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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
KC9DRE Rating: 2014-06-25
Revist after several months Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Some time has passed and I have to revist my review. I have since change service vehicles and like on the previous install it is on the Rear door on a lip mount. Work flawlessly with no issues. I do take precautions as to fully lower it while driving in the rain IF I remember so that the spray off the tires doesn't mess with it too much. Signals are great considering its size. I am happy with my setup and purchase.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by KC9DRE on 2014-02-23

I upgraded to General this past May and as a reward (ahead of time) I bought an FT-857d for my first HF rig. So with that, I recently bought the ATAS-120A and for the first couple days then I checked on it and with the radio off I had to get something out of the work van and touched the mast and a zapped the antenna... then I went to re-tune it and it just retracted down, I was disappointed as it would not come back up.. So I drove to the next site and same thing... so I thought I killed it. Then I tried it again about 2 hours later and it was working again. So I suspect I need to verify my grounding.

Now for what I like so far about it is the fact that I can drive and tune at the same time. and the reception is great for mobile so far. I am going to connect up my laptop for some digital work and see just how far I can reach.
3A2MW Rating: 2014-06-07
238 DXCC confirmed Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I started with the ATAS in February 2000.
I used first a ATAS-100, then a ATAS-120 and in the last 5 years a ATAS-120A, mounted on the balcony as a stealth antenna.
The results are astonishing, for such a small aerial: 55'000 QSOs; 238 DXCC confirmed countries; 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m each more than 100 confirmed countries; 63 confirmed DXCCs in 6m; DXCC Challenge at 1017 cfm.
Be careful with the grounding, must be perfect to have good results.

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Earlier 4-star review posted by 3A2MW on 2007-08-13

It's now more than 7 years that I'm using a ATAS antenna on the balcony, coupled to a FT-847 via a Comet triplexer. I began with the ATAS-100, followed by an other ATAS-100 (second generation), and then, 2 years ago, a ATAS-120A.
Yesterday I bought again a new ATAS-120A.
I tried to find a better replacement for it, but I could not: I need a stealth (no antennas allowed in this building), multiband antenna, 40m to UHF, not too tall.
Time to time, I have to buy a new one, because the ATAS are made for SSB (100W before, 120W now), but I normally operate CW and digimodes; because of the much higher medium power, the coil warms badly and, after around 10'000 QSOs, is definitly broken.
The three antennas made 34'240 contacts, with 202 confirmed DXCC countries.
Despite the Yaesu data-sheet tells you that the antenna should not work in the WARC bands, I could contact 94 countries in 30m, 102 in 17m, 119 in 12m.
Additionally, I worked 50 countries in 6m and 8 in 2m.
OK, my callsign helps, but the signal must arrive! Maybe weak, but it must be readable.
The ATAS isn't great in 40m, I agree, with 88 countries is my worst result.
Of course, if I used a reduced power, I would not have to change the antenna, time to time. But who could hear me, then?
W4KQB Rating: 2014-04-30
Works ok for my needs Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Installed a few months ago. Have worked DX on all of the bands the antenna can tune with good reports.

The only issue is the whip is made of weak steel as it will tend to bend back some from wind speed, so I just live with it. The mobile rig is the FT 857D.
SWR is right where it needs to be on all bands.
N5WJ Rating: 2014-04-14
Good Working Antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just installed an Atas 120A on the Tool Box of my Mazda B-3000 Pickup.. easy install.. Easy to operate antenna.. works great 40 - 6 Mtrs.. No issures.. I just made sure I had the Tool Box Well Grounded and the Antenna is attached to the back of the Tool Box and works fine... I see many bad reviews on this antenna, I cannot see any problems with mine.. worked into VK and ZL land this past Saturday on my way to a hamfest early in the morning.. worked great...

Frank... N5WJ
W5RHR Rating: 2014-02-24
one button tuning Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine is paired with an ft-857 and was first mounted on a VW GTI and now on my 2013 Silverado.
For its size limitayion, its a good performer.

My only issue with it is that sometimes it loses its "brain" and will not tune unless I go into the 857 menu and choose a new configurtation for it (Hf/hf and 6 or all) and re-initalize it.

It will then work after recycling throught its initalize for a while.

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Earlier 3-star review posted by W5RHR on 2012-02-16

I am using it with an FT857 mobile, and the first few weeks it worked flawless.
Here lately the antenna wont tune(move) until I go into the 857s menu and change the setting to something different like HF + ^ meters or HF only.
Then the ATAS will initialize when I push the tune button, and it will start tuning afte rthe init is completed.I have a seperate braid ground from the Diamond hatch mount to the cars body, and all the mounting is tight.
KG9H Rating: 2014-02-24
Great antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just be sure you have a good ground, keep it off of the roof racks unless you have them grounded. I don't use mine on 2 and 440 though. Love it's performance. I ALWAYS retune when moving the frequency. Frank KG9H
AC6VW Rating: 2014-01-17
Works Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Like others have said, I think expectations are a little high on what this antenna will get you. It is not my base with a tribander and Alpha power.
What it is, is a nice, fully automatic companion to my 857D that does a wonderful job of talking on any ham band from uhf to 40 meters. (I do split my VHF/UHF though, but it would work there as well.
It tunes in seconds, I have worked DX on it. I check into 40 meter nets, when 10 or 6 are in, it is fine. I have it mounted on the rear spare tire carrier on a 4x4 and it has seen lots of tough off roading, dusty, muddy conditions and bouncing over rocks for over a year now with zero issues. works as good as the day I bought it.

Yes, it isn't the best mobile antenna out there. My A4S isn't the best beam at home either. There are reasons for getting both.
KE7TRP Rating: 2013-09-16
Works perfectly Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After reading the reviews I had low hopes for this antenna. The idea of the auto tune feature with my FT450 radio had me convinced. After all, I only needed decent performance and convenience. I purchased my ATAS 120A, K400C mount, and C110 extension cable from HRO.
The Truck is a 1999 Toyota 4runner a second vehicle for camping, fishing or taking the Golden retriever to the park.
After inspecting the K400C mount, I realized the mount is powder coated. I got my Fluke out and sure enough, No continuity from mount to flange. I think this is the main reason for people having trouble. It took the mount apart and removed the paint from all contact areas including the top and bottom contact area around the S0-239. Take your time and use a razor blade and sand paper. you need metal to metal contact on this mount.
My FT450 is mounted to the Trans tunnel with four number 12 screws. It has four number 10 wires right to the battery.
On the truck, I cut and removed the "seam sealer" on the inside body panel with a razor blade knife and then hand sanded the section down to bare metal. I used the supplied ground plate and fit that exactly into the sanded metal body. Next, I installed the mount with all four cap screws into the metal strap. Result? Perfect ground as tested using the fluke.
After running the coax and changing the tuner menu setting in the FT450, The antenna tuned as expected. All bands 6,10,12,15,17,20 and 40 dead flat 1.0 SWR, Tunes in seconds. No ignition noise either.
A trip around the block yielded CUBA and Argentina on 10 meters with 59 report! Down to 17 meters and worked a guy in Washington with a 59 report, Then down to 40 meters and worked Nevada and all up and down the CA sea board including a guy on a sail boat 200 miles off the coast! Most stations on 40 where 20 DB over 9!
I am shocked at how well this little antenna works. I had a feeling yaesu would not put out a junk product and I was right. I think a lot of people are pushing other products and have money to gain.

VK4FLYS Rating: 2013-07-15
It Works Well Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Being a bit partial to Yaesu gear I progressed from the FT-897D using a HVT-400 to the FT-857D for in car remote head operations and naturally purchased the matching antenna, the ATAS-120A.

The novelty of stopping the vehicle to change tapping positions on the HVT-400 grew thin to the point of not working HF for over a year, so the concept of an automatic antenna was looking pretty good to say the least.

Once I had both the FT-857D and the ATAS-120A installed and a very impatient browse through the manual I pressed the TUNE button and presto, it worked.

Now, it can rain all it likes and I don't get wet just because I want to change bands.

Very impressed with not only the HF reception but equally 2m and 70cm.

I spent basically years to get around to opening the wallet to spending this much but can honestly say it is money well spent.

It may say no serviceable parts, but I can assure anyone that plenty have repaired old worn out units and being an mechanical engineer it will continue to work for many years to come.

Bottom line......

It works, every time.

Don't hesitate..

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Earlier 5-star review posted by VK4FLYS on 2013-07-15

Being a bit partial to Yaesu gear I progressed from the FT-897D using a HVT-400 to the FT-857D for in car remote head operations and naturally purchased the matching antenna, the ATAS-120A.

The novelty of stopping the vehicle to change tapping positions on the HVT-400 grew thin to the point of not working HF for over a year, so the concept of an automatic antenna was looking pretty good to say the least.

Once I had both the FT-857D and the ATAS-120A installed and a very impatient browse through the manual I pressed the TUNE button and presto, it worked.

Now, it can rain all it likes and I don't get wet just because I want to change bands.

Very impressed with not only the HF reception but equally 2m and 70cm.

I spent basically years to get around to opening the wallet to spending this much but can honestly say it is money well spent.

It may say no serviceable parts, but I can assure anyone that plenty have repaired old worn out units and being an mechanical engineer it will continue to work for many years to come.

Bottom line......

It works, every time.

Don't hesitate..
ZL4TE Rating: 2013-04-20
Great - showed up faults in my car! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought my ATAS 7 years ago in the UK, second hand (ebay - but unused, still in wrapping). Worked great with the FT857 in my Honda with a good earth via the roof rails.

Packed it up when I emigrated. Could not get it to work reliably on the new Subaru, heaps of ferrites, bonding, usual stuff.

Transpires,the car had an intermittent fault in the electrics and now that is sorted, the ATAS works like a dream. I have worked into US, Europe and Asia.

Still on the roof rail with a homebrew mount and a good earth.

On this evidence, it is more reliable than the car, but you need to make sure the car is ok electrically. If not, it will struggle, but you cannot really blame the antenna for that