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Reviews For: LDG Z-100 Low Cost Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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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
K2ROK Rating: 2004-11-22
Very pleased Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Working FB with my Ten Tec Argo V rig. Quicker than my 703's built in autotuner. First class documentation and instructions. Decent price and fine performance.

I use it to tune "near resonance" dipoles at this time, but have forced it tune a 30 meter dipole on 40, and it worked. Sometimes it does not want to go too far off the beaten path, like tuning a 20 meter dipole on 12 -- but I have found what it can and can't do and I am pleased for the cost. If I wanted it to do more, I'd opt for a more expensive and feature rich tuner anyway. I like the fact it is plastic and lightweight, and it simply does it's job within spec.
DF2DD Rating: 2004-10-29
Tunes quite bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this tuner to go along with my FT-817 when I am out in the fields and I am not satisfied with this "tuner". Actually it is no tuner, because it mostly stop working when the SWR is 2:1. I also recognized that I "detuned" the antenna more than in bypass-position. My antenna had an SWR of 1.3 before tuning and 1.6 after tuning. So this is more than bullsh*t. Then I plugged the Z-100 to my FT-1000MP. Also here I recognized that tunig stopped mostly at 2:1. When I switched oder to the build-in tuner of my 1000MP it found a perfect match of 1:1. So the Z-100 is really no tuner. I would not recommend it to my worst enemy :-) My Z-100 will go back to the dealer. Maybe I will try an Z-11 or I will try a SGC.
NE0P Rating: 2004-10-27
Not as good as expected Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a Z100 recently to use with an Icom 740 I picked up. Used it a couple of days, and then the 740 when in the shop, so I was using the Z100 with the Icom 706 instead. First the good points: The tuner is fast, easy to operate, and when it goes into memory mode, it is so fast, than you sometime wonder if it worked or not, until you see the SWR. The push button operation becomes intuitive pretty quickly.

What I didn't like about the tuner was the actual tuning. Many times it quit at a 1.5:1 SWR which is OK, but many times it also quit at 2:1 or higher, which cut the power back about 50% on the 706. I expected better tuning out of it. Sometimes I would have to tune 20khz or so away and try to retune to get a better match. Sometimes that would work, and other times it wouldn't. Also, even when in memory mode it would sometimes do a full tune, even though that match should have still been in memory.

I replaced the Icom 740 with the Icom 756, and I like the internal tuner in that rig better than the Z100. Finds a 1:1 match very quickly, and will tune my 4 band mini quad on 17 meters (not a resonant band) whereas the Z100 wouldn't. Neither tuner would load the quad on 12 meters, and the Z100 loaded the G5RV on 40 (but with tuning problems quite often) and 80, where the 756 internal tuner wouldn't.

If I were to buy another LDG tuner, I would get the AT11 or AT100-something with manual controls also. The Z100 seemed to work a little better with the 740 since it was less SWR sensitive. I wouldn't use one with a 706 again, unless your antennas are already close to resonant. I now use my internal tuner in the 756 on 30-10 and a MFJ 949D on 80,40,12 and have a better setup than the Z100.

KT8K Rating: 2004-10-13
user interface design lacking Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
On the strength of my experience with the Z-11 (which I am very happy with) I recommended this tuner to a friend, and helped install it and get it going. (My friend can't use the Z-11 because it only handles 60 watts maximum.)

My friend is physically challenged, and I was hoping he would have a nice set-and-forget, hands-free antenna coupler for his station. Unfortunately, it appears that the Z-100 (unlike the Z-11)
- only retunes when you push the button (I studied the manual repeatedly).
- the button has at least three different functions based on how long you hold the button down, which is confusing
- the light weight case slides off the rack if not fastened or held down. Since my friend can only use one hand, this tuner has turned out to be less than the best solution.

I had hoped this tuner would retune automatically on the first long "dah" without fooling with it, like my Z-11, but the design is much less useful.

It seems to work OK, though. It's just difficult to use and disappointing in contrast with the Z-11.
WD0FIA Rating: 2004-10-12
Best buy I made! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Have had it for 3 months, works fantastic!
K6SBA Rating: 2004-09-03
Another Great LDG Product! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've owned just about every tuner that LDG has made (not including the newer high power job). Every product has been top drawer. I reluctantly replaced my Z-11 with a Z-100 and I am not sorry at all. The tuner does a great job with every reasonable non-resonant antenna I have used with it (OK it wont tune up a six foot piece of wire on 75-m, but what will?) Quality is excellent and operation is simple. BTW, I have installed two 9-v batteries (in parallel) and soldered leads across the power jack. Works great; one battery does not allow enough current drain to power the unit.

73 de K6SBA
David in Santa Barbara
KE4AWM Rating: 2004-09-02
Slice Bread can't do it better. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
34 of the reviews only 4 has a problem. 3 of those problems may not be the tuners problem if you know what I mean?
To bad Kenwood and Icom can't get it right like this. 4 out of 34... WOW What a great Deal for a Price we all can afford.
Keep up the good work LDG.
Tony V
KE4AWM
WJ3V Rating: 2004-08-27
Great Tuner!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this to use with the Yaesu FT 857D, It works great. Tunes my windom on all bands. Makes a little grinding noise but nothing to worry about. Can't be beat for the $$$.
KI4CFS Rating: 2004-07-29
Well build, nice size, works great! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
It it low profile, easy to use, and interfaces well with my IC-706MKIIG. But the best of all, the manual if informative and even explains how it works!!! And the support is the best ever! A real person answers with real answers in real English! 5 for rating and 6 for customer service!

Keep up the GREAT work LDG!! It is fun to own something well made!!


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Earlier 5-star review posted by KI4CFS on 2004-01-18

Just got it and real pleased with how even though it is small it just feels solid build. Also, the manual is very well done. The interface with my IC 706 seems to do full tuning and am still learning about it. It is so new I also set up a on-line users group for people interested in sharing information on the Z-100 at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LDG-auto-tuners
(LDG Automatic Antenna Tuners including the Z-100) Love for you to join me!

73ies, KI4CFS Martin
AB2ML Rating: 2004-05-27
Very nice auto tuner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was looking at auto tuners for some time but just couldn't get myself to spend $200+ for one.
Then while doing a search one day came across this Z100 on the LDG site and for the price and feature combination I had to try it. I ordered it from R&L Electronics for $129. Got the interface cables for my Icom 718 and hooked everything up. I am using a long wire (75ft)and a ground and the tuner works fantastic. I can tune most bands just fine. the exceptions are on 80 I can only get a 2:1 and on 160 can't tune at all. but considering the length of the wire it makes sense. I mostly work 40 anyway so it is no problem. Using a longer wire and maybe a balun would probably make it tune those places too.
With my 718 using the PTT tune function all I do is touch the key or mic and it tunes from memory.
Very cool. When I change bands it goes into bypass so I can listen till I want to transmit.
It is just one great tuner. Mark