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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
KG4WLP Rating: 2005-08-26
Invisible tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use it at home with a Yaesu 857. It seems to tune out just about anything. It's like not having a tuner. If you like fiddling with a tuner, don't buy this unit. If you have better things to do and are running 135 watts or less, you can't go wrong.
AF4KK Rating: 2005-07-18
This thing's GREAT!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use my LDG autotuner in my mobile environment hooked up to my Icom 706 mkIIg. When I'm mobile, I use a HAMstick for a particular band (not always the one I'm using). When I'm in the garage, I hook it up to a dipole on my roof.
Pretty much whatever I "throw" at it, it tunes! Not only does it tune, but it's quite fast, especially if the frequency is already in the tuner's memory! It's a bit noisy compared to the tuners in my Kenwood TS-480SAT and the FC-20 hooked up to my Yeasu FT-857 but those L.E.D. bargraphs make up for it with useful information! Well done, LDG!!
N7BUI Rating: 2005-05-09
Just an addition Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
To be fair to LDG I might add that the manual does recognize the "rf noise" problem with the display. Their solution is to turn off the LED display by holding down the "ANT" button upon power up. But you lose your SWR reading and power meter display when you do this. More of a band-aid then a solution of the noise issue.

----------------------
Earlier 2-star review posted by N7BUI on 2005-05-09

I have to say that I've had other LDG products (AT-11, Pegasus tuner etc) and they have performed very well. This one suffers from internal digital hash that causes interference on almost any band 20 meters and higher. It only remains as long as the LED display is on and then the tuner goes to sleep. You can put up with it on CW by lengthening the QSK delay, but if you run full break-in CW, this thing is a hash machine. I've tried different antenna arrangements, grounding etc. Nothing quiets it down. Since the tuner holds its settings when powered down the only solution is to turn it off after it is finished tuning to keep the noise from interfering. Sorry LDG, but this one is quite a turkey.
W4AMP Rating: 2005-01-24
Good 80-6 meter Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tuner works great 80-6 meters, but on 160 it's a dog. My 160 dipole tunes fine with the built in tuners in a Yaesu FT920 and a Kenwood TS2000,but not with this one. Tuner is really loud, the noise scared me the first time it tuned. Won't tune a 100 watts on six either, have to back power down before it will work.
WB4PAP Rating: 2004-12-21
Great product and support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After having difficulties tuning up my new multi band vertical after changing my feedline, a story in itself going from RG-8x to Davis BuryFlex, I found that the lower loss cable completely altered the SWR of the antenna in the wrong direction. The antenna manufacturer has not been much help to this point so I decided upon a different approach. I purchased the AT-100Pro Tuner after having experience with the Z-100, a great little unit in itself. I have to say that through all my experience with tuners, this one is outstanding! It usually provides a 1:1 SWR on 10-80 meters or pretty close to it. It will handle two antennas, tunes a random wire with a Balun and tunes extremely fast after it memorizes the frequency. It is better than the Z-100 in my opinion as it seems to do a better job on matching more complex loads. You effectively are getting two tuners and a two possition antenna switch for about $50.00 more than the Z-100. Service by LDG is outstanding. I've talked to Dwayne on several occassions and he helped me with finding the cause of the SWR problem. Very knowledgeable and returns calls promptly in the unlikely event you don't get him directly. These people make you feel good about getting value for your money. As for the antenna... I'm giving them a chance to respond with some fixes. I'll review it in the near future and rate them accordingly.
N8UZ Rating: 2004-12-08
Great Product/Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased and put the AT-100Pro online for my HF Pactor bulletin board. The system is up 24/7 and scans several frequencies. This tuner is unbelievably fast and does a great job with the G5RV. It tunes on a fresh memory within 2-3 seconds, and from memory less than 1 second. This is just what the doctor ordered for my application. I also experienced a little problem when the tuner went into "Sleep Mode". It didn't seem to want to come back awake. One e-mail to LDG service and a prompt reply from Dwayne of possible causes and a promise to send out 2 new processors. Nothing like a great product AND a great company to back it up! This is a recommended buy for anyone looking for a great piece of equipment for the ham shack.

Dan - N8UZ
ON4SSC Rating: 2004-11-07
Simply great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It does a good job at tuning my attic long wire to any band (excepted 30m where I get a relatively high swr). It's very very quick to tune my antenna, but quite noisy the first time it tunes a new band. The latching relay ensure that this tuner can also be used with my FT-817 and a 8amp/h moto battery without drawing too much power from the battery. I'd buy another one if it was lost/stolen. It's day and night compared to my previous mfj manual tuner (which I keep in case...).
KD8K Rating: 2004-10-28
Good tuner, meter accuracy needs improved. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Overall, I am generally happy with this tuner. It does a good job in tuning just about whatever I can throw at it, and does it quickly, usually between 1-3 seconds, less then that if it is a frequency that the tuner has in its memory.

However, there is one area I would like to see improved, and that is the accuracy of the SWR meter. On mine, it reads a much lower SWR then the 3 other SWR meters that I have. A 1.5 or 1.6 SWR may read as a 1.1 or 1.3 on the tuner. When this happens, my rig will cut back power before the tuner starts its automatic tuning cycle, requiring a manual tune. A manual tune usually does tune it to an acceptable SWR level.

The tuner itself I rate as a 5 but the built in meters I would rate at about a 3, for an overall rating of 4.
DL1BEQ Rating: 2004-10-26
What can I say, smiling! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hello together,
I read a few articles abt this tuner and I decided to buy me one, because I bought a CP-6 GP a few days before.
I ordered it from the national official dealer, got it next day.
At that time I tried PSK31 with AC0AX, and put it aside. After finishing our PSK31 try (my very first ever) I took the LDG out of the box connected it to the powersupply and to the TRX.
Unfortunately, I did not read the manaul at first, so after reducing the power to 20W, I transmitted a signal on CW. And there it came..... an awful sound which gave me almost a Heartattack. I released the keyer and was waiting for a bad smell... but nothing.
What I did not know, it was the ordenary first tuning to a new band. This "sound" disappeared after fisrt tuning.
Ok, read the manual you stupid German, I did.
Fine...

resume:
1. excellent built case
2. works fine as mentioned in this forum
3. confirming funy reading of the pwr-meter, that is far away from realitiy
4. worthwhile buying it

Greetings from
DL1BEQ
K6USN Rating: 2004-10-16
A must have accessory! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just back from Pacificon Ham Convention and purchased a new AT 100 Pro Memory Auto Tuner within 2 minutes of seeing it. I've owned nearly all the LDG line of tuners, so I knew pretty much what to expect.

I've spent several hours playing with this delightful accessory coupled to my FT 857 and also my FT 817. I won't be redundant with previous amd more comprehensive reviews, except to say it is exactly what I was looking for in my portable DXing in the South Pacific.

Small, light weight, compatable in size to my
FT 857 and FT 817, it provides near-instant matching to my Mosley tribander as well as my
Outbacker on a tripod w/counterpoise.

What I really appreciate is is the visual indication of SWR and power out. The Yaseu's
require you to toggle back and forth to use the internal meter, and this way, you have it at a glance.

Despite what several reviewers said about power meter inaccuracy, I found that the AT 100Pro's power out indicatations matched the power settings on the FT 857 and were quite close to
the reading on my Coaxial Dynamics watt meter.

In short, I am very pleased with this latest LDG
tuner, and it works as well, or better, than any auto tuner I've owned.

It's a keeper!

Allen
K6USN/ZK1USN