band I have a Hustler for. I don't expect miracles for $150.00, so I don't try to tune a 20 Meter Hustler on 160! It does what it's supposed to do, quietly and efficiently. It goes with the 706 on every out of town trip I take.
W5VK Rating: 2008-08-22
Worked OK for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used different 706s and 718. My Z100s (I have 2) have always well for me and matched most antennas/freqs. Price is reasonable and I like the small size.