Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: HEATHKIT SA-2040

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : HEATHKIT SA-2040
Reviews: 27MSRP: 150
Description:
Heavy duty antenna tuner
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00274.7
K6RF Rating: 2009-05-12
Excellent Tuner ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just aquired my second 2040, my son taking my first one for use in his shack. I tried several other tuners, Dentron, MFJ but found nothing to compare to this old boy. My recent one was very nicely constructed and looked like the top cover had not been removed since being built, everything brite and shiny inside. Doubt to ever be parting with this one. You can't go wrong, find yourself one and hang on to it. Plan on painting the top cover as most have had other gear sitting on it through the years.
W0PJH Rating: 2009-02-01
Great Tuner Needs 1 Mod Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great tuner but has 1 flaw.The rotary inductor was built with a hotmelt or epoxy adhesive to keep the phenolic end caps in place and it is the only thing that keeps the front end cap (insert)from indexing.
I bought mine with the front insert loose and after review decided to improve the design by taking it all apart and adding pins in 4 places around the outside diameter into the end disk.
Now it is properly centered in the inductor and should never again need repair in this area.
A Great legal limit tuner now better than new!
W0PJH
KI6RSE Rating: 2009-01-05
EXCELLENT Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
IVE USED MINE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW,FIRST ON 11 METER THEN WHEN I GOT MY TICKET ON 10 METER AND ITS AN EXCELLENT TUNER, SOLID BUILT , SMOOTH CONTROLS, TUNES EVEN THE WORST SHAPE ANTENNA TO A 1 TO 1. EXTREMELY PLEASED, THE ONLY WAY I WOULD PART IS TO UPGRADE TO A 2060 MAYBE.
WB4TJH Rating: 2008-10-26
Solid, simple unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently obtained an SA-2040 that a previous owner had installed an SWR bridge inside of. The installation almost looks "factory", it was done so neatly. I have found this tuner to be a very good, heavy duty, simple tuner that is much smoother to use than my old MFJ 962D. It lacks the features of the MFJ, but the the parts quality, especially the roller inductor, are several steps in quality above the MFJ. I think I will look for a small crank knob to replace the roller inductor knob, to make it easier to use. But overall, this is a well designed, if simple, workhorse that will take a KW plus and give no problems.
W4MAA Rating: 2008-08-09
Great Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned this tuner for a few years now and its rock solid with just a few breakdowns over those few years. The breakdown did not require any new parts. It will tune a chain link fence to 1000 watts. It has been replaced by a Palstar AT2K but the Heathkit tuner was moved to another location and still is use tuning a Hustler 4-BTV HF Vertical. Just make sure to carefully move the controls and not max the inductor setting or it will break the center wire in the drum.
N3WXW Rating: 2008-07-02
A WORK HORSE Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a rock solid high power tuner. It will tune almost any thing you throw at it . It has only one small issue. Do not spin the roller inductor hard against the stops. The roller will derail. It is a easy fix. Just a pain if you forget and get carried away spinning the dial.

73 de ED
VE7AGW Rating: 2007-10-06
Bullet Proof Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased my tuner from eBay as well and it's really bullet proof, borrowing a remark made by another amateur at a swap meet. I too haven't found an antenna I couldn't tune with it. And believe it or not it tunes my 80 meter full wave loop on 160 meters. I looked at a couple of Dentrons and wasn't impressed enough to spend very much on one. Don't know who assembled it but whoever did, impresses me. I didn't even have to lubricate the bearings, all I had to do was hook it up and tune. I can reset a band or frequency in a flash now. I too like to keep my meters seperate from my tuner. Running a Kenwood TL-922 thru it and the 2040 tunes up just great.
WB8ICU Rating: 2007-08-07
like a rock Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I get a kick out of some of the reviews. I prefer separate swr meters and antenna switches. It gives me more flexibility. I bought my sa-2040 on ebay for a little over 200 bucks. What a bargain! I opened it up and was astonished how well it was built. I've built a few antenna tuners over the years, but this beats them all. I have never found an antenna I couldn't tune. The nice thing is....it's completely resettable. Most tuners, you make up your chart, but find you have to tweak a little each time to get it right. This one is dead on when reset to the same numbers. I even had it in the basement for a while , and had to run down to reset it when changing bands. Never a problem. You'll never go wrong with this tuner.
W3FLH Rating: 2007-06-28
Really deserves a 5.... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had mine for about 1-1/2 years now, and this tuner is rock solid. No bells or whistles, just a flat out over-designed, well built, easy to use tuner that does what it was advertised to do. I don't miss the meters, as I run a Heathkit HM-2140A (why hasn't anyone reviewed that? Maybe I'll do that next...) in-line. I'd give it a five, but it is a bit stark, and some people wouldn't appreciate it due to the lack of amenities. As far as performance goes, this is simply a straight forward, rugged tuner.

Tony, W3FLH
KB9FMV Rating: 2005-12-16
BEATS MFJ & AMERITRON HANDS DOWN! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I recently bought one of 6 months ago and what a tuner! This thing will take 1500 watts key down (cw ) with no problem an load my toaster! I have owned the MFJ 986 ,989 and now the AMERITRON ATR 30 AND WHAT A PILE OF JUNK THESE ARE! This HEATHKIT BEATS THEM ALL! It doesnt have all the bells and whistles but let me tell you if you use an external meter it is a real GEM! If you find one or the Heathkit SA 2060 grab it! You will not be sorry!
73'
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
K9PLK
Paul