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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
W2NER Rating: 2012-09-02
Great antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
When I first set it up it would not tune anything above 21mhz. Every other band worked well. I wanted 10 meters so I kept digging. I read many reviews and different setups with this antenna and it varies allot regarding how successful you are for each configuration. So, I had a K400 mount, grounded along with a ground on the radio. So, technically all was good. So, I tried something one HAM did and had good results. I switched to a magnetic mount on the roof. Works GREAT, no issues at all. Tunes every band 100% with good performance. Not sure why but, it seems this is a hit or miss situation, mag mount or solid mount, use what works.

Love mine and its working fantastic on my Jeep Grand Cherokee!!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W2NER on 2012-08-28

I have a ATAS-120A and know people who have had it as well, all love it. I have read many reviews on this antenna and I think many of the bad reviews are somewhat off base. I feel most of the bad reviews are because their expectations of a mobile antenna like this are way to high. For what it does, it the best around overall.
AF5GP Rating: 2012-08-28
Love/Hate Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have the ATAS-120A mounted on my Jeep Wrangler LJ for nearly 4 mouths now. I drive it with a Yaesu FT-897D and it works flawlessly. It’s the right set up for me love the push button part of it.The mount that was recommended dose not ride well lot of vibration looking for replacement .Issue I don’t see it lasting very long ,thin plastic outer shell need more weather proofing a couple of time it didn’t want to adjusts, only when set in (All mode) the antenna lower all the way down didn’t want to raise back up. Order comet SB14 Tri-band mobile antenna when traveling I will remove ATAS-120A and use the SB14 on the road and place 120A in portative sheave and only use it when stopped. At over $350 just can run out and replace it.
WK5H Rating: 2012-08-28
Great for what I wanted Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Let me start by saying that even before I sold my Tarheel II with the intent to buy an ATAS-120A, I knew that the ATAS probably would not perform as well as the Tarheel. After a week of playing with the ATAS, I am pretty sure I was right. Now, the Tarheel was a great antenna, and the ATAS isn't crap. The ATAS does work; in fact, just the other day, I made a QSO with a ham just off the coast of Morocco, so, it will do DX.

What I did buy the ATAS for, was to minimize the amount of work required to move an antenna from vehicle to vehicle. I don't have the money to buy individual screwdriver antennas for my work truck and for my personal truck.

I'm also a ham "minimalist". I hate having wires running everywhere, even just for the duration of a 3-5 day trip. The Tarheel takes a run of coax, plus the control cable. The ATAS takes only the coax. That means one less run to the antenna, and one less power run for an antenna controller.

Plus, with the ATAS and my FT-857D, it's a push of a button to tune the antenna while going down the road. It was such a hassle to have to dig through menus to turn the power down, change modes, key the radio while moving the toggle switch until a good SWR match was found, setting the power back, and changing modes again. Trying to drive and change bands with the Tarheel was not a feat that really required 4 hands, but, it wasn't exactly the safest thing to do while driving.

In short, the Tarheel II was a great antenna, and if I had wanted to add "more things" in the cab to make mobile tuning easier, and dedicate it to only 1 vehicle, I would've kept it over the ATAS.
For simplicity sake, I bought the ATAS-120A, and it is SO much easier to tune through the bands while mobile; well worth the small performance loss from going away from the Tarheel II.

This is only my opinion, so your mileage may vary.
KC2ZXL Rating: 2012-08-25
Worked a little over a year Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I had purchased the ATAS-120A along with FT857D a little over a year ago and it just stopped working. Had taken it apart and seems that the motor has failed. Didn't want to start messing around with it so just sent it back to Yaesu for repair.

My experience with this antenna is rather mixed; had those good days with DX and not so good ones too. I was however surprised to see rust inside the housing near the bottom section. Water must have gone in there so if you buy a new one, be sure to silicone the screws and stinger areas.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KC2ZXL on 2012-05-03

I had purchased the ATAS-120A along with Yaesu FT-857D new about two years ago and installed it on my 06 Beetle initially. Had some difficulties tuning on 40m but couple of quality grounding straps fixed that issue.

I now have it installed on 2012 Mazda5 and had some issue with tuning not because of the antenna's fault but because there was a short on the coax. It burnt up a resistor in the radio which made use of the ATAS inoperable. Sent the radio back to Yaesu and they repaired it free of charge, even though the warranty has expired.

I am using a Diamond K400C mount which I am not too crazy about and not looking to drill any holes on the car for a more permanent mount. But I can tell you, the 857D and ATAS works really well. Has zero tuning issues and receive rivals that of my base setup with Icom.

I would love to get a second set and use it for portable gear.
KD6TR Rating: 2012-07-31
5 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the ATAS-120A mounted on my Jeep Wrangler for nearly 3 years now. It has never given me a bit of trouble! I drive it with a Yaesu FT-897D and it works flawlessly. I do a lot of serious off roading with the Jeep and I was warned that the antenna couldn't handle the vibration. I found that not to be a problem. The only problem I've had with it is the set screw that holds the whip in place. It vibrates loose and I've replaced a lost whip twice. The last time I put it in with Lok-Tite and haven't had any further loss of the whip. It tunes quickly and easily by just pushing the tune button. It is a bit noisy on the lower frequencies. I haven't used it on VHF but on 10-40 it works fine.
WB0VAK Rating: 2012-06-07
1-Year = Junk Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Only reason to not give it a 0 is because it worked the first year.It then worked some of the time, then stuck on top. I thought the A model was an upgrade. Don't waste your money if you want an antenna that is dependable. This one needs to stay in the garage or in the box. Next one will be a Tarheel!
G0YAP Rating: 2012-05-02
Marmite Antenna Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I,ve used this antenna for the last 4 years in all kinds of set ups and locations. Needs a good earth but other than that..I seem to work everyone I hear. Fairly neat for an HF antenna, good build quality, wife says it looks like a black mans 'love length' (how the hell would she know??). The only down side is the cost. You get what you pay for though. Quality Item From Yaesu.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by G0YAP on 2010-01-28

I have owned an FT857 for a few years and when a friend offered me an ATAS120 I was happy to buy it for £90.00. I have it mounted on a gutter mount on the wifes Volvo and it does do the job. My 857 is widebanded and the Atas tunes from 7mhz to 30mhz with no trouble. I read some of the reviews on here stating the antenna was not very good.. I wonder how good the mounting/earth is? As with all HF ants, these require a really good earth to work properly. I have worked the world on my Atas although I,m not happy to drive along with it on because 1, I don,t want a £250.00 antenna getting damaged by a dozing pidgeon, 2, I find it difficult to drive and play HF and 3, my wife says it looks like a black mans love length and will not have it on the car whilst we drive thru town. Good Antenna but way too expensive.
M0NST Rating: 2012-03-22
ATS120A GOOD Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I HAVE HAD ONE 3 YEARS NOW GOOD MOTORIZED SCREW ANTENNA YOU NEED A GOOD EARTH I HAVE WORKED MOST OF THE WORLD MOBILE FORM THE UK ON IT EXAMPLES INCLUDED SIBERIA ALSAKA EGYPT BRAZIL I WAS DRIVING ON LOG
KF4FM Rating: 2012-01-24
Water inside - shorting the circuits Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Thought I'd mention this in case some else has the same problem.

The antenna stopped working, so I took it apart and found rust at the base of the circuit board. It was wet there and obviously had a leak.

After cleaning the rust with a soft tooth brush and contact cleaner, I reassembled it and it worked fine.

When I installed the screws that hold the bottom section in place, I added some Penetrox joint compound to the threads.

Then I sealed the lower rubber cap with a very small bead of silicone. My guess is the water got into the cap at the top and seeped into the unit through the screw threads.

As an additional precaution, I put some silicone in the top rubber cap before sliding it into position.

The antenna now works like new again.

(The antenna is used as a base in a HOA.)
KJ4EMG Rating: 2011-11-21
STILL WORKKS GREAT 3 YEARS LATER Time Owned: more than 12 months.
HAD THE ATAS 120 A FOR OVER 3 YEARS AND STILL WORKS GREAT. HAS BEEN THROUGH MULITIPLE TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES AND STILL UP AND RUNNING.
SET UP VIDEO OF ATAS 120 A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLfX-P-ep34)

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KJ4EMG on 2009-02-25

I have owned the ATAS 120A for a year and it is awesome. I use it as a base antenna for my 897-D. The only problem I had with this antenna was setting it up. I tried many different set ups before I found one that worked. I connected the antenna with steel clamps to my metal chanin link fence and grounded it to the fence. With this antenna radials are a must. I used 10 33ft long 14g radials for mine. I have made contacts all over the world. To see my set up go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLfX-P-ep34