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Reviews For: LDG Z-817 QRP Autotuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : LDG Z-817 QRP Autotuner
Reviews: 38MSRP: 129.99
Description:
The ultimate QRP autotuner with built-in interface for FT-817. Powered by four internal AA batteries that lasts over a year. Tuning could not be simpler; one button push on the tuner is all that is needed and the Z-817 takes care of the rest. It will switch to PKT mode, transmit a carrier, tune the tuner, then restore the radio to the previous mode! 2000 memories cover 160 through 6 meters. Matches up to 8 to 1 SWR and up to 20 watts.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ldgelectronics.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15384.8
M6AIU Rating: 2011-05-08
Nice and easy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Simple and effective - great for backpacking and batteries last forever!
2M0YCG Rating: 2011-04-27
The Perfect QRP Tuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Ive had this tuner for just over two months now. I mainly use my FT-817 in the shack with a Cobwebb antenna but i've been portable a few times where i've used dipole antennas and even a fence in a field connected to RG-58 feeder and this tuner tuned them no problem - this thing would tune a wet piece of string! The tuner comes well packed with instruction manual and interface cable which can be a bit tricky to fit to the radio due to the small pins. All that's needed is a press on the tune button for a second and this tuner tunes in an instant and it also stores upto 2000 memories which makes tuning even quicker on you're favourite frequencies. Due to it's small size and light weight this tuner is perfect for portable operation and will tune with a maximum power of 20 Watts right from 0-30 MHz and 6 Metres. Before i bought this tuner i was looking at other portable tuners but im glad that i bought this one. If you have an FT-817 and you're looking to buy a tuner - buy one of these you won't be dissapointed.
KF4HPY Rating: 2011-04-10
Another good LDG tuner. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this tuner for a year now. It has done a great job of matching up hamstick dipoles and full sized homebrew dipoles in various locations while using it with the FT-817 on SSB and PSK-31. This year I had one problem occur while operating portable. The ANT. connector came free while removing the UHF connector to the dipole. I struggled to remove the old broken wire and solder the lead to the pin as I have lost the use of my left due to a stroke after Christmas. I was successful finally and was able to make a few contacts on the Georgia QSO party. All was just like new again. The AA cells were still metering in the Green I put a little Loc-tite on the connector just in case. If any lossen I will replace the connectors with pop-rivets and star washers through the mount plate. This is my third LDG tuner since going auto tuning.
N2ZD Rating: 2010-08-18
Can it core a apple? Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.


Yes it can Chef of the future!! I purchased mine from Cheap ham .com and love it. It comes with the interface cable which will force the 817 into tune mode whenever the button on the tuner is pressed. Its tiny and works as advertised. I wish this was built in the square case like the picture on the box as that would make it easier to stack when portable. The batteries last forever, they are in mine since I bought it.
KD7MTI Rating: 2010-07-26
A good tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my z817 since a few weeks after they were announced.

The tuner works and seems to work quite well. I have several tuners and I prefer my ldg z-11 pro because it automatically tunes without requiring me to do anything.

BUT

The z817 does a great job. In preparation for a move -- I'll only be able to hand carry my ft817 and z817 (all my other radio's will be shipped) -- I've been using my ft817/z817 exclusively.

Pushing the button and holding it when I change bands isn't really that much of a pain.

The tuner works, it seems to work as well as any of my other tuners. I find it a big bigger than my z-11 pro -- which is longer and wider, but apparently, just a fraction of inch shorter and that allows the z-11 to fit in a case with the ft817 that I can't get both the ft817 and z817 in at the same time.

The pass through port works great. You have to becareful when plugging things in - everything is small and you can't really tell when something is plugged in correctly.

When I received my z817, I attempted to attach my coax feedline. Somehow, the pl259 screw connector became bent -- so it doesn't screw on easily; I didn't realize this with the z817 -- and when I tried to disconnect the pl259 because it was binding, the so239 connector on the z817 turned. So, I had to take the unit apart and resolder the internal antenna connector and snug down the so239.

If you have the tools -- I'd strongly suggest taking off the stock so239 and replace it with one with four screws -- in the long run, if something happens, you'll be thankful.

I like the z817, it works for me. I've been using it exclusively for the past several weeks.

If you have an ft817, I recommend it.

ON6AB Rating: 2010-07-20
Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you're in doubt between the Z817 and the Electraft T1 for your FT-817,
remember that the Z-817 has a PASS TROUGH connection for computer control.
With the T1 and an (optional) computer cable, you either have computer control or automatic tuning. NOT BOTH!
VA7ION Rating: 2009-11-10
Good tuner, poor design Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got my tuner a few days ago, very impressed with the speed it find a match. Is not as complex as an Z-11Pro, but it does a nice job for portable work. One shortcoming: back face CAT ports are cut too small and the cables you buy from third parties don't fit! I'd like to use all features this little box offer when I use my SCS PTC-IIusb modem, unfortunately I will have to make my own cable as the one I already bought don't fit, and you can't tune on a Pactor signal, TX bursts are too short. Even the CAT cable provided with the tuner doesn't fit both ends. Curious what the answer from LDG will be, if they ever care about "small" issues, product is over an year old, this should have been addressed by now. I own many LDG products and I would quote them outstanding, but until I hear back from LDG I will refrain buying anything else from them. BTW, you can't put it in top of an FT-817, it cover the speaker: how many of you get an external speaker when go portable/mobile?
WF6L Rating: 2009-10-05
Great Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Z-817 is an awesome complement ot the FT-817 QRP tranceiver. Easy to set-p and easy to operate. I am using it with a Buddypole and get great reports from the field! Thanks LDG!
KI2K Rating: 2009-05-23
Perfect Fit- Fair Price- First Impressions Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
LDG deserves praise for this one. Is a very nice compliment to the 817 rig. I also have the Z100 that I use in the shack, and is nice to see the company evolving their products.

I have built and use the Emtech ZM-2, which is effective enough for QRP, but is not an autotuner, is chintzy as the day is long from a "feel" perspective, and if you were to buy pre-built, costs 3/4 the price of the Z-817. (Not trying to bash the ZM-2 so much as wanting to make the point about the value-versus-price of the Z-817.)

The only things I would change on the Z-817:

- instead of relying on the number of flashes on the two (red and green) LEDs for indication of status, might be nice to have another color or another LED in the mix- like yellow to indicate bypass mode was activated, or a separate LED to tell that VSWR exceeds 3:1- something along those lines.

- include a laminated "pocket card" that could fit in the go-bag to remind you of the various LED combination's worth of info

- maybe a battery compartment more accessible than removing four screws

- Make the picture on the box match the tuner, and in the manual there is a reference "if not using the 817, proceed to step 10", but the steps aren't numbered (nit-picky, I know)

Other than that- what a gem. Great manual, nice extra info on antenna theory. Perfect dimensions, and the CAT pass-through will serve well on the digital modes.

Well-done, LDG.

WA4JM Rating: 2009-03-28
Z-817 Tuner with Ten-Tec Argo V Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Received my new tune just the other day from AES in Orlando.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The unit was packed well both from the manufacturer and AES. When I removed the tuner from the packaging material and place it on the table, I noticed that it was not sitting level. An inspection on the bottom revealed that one of the rubber feet was missing. Thinking that it may have fallen off I looked around in the bag and box hoping to find it. No luck. So either it fell off during the packaging process or it was never there to start with. A trip to Wal-Mart for new feet fixed the problem.

INITIAL START-UP
Installed the batteries as per the instructions. YOU NEED TO READ THE MANUAL! Especially, if you do not use it with a FT-718. My rig of choice is the Ten-Tec Argonaut V. After reading the manual, I found that the tuner worked very nicely.

OBSERVATIONS:
My antenna situation is a 135 foot flat-top fed with about 25 feet of 300 ohm ladder-line. The feet point is only 15-18 feet off the ground. There is a 4:1 current balun attached to the base of the feedline and a shot piece of coax to the tuner.

I was able to obtain a match in the lower end of 80 meters but could not match at frequencies in the higher end of the band. This no doubt is a result of the odd line length I have here. On 40, 20 15 and 10 meters it easily found matches with this antenna. On 17 meters it struggled. Again, I think it’s related to the line length and not the tuner.

PROS:
Internal Power
Light Weight
One Button Tuning

CONS:
“Final Inspection” process may be lacking
Made in Taiwan? Seems like someone right here in the United States should be smart enough to build these things. It has a US address on it and then says “Made in Taiwan.”