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Reviews For: Yaesu ATAS-120A

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Yaesu ATAS-120A
Reviews: 119MSRP: 369.00
Description:
The ATAS-120A is the upgraded, more weather resistant version of the ATAS-120. Leave comments only on the ATAS-120 "A"!
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.51193.9
VK4KKD Rating: 2008-09-15
versatile and convenient Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Over the years I have spent a heck of a lot of time in mobile/portable working. during these extended road trips I carried a complete selection of helical whip antenna covering the range from 80m to 70cm. So it was a matter of changing the whips every time I wanted to change bands. Rigs at the time were not the multi/multi band things that we have now - HF was covered with a fantastic FT-757GX with separate smaller mobile rigs for VHF/UHF.

The truck was fitted with three antenna mountings and at the time I thought I was pretty well outfitted. A little latter I purchased a single multi band HF antenna - one of the ones with a wander lead and banana plugs. It proved to be a pain due to vandalism in shopping center car parks though.

After 15 years of this scenario I decided to purchase a new "all the bells and whistles" rigs and a shiny new FT-847 complete with an ATAS-100 replaced the mass of radios and antennea on my truck.

One thing I quickly learned was that this type of antenna MUST be mounted with avid attention to the grounding and the actual mounting position on the vehicle - no compromises will be tolerated. Everything must be perfect for the antenna to perform to full potential.

My first two weeks with the thing were very frustrating - then I adopted a more serious attitude from that which had been ok with all the previous antenna mounting.

BINGO! The full appreciation of an auto tune antenna over the HF band as well as VHF/UHF became apparent. Change bands - push a button and that was it. On air the antenna was no slouch and performed as well as if not better than the previous mono band whips. I decided to purchase one of the ATAS-120A units when it came on the market and have had absolutely no problems with it - ok - I can't run 400watts - but I could not do that with my other whips anyway - and the FM output of both my FT-847 and my daughters FT-897D have never caused any problems - I was told that using them on CW/FM would blow them - but I think that might only be a problem for those who do not ensure the complete and utter grounding required by these types of antenna. Bullbar mounting is not a good option so mounting on the roof and running a grounding network that is 100% electrically bonded to the metal of the vehicle is the only real option. Unfortunately this means removing the antenna when I go off road or into shopping center underground parks. On the road I do not have that chopping signal that I had with the bullbar mounted whips and a big plus is that I have lost the vehicles electric system noise in the receiver.

Can't fault the antenna once I overcome my less than careful approach to mounting.

73 de Kev. VK4KKD
N0FPE Rating: 2008-08-12
POS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This POS stopped working after 3 months, repaired by Yaesu, worked 2 weeks and died again. The problem here is that the truck it is on only gets driven abt 5000 miles a year! It sits 95% of the time. Tossed the ATAS in the trash and installed a AH-4.
KG4TUM Rating: 2008-08-12
Not so good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this antenna over a year ago. I didn't use it much, but it stopped working recently. So I put my old Comet antenna back on, and lo and behold, 10 meters isn't dead after all. I could say a lot about the lack of performance of the ATAS 120A, but I believe it's been covered by many other reviewers here. Just add my name to the list of people who feel like they just threw away $300. I can't believe that Yaesu put their name on this product.
KF5Y Rating: 2008-08-12
Good for 18 months Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Worked great when I purchased in 2004 with the Y857. Stopped working in 2005 and had it repaired under warranty and was returned as a 120A. Since 2006 40M is useless when moving. It is obvious that the coil and the ball bearings riding on it are loose because of the extended length (40M) and road vibrations. These were becoming looser as time went on. Could not have a QSO without stopping the vehicle. Now finally the motor is intermittent (again, this was the reason it went back the first time). Sometime she-a-works and sometimes she-a-don't work. By the way, now they want $70.00/hr to work on it. Moving on down the road, TARHEEL's next.
GM4WZL Rating: 2008-08-02
It is no good for working CW Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi all my atas 120a was working very good on ssb and i started to use it on CW and it was doing well with good DX as i am a member of the fists cw club,
One day it stoped working so i sent it back to the dealer as it was still under guarentee,

And i was told that it had burnt out the motor and fried the loading coil,

AS THE ANTENNA IS NOT DESIGNED FOR CW OR HEAVY FM WORKING LIKE OVER 60 WATTS WORKING,
AND IT IS ONLY DESIGNED FOR SSB UP TO 120 WATTS MAX,

If anybody has the same problem or info on please let me know ,

I am QRV on WWW.QRZ.COM for me info,

Thanks for any help,
73 John GM4WZL,
KI6DPT Rating: 2008-06-13
Can be a good choice Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have the ATAS-120A installed on my GMC Yukon for 11 months now.

The antenna choice had more to do with my decision to buy a Yaesu FT-857D radio. With that in mind I wanted something that would have multi-band capability, tune up easily, and present an appearance that I could live with.

I had the radio and antenna professionally installed. The radio is under the 2nd row passenger seat. The control head fits nicely in the convenience console (slots above the cup holder). I selected a lightweight lip-mount and have it mounted on the right rear just below and to the right of the rear glass (on the rear hatch). At 40M the tube just makes it to the roofline. When fully retracted I can tuck the whip into a discrete strap on the luggage rack and it breaks the roofline by maybe 1 foot.

I added 3/4" wide stainless ground straps to bond the radio to the vehicle body, and likewise bonded the hatch to the body at the upper hinge.

From Southern California I have worked Hawaii to all of the East coast, and Cabo San Lucas, MX to Alaska. When I tell people I am mobile I often get a response of "Don't change anything". This antenna, for me, has worked very well given my initial criteria. I have had much better success on 20 & 17 than on 40. Other unanticipated but welcome results are I can rapidy remove it for safekeeping, or remove it and screw in an adapter with a monoband hamstick style antenna.

With about a year under my belt now as a General Class, I would take a different approach if I were buying today.

If you are looking for your first mobile HF set up you may want to consider there are more efficient antennas (on transmit). You may also want to conside you won't care as much about the low profile appearance when you learn what you gave up!

On many occasions I have been able to hear stations, but they just couldn't dig me out of the noise floor. A few more watts out would have made all the difference. For me, next time will be "bigger is better" (Hi-Q 2.5" or 3" - both add 60 and 80M capability).

One comment on the UFH/VHF capability. I find it more convenient to operate these bands with a dedicated 2m/440 radio and antenna.

Still, if I judge it against the criteria I used to select it, I have found the ATAS-120A met my requirements and has performed admirably. With improving band conditions it should be even more enjoyable.

73,
Rich
KI6DPT
WA6BJH Rating: 2008-06-04
Wonderful, Convenient Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I read all the bad stuff about the ATAS-120A and I bought it anyway. It's just incredible! You screw the antenna on the SO-239 connector, push a button, and it just tunes. You can't beat it. I wouldn't use any of the other screwdriver antennas. The ATAS-120A is just too convenient.

Of course, it doesn't operate on 75 meters, but then "75-meter mobile antenna" is an oxymoron. It works fine on every band from 40 through 450.

So, what are you going to do when it breaks? ask the naysayers. Well, I'll buy another one. I don't care if it breaks. It's beyond convenient. I'll replace it.

I use the ATAS-120A with my new FT-875D and I use the MFJ-348S foldover mount on the car's hatchback. No problems at highway speed. I have a ground connection--RG-58 shield--from the connector to a screw on the inside of the hatchback. I used RG-58 shield to jump the hatchback and hood hinges to the car body.

Here's something important to remember. Mobile HF antennas are all terrible. One may be better than another, but the difference is same as the difference between trash and rubbish.

Get the ATAS-120. It's convenient.

Kerry WA6BJH
W9JFK Rating: 2008-03-23
A great antenna! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought an ATAS-120A and hard mounted it at the center of the roof of my car using a double female SO-239 chassis mount. The antenna tunes well on all bands 40-6, including the WARC bands. On 2M & 440, I get adequate performance for all local repeaters. The tuning is quick and unbelievably convenient. If things change I will write another review, but so far I am very happy with the purchase.
PD0PRS Rating: 2007-10-25
Good performance Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
As stated in the previous review Yaesu recommends to put the antenna at the center of the roof not using a magnet base.

Yesterday I bought a Yaesu FT-857D and hooked it up to the antenna (which I placed at the middle of the carroof on a magnet base...) When I go through the previous reviews of this antenna I was a bit worried I didn“t have a decent HF ground, but on the contrary the antenna matched to 1:1 without problems on 20 and 40m. Within a short period of time I made 6 contacts all over Europe varying from Servia, Italy, Madeira to Ireland. For me this antenna does work properly!
K5JAX Rating: 2007-09-03
Put it the trash can Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned it 2 years. Never worked in any installation with a FT-897. Tried fixed and mobile. Gave up on it after trying for 6 months to make it work. Finally 1 1/2 years later found an owner of a ATAS 100 to test my antenna with a different Yaesu radio. It seemed to work for him. I then built a controller to drive the antenna and thought this would be the solution. After finishing the mobile install I found that the antenna has a loose connection inside and won't tune half of the time. Trash canned it and will probably buy a Tarheel. They say your money back if not happy. A good reason to purchase from them. I buy less foreign made radio gear each year. I now buy made in USA equipment.