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Reviews For: EMTECH ZM-2 ATU

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : EMTECH ZM-2 ATU
Reviews: 70MSRP: 65
Description:
Complete kit, all parts furnished
Product is in production
More Info: http://emtech.steadynet.com/zmdesc.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00704.8
W6UXB Rating: 2015-10-04
Very nice, old school Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very impressed with my new tuner,I purchased the pre built unit build quality was excellent, my only critique on that is the paper dial plate, rather cheesy but the tuner works fantastic very fast tune ups, I am using it with a new Xiegu X108G (review coming up) and after you have tuned for maximum receive signal one shout in the mic and you can tune it to minimum SWR on the X108G meter in a second I don't even use the excellent LED tuning device incorporated in the meter. If you are looking for a non automatic but just as fast tuner for QRP you will not go wrong with this unit
K0OG Rating: 2015-08-11
Excellent, Easy to Use Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received the BNC version of the kit in last Saturday's mail, so spent some time Saturday afternoon building it. I found the instructions accurate, and the kit was easy to build - a fun project. It took about 5 hours total to build, but I went slowly and took some breaks. What is most impressive is that the tuner worked on the first try, and I found it easier and quicker to tune than the MFJ-971 QRP tuner I was using. I've used it to make many SSB and digital contacts the last few days, and it seems that I'm getting better results than with the MFJ tuner, which surprises me. I also noticed that received signal strength seems better than with the MFJ tuner. I wonder if the ZM-2 Z-match design is mor efficient than the T-match design. From a theoretical perspective, I would not think so, but my results are impressive. My station consists of a Yaesu FT-817nd, the ZM-2 into a G5RV inverted-V with the apex at about 35 feet. I highly recommend this tuner for QRP operations. The price is right, it is much smaller and lighter than my MFJ-971 tuner, and performance is excellent.

By the way, the assembly/operator manual can be found on-line at:
http://ve5kc.amateur-radio.ca/4Sale/zm-2/zm-2%20manual.pdf

73,
-Joe-
K0OG
WX4O Rating: 2014-10-12
Very Good for QRP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought factory made one. Excellent small, light tuner.
Used it a couple years ago for QRP Field Day.
AB1AW Rating: 2014-10-12
Handy, versatile little tuner. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned three of these over the past ten years. Each time I sold one I later regretted it and bought a new one. First two I had were kits, the third I purchased pre-assembled. Either way is a great deal.

High quality and versatile. I've used them with all sorts of wire antennas, doublets, dipoles, etc., 160m thru 6m (yes, it tunes six meters quite nicely into an end-fed long-wire antenna).

If you are a minimalist QRP operator (like me), this tuner is for you.
KE7VXP Rating: 2014-09-26
Works as advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Built the kit with prewound toroids. Why spend the time winding them when Emtech does it right and it doesn't cost much? Fun to build but not for beginners. Tunes my 400 ohm balanced double Zepp on all bands. Very good product.
K1PMA Rating: 2014-01-25
Weird little box - seems to work OK but no miracle machine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Was looking for a tuner for my new Yaesu FT817ND QRP radio. Somehow came across this device in some forum and decided to give it a try. Bought the assembled version, not the kit. Now, the truth is it can tune a lot of antennas, but not just about everything as some people say or the manufacturer indirectly claims (rain gutters, chain link fence, similar claims). When hooked up to my home G5RV 25ft up in the trees I can tune it on 40 & 20M and get the indicator light to extinguish fully (~1 SWR). With 80M, no such luck. With a 40FT random wire the story is different. Can't tune it on 40 or 20M. The light will get a little dimmer but no even close to going out. I don't get the HISWR warning that would show up without any tuner at all but there are 3-4 SWR bars. But for some reason I still like this thing, one reason being it needs no power of any kind.
KB1HYR Rating: 2014-01-11
Take it everywhere and tune what you have Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned a ZM-2 ATU for several years. I built it from kit shortly after building the Emtech NW8040.

This is a great little tuner. I take it for portable ops from hotels, backbacking -- and I use it at home for my qrp station. It can be a bit tricky to get the hang of a z-match but once you do, it's easy. I rough-tune it by listening to noise or ongoing QSOs, and then fine-tune it using the built-in swr indicator.

I have used this for ladder-line fed dipoles and random wire that I have thrown into trees. It works beautifully. I've never fed it more than 7 watts -- but for QRP stuff it handles anything I've thrown at it.
PA3CNT Rating: 2013-11-22
A tip for tuning faster Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Use this nice tuner for portable operations with my FT817.
Finding a dip with the LED might be difficult, because the dip is often narrow, and the LED is at full brightness until you're nearly on the dip.
Tuning is usually easier by observing the SWR on the rig until that's sufficient, then fine tune on the LED.

Rob, PA3CNT
KC7JNJ Rating: 2013-11-15
cant say emough Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had one for many years. But I have not been able to use it tell this year. It totally rocks, and Has spoiled me for other tuners. It tunes so fast! I totally love it. I really lets me try things I could not normally try with other tuners. I do not really know how to say how much I like this thing, There are little things that drive me nuts about the unit. If I ever build another I will change some of those. The unit should be in another box with connections on the back. But it works so good I will over look all of that. For life with my Ft-817nd it is something I depend on. It tunes fast and always works.
M0JHA Rating: 2013-10-15
spot on Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Been using this atu for a while now and love it , just ordered another , it will tune a sausage :-)

Converted to Z match for sure now ..

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Earlier 5-star review posted by M0JHA on 2013-05-28

I built this recently and left a review re the build but have now had chance to try the unit out .. On a random length of wire ( and it was just random ) and a random counterpoise the unit tuned up to a flat swr on all bands i tried with my HB1B ( 80/40/30 and 20) . A guestimate would of been the wire was around 25 foot long ..

Tuning was sharp but doesn't take long at all to get used too , as many have stated simply tune in operate mode for max RX then flick the switch to Tune and tune for lowest or extinguished LED ..I really like this little atu and will be going /p with me , even considering another for the shack to be honest .

As for it's performance i won't comment as there are too many variables with antennas especially while /p to give an accurate comment , someone loading up a 10 foot wire strapped to a tree limb on 40m isn't going to get the same results as someone loading a 100 foot wire 50 foot in the air..
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Earlier 4-star review posted by M0JHA on 2013-05-25

I couldn't give it a 5 as i'm yet to test it properly so this review is more about the kit as apposed to it's performance . There are a few "issues" for me although none of them major ones.

Firstly the paper decals are pants . I stuck one on , few coats of laquer to seal only to ruin it by the serated washers spinning whilst tightening screws and it ripping :-( so just something to keep in mind when fitting the switches etc.


The case was slightly tight for the plate to easily slip into but again easily overcome with a thin screwdriver to manipulate the plate in .

The holes for the BNC connectors were a little loose and this allowed the BNC to slip round when tightening from the rear which ripped the decal originally .There is a flat side to the holes which marries up to a flat side on the BNC but as the holes were a little too large they slipped easily . Second attempt i put an old BNC plug on the socket and held with pliers whilst i nipped the nut up .

The above were my only issues and as i say not major ones . Delivery to the UK was around 8 days but i think i ordered over a weekend so nothing to maon about on that score . Kit was complete and build instructions clear and well within the capabilities of even newer kit builders . It took me 2 evenings , first was spent spraying the face plate and letting it dry so i wound the toroids in this time , second evening it was done in about 1 1/2 hours just taking my time .A nice easy build and now finished it looks pretty good . Price wise i'm more than happy especially with post from USA to UK which cost EMTECH $14 on the packet and i was charged $5.

I have yet to put it through it's paces and see how it tunes so will write another review in time . Am i happy with it ? yes .