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Reviews For: LDG AT-100Pro Memory Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG AT-100Pro Memory Autotuner
Reviews: 88MSRP: 219
Description:
Low cost 1 to 125 watt autotuner (50W on 6M). 4000 memories, SWR and Power indicator, 2 position antenna switch, low power consumption, 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
00884.1
K2MFW Rating: 2008-10-31
Half working Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought an AT-100Pro from Ham Radio Outlet. RIght out of the box the 1.7 LED was dead and unit would not tune. Returned defective.

Not a great first experience with LDG.
VK2FRO Rating: 2008-09-03
Cool amazing little tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well done LDG. I've only had this machine a day, but like everyone else has stated, key and start talking, and the tuner tunes the frequency with a click.

Initially I went through all the bands I work tuning 400kc's apart, with a CQ test call. Now the tuner knows how to set its relays, it tunes with just a click.

The rattle of a full tune lets you know the machine is working, and the led's are just the icing on the cake.

I can now go places on my vertical I didnt think were possible (80m), and will get a dipole up for 40 up for the second antenna socket on the tuner.

Makes a handy little platform to sit the ic 7000 on top of too!

K8YZK Rating: 2008-08-30
Great tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked one up in a swap, as I was looking for one to use on 6 meters. My antenna a 20 meter inverted Vee center up about 20'. It will find a match for everything from 40 meters thru 6 meters. It is a lot quieter then then AT-11MP I had which is also an outstanding tuner.
N5XTR Rating: 2008-03-24
Better than nothing Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This little tuner has some problems, it is fairly reliable but RF can get into it easily especially on 6 meters. The tuning cycle is short (5 sec) and the memory tuning is just a click. The tuning range is not as good as my mfj-949D. A few locals here have LDG tuners and they all seem to screw up on 6 meters. Mine shows a 2.0 swr into a dummy load on 10 and 6 meters. It cannot match a 3:1 swr on 160m. But it works good on 15 17 20 30 40 and 60m with semi resonant and Nonresonant antennas. If you need one for 6 10 12 75/80 or 160m, I would get a manual tuner.

Maybe I bought one made on Friday??
LZ2STO Rating: 2007-12-01
Just perfect Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it to improove SWR of my 42m long OCF dipole(coax.fed windom). In fact i use this antenna without ATU till now, but SWR on 3.5MHz an 10MHz wasnt what i want. Now i didnt see SWR more than 1.1 at entire HF+6m band, AT-100Pro work better than mine expectations, even outside of HAM bands where the antenna exceed SWR 6:1 AT-100 tune it fast to SWR~1:1. All functions is very usefull and i am well surprised by the accuracy of the internal SWR/POWER meter. Even if you toght "look cheap with this LED's" you can trust it 100% (if i can trust 100% to DIAMOND SX-600). The main reason to choose LDG AT-100Pro was the LATCH relays - i am often /Portable and it does matter. The settings and tuning are stored in EEPROM memory and if the frequncy was used - tuning take no more than milliseconds.

73's
WA1TUT Rating: 2007-11-01
Fair operation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For some reason mine won't tune over a 4:1 SWR ratio on some bands. Some complex impedances are apparently beyond its ability. Also, using a Ten-Tec transceiver that doesn't use power foldback with higher SWR's creates the danger of damaging the AT-100 Pro. This is due to the fact that the tuner is only rated for 25 watts of RF DURING the tune cycle. One must be careful to turn down transmitter power before tuning. LDG doesn't publish this 25 watt limitation in their advertising or on their website. It's only in the owner's manual. Another beef: they refuse to release schematics. Most other manufacturers of Ham equipment aid their customers in offering technical info. LDG claims it's proprietary...
VE3OIJ Rating: 2007-10-15
discount price, discount performance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
THE GOOD: it's inexpensive, and it does work. The memory function is handy when it works. Size is not bad.

THE BAD: I'm not sure mine retains its memories when the power is off. Seems to have to grind a lot each new session at the radio, but once it's sorted itself out, it's good until the next time the power goes off.

THE UGLY: My first one smoked and died after about one year of casual use. It never worked well on 6m at all. If the replacement dies I don't think I'll buy another.
G0KYA Rating: 2007-10-04
Not as good as I'd hoped Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really wanted to like this, and the reports were great, but it didn't work for me. It would grind away for ages before it found a match and gave up completely on 80m - and that was on an 80m dipole! In comparison, my old AEA manual tuner and the IC746 tuner could match the dipole no problems. The dealer said they could find no problems and we eventually agreed on a refund. They did say that the unit will only maintain its memory positions while 12V is applied. Don't know if that is true, but it is pretty useless if it doesn't as it will have to grind away (marbles in a blender) every time you use it.
W4HKL Rating: 2007-10-03
Great, Great, Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it new for use with an Alinco DX-70 barefoot at the QTH. I love the built-in antenna switch as it allows me to switch between my 160 meter horizontal loop and a used Antron 99 for 15-10 meters. It tunes both to perfection and hasn't given me a bit of trouble. I carry it to the Pathfinder on long trips to match my other DX-70 to a 102" whip (20-10 with great reports across the U.S.) as well as a 40 meter Workman whip mounted to the other side of the vehicle. I plan on moving it to the mobile permanently when I can afford to get the 1 KW LDG autotuner after I refit and repair a SB200.

Did I mention the built-in antenna switch was handy? :-)

I recommend it without reservation.
Steve, W4HKL
K9CTB Rating: 2007-10-03
Very nice, compact auto-tuner. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought the AT-100 because "they" (R&L and AES) were out of the AT-200. I run all 100 watt class HF rigs here, but just wanted the perceived safety margin and durability. I remember reading about these PIC controlled, latching relay tuners before. I saw the article in QST where somebody actually offered a kit resembling the LDG. I remember thinking, "cheap! Probably only matches 3 or 4 impedances and that's it!". I also remember thinking, "Ah, RF will get into that 'processor chip' and make it tune all kindza wrong ways!" I guess I turned out to be wrong. Way wrong! I have used the AT-100Pro on an IC-718, an IC-746, and a Harris RF-350K. I bought the adaptor cable which makes the AT-100Pro look to the Icom 718 just like an AH-4. Just hit the tune button on the rig and the LDG takes off! Very fast. It will tune my 40 meter dipole anywhere between 40 and 10 meters. So with two dipoles at my QTH, the AT-100Pro will tune anywhere between 160 and 10 meters with ease. I can't find anything I don't like about the AT-100Pro.