LDG AT-200Pro Autotuner
If you read my post earlier about the Z-11Pro Autotuner by LDG you know I was really thrilled to get that and experience the versatility. That got me to thinking about getting something like that to stick in the shack.
The reason I bought the Z-11Pro was to use it with my FT-857D for portable operating. It is a fantastic tuner for portable use. Only, I ended up putting it in the shack and using it for my main HF station. That created an inconvenience for using in a grab-n'-go situation as I had to unhook it from the station.
So I solved my issue! I picked up an AT-200Pro tuner to keep in the station. This tuner works the same as the Z-11Pro in that it is RF-sensing, has memory recalls, and is fully adjustable from the front panel. The only differences are the box, meters, antenna ports, and power handling.
The AT-200Pro is a 200w capable tuner. It has 16,000 memory channels (memories recordable in 8 antennas per frequency). The tuner has two antenna ports on it, which are selectable from the front panel.
As was my only negative comment with the Z-11Pro - the AT-200Pro is LOUD. If you aren't expecting the relays to slap when you first plug it in you may be quite startled.
However, only the initial tuning sequence lets the tuner roll through all its impedance combinations. Once a setting has been acquired it is stored as a memory. That way when you go back to the same frequency (generally entire bands can be covered with one setting) the tuner knows exactly where to go - one click and it is tuned.
The AT-200Pro's relays are rated for 10 amps - heavier duty than the Z-11Pro's. As a result, the relays take longer to move and the overall time the tuner takes to acquire a match is lengthened. Again, though, once the tuner finds a match it is recorded and won't have to hunt again - just feed it a bit of RF and in less than a second it goes where it needs to go.
I had thought about getting an AT-100Pro tuner. However, I figured the extra $30 was worth the double in power capability. Plus, you get a power button, the 16,000 memories, and multiple antenna configurations whereas with the AT-100Pro there are just 4200 - 2100 per antenna port (I know, thats still a lot) without the antenna recall. At some point in the future I would like to get a higher performance base station rig and that could end up being a 200w radio. Having a 200w tuner would have me covered.
This past weekend during Winter Field Day we set up the AT-200Pro with a third HF station with a friend's FT-857D. It worked great! The Z-11Pro was in a box remote mounted at the base of my 80m 1/4 wave vertical. This week I am out of town again and have the AT-200Pro feeding a random wire with the plumbing as a counterpoise. No complaints here! When I get home in a few days I will hook it up in the shack.
Though I can't speak for the durability and longevity of the tuners having had them for such a short amount of time, I can honestly say that LDG really has a spectacularly operating product. If you are in the market for an HF tuner for low/medium power applications I think you will have a hard time beating LDG, especially for the money. Compare the Z-11Pro to a manual MFJ tuner - you are in the same ball park. The AT-200Pro is a bit over what a regular manual tuner runs, but not by much. When you factor in the autotuning and memory recall LDG is clearly the winner!
The reason I bought the Z-11Pro was to use it with my FT-857D for portable operating. It is a fantastic tuner for portable use. Only, I ended up putting it in the shack and using it for my main HF station. That created an inconvenience for using in a grab-n'-go situation as I had to unhook it from the station.
So I solved my issue! I picked up an AT-200Pro tuner to keep in the station. This tuner works the same as the Z-11Pro in that it is RF-sensing, has memory recalls, and is fully adjustable from the front panel. The only differences are the box, meters, antenna ports, and power handling.
The AT-200Pro is a 200w capable tuner. It has 16,000 memory channels (memories recordable in 8 antennas per frequency). The tuner has two antenna ports on it, which are selectable from the front panel.
As was my only negative comment with the Z-11Pro - the AT-200Pro is LOUD. If you aren't expecting the relays to slap when you first plug it in you may be quite startled.
However, only the initial tuning sequence lets the tuner roll through all its impedance combinations. Once a setting has been acquired it is stored as a memory. That way when you go back to the same frequency (generally entire bands can be covered with one setting) the tuner knows exactly where to go - one click and it is tuned.
The AT-200Pro's relays are rated for 10 amps - heavier duty than the Z-11Pro's. As a result, the relays take longer to move and the overall time the tuner takes to acquire a match is lengthened. Again, though, once the tuner finds a match it is recorded and won't have to hunt again - just feed it a bit of RF and in less than a second it goes where it needs to go.
I had thought about getting an AT-100Pro tuner. However, I figured the extra $30 was worth the double in power capability. Plus, you get a power button, the 16,000 memories, and multiple antenna configurations whereas with the AT-100Pro there are just 4200 - 2100 per antenna port (I know, thats still a lot) without the antenna recall. At some point in the future I would like to get a higher performance base station rig and that could end up being a 200w radio. Having a 200w tuner would have me covered.
This past weekend during Winter Field Day we set up the AT-200Pro with a third HF station with a friend's FT-857D. It worked great! The Z-11Pro was in a box remote mounted at the base of my 80m 1/4 wave vertical. This week I am out of town again and have the AT-200Pro feeding a random wire with the plumbing as a counterpoise. No complaints here! When I get home in a few days I will hook it up in the shack.
Though I can't speak for the durability and longevity of the tuners having had them for such a short amount of time, I can honestly say that LDG really has a spectacularly operating product. If you are in the market for an HF tuner for low/medium power applications I think you will have a hard time beating LDG, especially for the money. Compare the Z-11Pro to a manual MFJ tuner - you are in the same ball park. The AT-200Pro is a bit over what a regular manual tuner runs, but not by much. When you factor in the autotuning and memory recall LDG is clearly the winner!
posted by Steve at
8:36 PM
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