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Reviews For: LDG AT-200Pro Memory Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG AT-200Pro Memory Autotuner
Reviews: 88MSRP: 249
Description:
5 to 250 watt autotuner (100W on 6M). 16,000 3-D memories, SWR and Power indicator, 2 position antenna switch, 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
00884.6
LA9AKA Rating: 2008-04-01
Great tuner! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
So far this tuner has been working very nicely in all aspects. Easy to use and tunes almost everything. My only wish is that it could handle 200W on 6m also.
NS5M Rating: 2008-03-15
Better than I expected ... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
... and I expected a lot! The AT200Pro matches a ground-mounted Hustler 6BTV over 40 random length buried radials, fed with 100W, 99.99999% pure CW (2 SSB QSOs).

The antenna/tuner combination works exceedingly well on the designed 6 bands. New matches are fast, prior matches like lightning.


What has really impressed me is the ability to work two 12m QSO's on the Hustler through the AT200Pro. On 12m CW, the LDG's bar scheme indicates around 60W out instead of the usual 100 of the other bands. I've been too lazy to try the antenna analyzer on the antenna (maybe I don't wanna know?) but am quite sure there are a few medium-well worms between shack and antenna. While I don't do it often, the LDG makes the Hustler a 7-band antenna when I really want it.

A second match that I like a lot is that the AT200Pro brings a pretty good 30m match to my attic-hung Alpha-Delta DX4020. This antenna ain't supposed to work on 30m, but the LDG makes it possible.

Overall, I think it presents outstanding value received for dollars invested. I have had no problems at all, and performance

The two 12m QSO's? Ducie (VP6DX) and Clipperton (TX5C). Those guys had great ears, but there hadda be something for them to hear.

73,
Jim N5VT
KA6SGT Rating: 2008-02-17
Essential accessory for the casual contester. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The AT-200Pro arrived just a few hours before the start of the ARRL International DX CW Contest this past weekend so I had a great opportunity to put this tuner through its paces. Using a 40 vertical doublet fed with balanced line and a balun, I knew this would be tough. My trusty old MFJ tuner worked okay, but required constant re-adjustment for each in-band QSY. This type of activity eats up valuable time in a contest, and I looked to the AT-200Pro as a solution.

After completing the initial tuning cycle for each band of operation, I found I could freely operate throughout the band segment with no further re-tuning. The clatter noise from the relays I was prepared for thanks to those who've noted this in their reviews. It sounds like a cross between an old telegraph sounder and a slot machine. Once the initial tuning cycle completes however, tuning is done quietly behind the scenes.

The only other auto-tuner I'm familiar with is the one built into the Yaesu FT-920. It too made some noise, not as much as the full tune cycle of the AT-200Pro. However, the FT-920 required the MFJ Tuner Extender to work with almost anything. The tuning range on the AT-200Pro is quite broad, especially with a 4:1 balun.

My final selections for consideration were the MFJ-993B, LDG AT-100Pro, and the LDG AT-200Pro. The feature comparisons and the power capacity for such a small price difference ruled out the AT-100Pro. The MFJ-993B has received good reviews and I've own several MFJ tuners over many years with good results. However, I didn't need the extra meters or a box that talks to me. Besides the construction quality is better with the LDG products. Free shipping and a good price from HRO, the choice was clear. I should have done this sooner. Now I can concentrate on QSOs instead of my running SWR rating.
W1SWR Rating: 2008-02-16
Not that good Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked up the LDG AT-200 Pro. The tuner in the Pro III was better. I could tune more with the 756pro III than i could with the LDG, I took it back after 2 days of testing. You get what you pay for i guess.

N5DUH Rating: 2008-01-14
Absolutely Fantastic! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The AT-200Pro will tune anything! I've had it for a couple of months and it has never refused to find a match on any antenna I have tried it on. I cannot wait to take it out in the travel trailer for some campground hamming. It is a lot of tuner for the money. I like it a lot better than my SGC-237. If you want an autotuner, this is the one to get.
K8KDR Rating: 2007-12-21
Nope Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I found the tuning range of the tuner to be poor. I also found that it failed to "hold" a tune. It would randomly seem to find a great tune, then upon return to the band it would tune again and find no tune. Forcing a tune would do the same, sometimes a good tune, sometimes not -- on 6 meters it could not seem to handle a resonant antenna. I worked with LDG on this, new firmware, even sent it back to them, nope. Never solved the problem. The VERY interesting thing is that in the exact same setup I borrowed a friends LDG Z-11pro and it worked flawlessly. I also found the really cool meters on the 200 to not be very accurate on some bands. As tuners go, I would not get another AT-200Pro even though I loved everything about its feature set and interface. I sold it. I did replace it with a Z-11pro because of the fantastic customer service LDG provides. The Z-11pro has been working great for me, I sure miss those meters, but not as much as a good solid tune.
WE1X Rating: 2007-11-01
Kinda OK Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had one for about a year. For the most part it would perform nicely tuning my OCF dipole where needed..in some places an SWR of 5:1 down to 1:1 or thereabouts. However, there were many time it would not behave. For example, would not tune antennas my rigs' built in tuners could easily handle. Further, would frequently lose settings and memories. In addition, on occassions it would appear to give either false readings or readings far apart from other meters and tuners.

In the end I replaced it with the Tokyo Hi-Power HC-200AT. World of difference. The HC-200AT is fast, quieter, easy tuning, and readings consistent with my other equipment.
VA3KAB Rating: 2007-10-26
Not perfect IMHO Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this tuner because the antenna I am using (MQ-26SR mini-quad) has a very narrow bandwidth, and I need a tuner to get a match mostly on 20 meters for the portions of the band that I want to operate on. For that purpose it works great, gets a match in seconds. Also this antenna doesn't like getting wet too much, throws off the SWR, but again the AT-200 will find a match within seconds.
The bad news is it will sometimes not work on 12 meters and never works on 10 meters! Note that the antenna has an SWR of 1.1 on 12 meters, pretty much perfect, and 2 to 1 on 10 meters. It just sits there forever trying to find a match and never does. To work those bands I have to take the tuner out of the circuit, kind of a pain. I contacted their tech support and their response was to send the tuner back to them, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it, just doesn't like to operate on 10 meters for some reason.
I'm buying a new rig shortly that has a built in tuner, if it will handle my requirements for 20 meters I'll most likely get rid of the AT-200.
KD6WAG Rating: 2007-10-14
EXCELLENT TUNER! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This tuner is phenominal! It tunes anything! I haven't tried it yet, but it seems this thing will tune a dummy load! (Hi Hi)

It's very easy and fun to use. It makes tuning my antennas so simple, that even my 6 year old son can do it.

It brings most of my antennas down to 1-1 on SWR. I bought this from a recommendation of a good HAM friend of mine. He loves it and swears by it also.

Plus, with this tuner, LDG FURNISHES ALL THE NECESSARY WIRE KITS FOR YOUR RADIO!!! How's that for "pull it out of the box and use it" satisfaction.

It comes complete with a ICOM-706/ICOM-7000 and Yaesu 857/897 interface cable. If you don't have those radios, it doesn't matter. It still works with ANY HF radio. The interface cables are just for those specific radios.

It's very easy to use and the instructions are very detailed and simple to use. You can read the entire manual in about 10 minutes.

The tuner tuned one of my antennas on 80m and it was only resonant for 40m!

Great investment. Buy it. Don't bother with Yaesu or ICOM tuners. Buy a tuner from a company that only makes tuners....LDG!
KE4GRP Rating: 2007-10-11
Works Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Had the MFJ-948 for a while. It worked ok, but my arms got tired leaning over the table trying to adjust the knobs. It boiled down to either this or another MFJ. Since I had the AT-897 and was pleased with it, I drove over to Universal Radio today, and picked it up. Now I am able to tune 80 and 17 meters with ease using my TS 480HX.

My first impression was how small it was, easily adaptable for mobile use. I won't use it for that, but it sure looks good on my desk in the radio room. And my wife doesn't have to put up with the cussing trying to tune anymore.

Good Job, LDG.