Icom AH-4 auto Antenna Tuner

[WQ1H]

Any experience- good or bad Also any comments about the AH-2b antenna element. I am not looking for the most efficient antenna...just one that works for my XYL with out switching resonators...we have Hustler...a lot of them... Any comments will be appreciated.

Thanks

Dave WQ1H

[kc8plw]

I am using an ic-706 with the ah-4 tuner hooked to a 50 ft. long wire. #This is a really good tuner. #The only problem is the length of the coax and control cable that comes with it is really short. #I just coupled on another long length of rg-8 coax and made an extension control cable out of cat5, networking, cable. #This unit has a so239 connector inside it for the coax, the coax gets fed through the bottom of the tuner, and the pl259 gets attached inside. #And the control cable leads just push in to 4 terminals. #The unit has about 10 screws on the face of it to take it apart and do the connections inside, there is also a rubber ring that go inbetween the two case peice for water tightness. #There is a wing nut on top for a wire or the element and a screw on the bottom for a grounding wire. #I have mine about 20 feet in the air on the side of a tower with a hunk of 12 wire going to a ground rod. #The 50 ft wire goes out to the top of a 30 ft tower. #I do not know what my signal actually does with the angle like that, but I have worked eastern europe with this setup. #I can tune 80-10 meters on my 706, although I have heard it will tune 160 also I have not tried it yet.

Hope this helps.

Rob KC8PLW

[N2PVP]

I am using the AH-4 with my 706 in the car using a 102" steel whip. It tunes down to 40M with this set up. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I'm using an AH-4 w/my Icom 706Mk2G, also into a 102" stainless steel whip, w/ a quick-disconnect fitting at the base of the whip. #It tunes from 6-80m, although I don't know exactly what kind of signal gets put out on 80m (haven't made any 80m contacts yet). #I have gotten good reports from Russia, though, from my mobile set-up. #Make sure your ground connections are well made.

Dave
KG4OIJ

[KK5ZD]

I have used the ah-4 tuner for about five years now with three mobile antenna setups. I have used the hustler 80m coil, an 80m hamstick, #and a bugcatcher style antenna for mobile use. #I can tune from 80-10 meters on all three with the ah-4. I use an icom 706 original and have been completely satisfied with the operation of both radio and tuner. Instead of switching coils, put the 80m coil on, and let the tuner do the rest. # 73's # #Keith

[N2PVP]

Has anyone tried it with an 80M ham stick? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[N3LGN]

KK5ZD !!!!! Are you saying use an 80M coil and it will tune to all the lower bands?? I was lead to believe if you used a coil for a specific band, It would not tune to the other freq's. By the way, I'm using the tuner with the 102 whip also, tunes great from 40m to 6m

[KK5ZD]

Yes, it will tune the other bands. It tunes your whip, so why wouldn't it tune the coil just like the whip? Anyway, try it and see how you like it. If you have any further questions, please email me at my call sign @arrl.net 73's

[wx4bb]

Hi all - I use the Icom auto tuner with my Icom 706II, and the Icom whip - contacts all over the world. #Tuning on some bands is a bit spotty once in a while, but overall VERY satisfactory. #I have even talked to KK5ZD with it - hi Keith!!!

I am planning to try a sort of cap hat for 80, but haven't gotten around to it yet - never give up!

73 de KA3BIS
Boots # http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif