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Reviews For: ICOM AT-180

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : ICOM AT-180
Reviews: 40MSRP: 499.95
Description:
Matching Auto-Tuner for the IC-706 Series
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.icomamerica.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00404.1
NC2F Rating: 2009-08-08
A good experience with the AT-180 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I don't own one at the moment, but I used one for about 5 months with a 706MKII with an OCF and it brought the SWR into 1:1 wherever I parked it. I should note that the OCF where I was operating was no worse than 2.8:1 on any given band I was working on at the time. To ask any tuner to "fix" a bad antenna isthe wrong appraoch, IMO. Put the attention and $$ to the antenna, then the use a tuner for the finer matching. These tuners should be used with good antannas to begin with, not antennas that can be 6:1 or more SWR at certain places.

Build and the performance was always as expected doing the intended job. I'd recommend one of these if you happen upon one.



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Earlier 5-star review posted by NC2F on 2007-01-23

I have used this tuner since buying it new with several different radios. iCom 718, IC-706MKIIG and my latest acquisition, the IC-7000.

My antenna is a Carolina Windom 137' for 80 through 10. This tuner tunes all the bands and frequencies I use to a sold 1:1 ratio match.

For those using G5RV antennas, I see you have found the AT-180 works well with that to, and just think about that, the G5RV without a trans-match is not resonant on ANY of the ham bands. So this tuner must be really good. Though I would still not use a G5RV under any circumstance because of it's lack of resonance on the ham bands.

I would recommend anyone spend the few extra dollars on this well-built AT-180 tuner over say MFJ or the LDG stuff. In this case, you're not just paying for the brand name alone.

I'll have my AT-180 for as long as I am operating radios...
N8FXH Rating: 2009-05-08
good mobile tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The capacity to tune on this over priced mobile tuner is poor. It definitely won't handle anything higher than 3 to 1 ,which most rigs will handle without a tuner. It's only redeeming feature is that it's quiet but maybe that's because it's not doing much. For use with a mobile whip which is close to resonance this piece of Icom Failure would be OK, but don't expect it to handle a multiband wire antenna. The real price for this thing should be $150 not what Icom wants.

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Earlier 2-star review posted by N8FXH on 2009-01-24

The more I used this tuner the less I like it. Any LDG Tuner has more capacity to tune an unbalanced antenna than this thing. It is only good for use with a beam where the SWR is less than 2 to 1. It looks nice and is relatively quiet but is very limited
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Earlier 4-star review posted by N8FXH on 2008-10-28

I have owned this tuner for about 14 months now and most of the time it delivers but when I replaced my old fan dipole cut for 80-40-17 with a WA2NAN G5RV, I noticed the dreaded retuning while talking syndrome on 17 meters only. Well I switched radios to my old FT 890 and guess what and 17 laid down to 1.1 to 1 and it also tuned 30 Meters down to 1.2. I guess I had have to use the old rig for 17. That is sad. but the AT 180 quietly tunes everything else just fine.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N8FXH on 2007-10-06

I Bought one of these tuners about six weeks ago to use with an Icom 718 and it works very well and is very quiet. I have no complaints so far.
KX5F Rating: 2008-10-28
Worked fine for me. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had one for several years with a 706 and a 706mrk2, never had one problem used it mobile and in the shack. Also Had a LDG tuner, it seemed the hype was better than the actual tuner. 73 Patrick kx5f

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KX5F on 2001-02-10

Have had very good service using a AT-180 tuner with my IC-706mk2, it uses the same mounting bracket, and is about the same size as the radio. I used mine in 2 vehicles a 94-S-10 pickup and a 97 S-10 Blazer with good results, I could tune the bugcatcher in the driveway, but going down the interstate at 70 mph always changed the swr somewhat, just hitting the tune button on the radio took care of that, they are a bit pricey, but on the used market, seem to be priced right. Would recommend it to anyone. Pat Burns KX5F
G0VTI Rating: 2008-01-25
Simply the best Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought an Icom AT-180 quite a few years ago and have had excellent service from it. It has tuned my various half size G5RV antennas over the years perfectly on all bands 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10Mtrs. It does not tune on 80Mtrs but the half G5RV is not for this band.It also tunes my vertical for 6Mtrs very well

I mistakenly decided to sell my old AT-180 and purchase a new LDG-7000 to go with my new IC-7000 rig. The LDG write up convinced me this was a great tuner and the one for me.

The tuner was easily installed and worked well when demand from IC-7000 was received but that where the good new ended. In my opinion the tuner was a pile of junk. It would not tune my half G5RV antenna anywhere near as good as my old AT-180. It was veruy noisy as well.

I was unable to tune my antenna on 30 mtrs my favourite CW band or on 17 mtrs. On the other bands it would tune them but not to the standard of the AT-180

After a few months of struggling I sold the LDG-7000 and I am now the proud owner of a brand new Icom AT-180 and straight away all bands tuned perfectly on my half G5RV.

Not cheap here in the UK, not as many memories but solid, reliable, tunes in seconds with no noise.

Well done again Icom and thanks.
Merle T Trenary Rating: 2007-09-12
available hook-ups were a surprise Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just bought an at180 for my ic-718 and as you know there were no instructions with it but the surprise was the available hook-ups on the at180. It came with 2,13 pin and 1,8 pin (labeled ACC2)female plugs ready to be plugged into. This was great because I plan to hook up my radio for psk31, etc and I was worried about not having the plugs available to use. The at180 works great with my ic-718 by the way
The 4 rating was because of the lack of paper-work with this unit. It had none,which has been mentioned before. 73's
KE7GUE Rating: 2007-07-27
AT-180 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a ICOM 7000 and it is a great radio. I also bought the AT-180 that on some frequencies seems to automatically tune good. However, on some bands, it tunes up good 1:1.2 and as I am talking, VSWR drops out after a several seconds and I can watch it go out. I do a manual retune and it happens again after a few seconds. On other bands, it seems to hold VSWR for longer time. a G5RV-M (160-10 meter) antenna is used in an inverted V with ladder line to coax feed as recommended. I finally bought a manual tuner and it is possible now for me to talk for some time with 1:1.5. I am not sure why AT180 does not hold.
AG7K Rating: 2007-02-08
ICOMS MOST USELESS PRODUCT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Icom makes some great products, but the AT-180 is not one of them. The cheapest LDG tuner blows it away. I will admit that it looked good next to the 706 MII G but would not reduce a 3:1 down to 2:1. I sent it back to Icom , they sent it back with a note that it was ok. That is it. I gave it away to sweeten the deal on a used 706 that I sold. I am using the LDG tuners now and have had zero problems so far(maybe lucky?) I still have the 706 and it has been a great radio the last 4 years. Buy a 706, forget the tuner.
K3DAV Rating: 2006-07-03
Best little tuner. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is a follow up to my last review. I have had the last 4 months now to play with this wonderful piece of technology. The AT-180 is a superb top quality tuner that goes beyond the call of duty. On any HF frequency, it tunes itself without you even knowing it, and quietly. On 6 meters, a single touch of the tune button and you are tuned in a few seconds. I have never heard such a quiet tuner in my life. You have to have absolute silence in the room to hear the little motors tune. No loud relays clicking through your head. I have never seen it tune and leave an SWR above 1.2:1. on any frequency.

I tried the LDG 100Pro, and it couldn't tune much below a 2.1:1 on most frequencies. Most of the time, it wouldn't even tune, and kept going into bypass mode. What a joke. What a waste of time and money.

So if you have an Icom 706MK2G and need the PERFECT tuner,search no more. The Icom AT-180 is the final answer. This tuner was made for the 706, and becomes an important part of the radio. Just hook it up, and forget it's there. It may cost more than other models, but it's worth every penny. This is one case where you DO get what you pay for.
G7CNF Rating: 2006-02-18
Does what it's meant to. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought a faulty radio on eBay which came bundled with an AT-180. Fixed the radio, tried the tuner and bingo!

I have used an awful lot of different tuners over the years, manual, auto, built-in, Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu. This one does what it's meant to; i.e. it works within specification. Don't expect it to tune a random long wire with no balun.

I really like its quietness, especically compared to the MFJ-993 series with their chattering relays.

The AT-180 is reasonably quick, very quiet and has tuned all moderate mis-matches I have thrown at it from top band to 6m. No complaints from me. A worthy 5 out of 5.
K7ZP Rating: 2005-02-03
WORKS WELL FOR MY APPLICATION Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My AT-180 has operated as described.

My question to all here is why do folks rate down a piece of hardware that is performing to spec..... the AT-180 is spec'd to operate 16.6 - 150 ohms HF or 3:1 and 20 - 125 ohms or 2.5:1 at 50 Mhz.
The specs are on the Icom web site.
The good side of our reviews is that they help to make new prospective buyers understand what they are about to purchase.

Frank