FT857D and ATAS 120

[W4QF]

Hello all,

I am trying to decide on a mobile setup that I can switch between two cars.

I am considering the 857 and the ATAS due to the small size and the fact that the ATAS can be tuned from the 857 without additional equipment. The setup will in a Buick most of the time but switched to an HHR for travel.

The HHR is very short on space again a reason for the 857 and ATAS.

My question is does anyone have practical experience with this combination?

I know that the Icom 7000 and 706 with a screwdriver is also an option.

Thanks

Rodney

[W8XV]

I run the 857d/120a combo. It has worked great for me. I have two vehicles that have their own mount for the radio and antenna. The only thing I need to do is unscrew the antenna and unplug the radio. It takes about two minutes to switch between vehicles. The small size and conservative looks is the benifits of the 120a. Though it only covers 40 meters and up has never been a problem. I have always been able to work anyone that I can hear. There are obviously better antennas, but size and external tuners are the hassle of them when moving from one vehicle to another.

I have heard some complain about trying to get it to work properly, but I had no problems. I attached the mount, ran the wires straight to the battery, and started talking. I have been slowly adding the extra grounding scheme to the SUV as it is the primary vehicle. I haven't seen a major difference in performance yet. It maybe that it is already working great. :)

[N5USR]

I also have that setup. Works fine on my work truck, and my own pickup. For that matter, it even works on my back of my recumbent bicycle! :p

It does want a good ground, though, or it has trouble tuning. Even with a good ground, 40M can sometimes be finicky (the manual states this too). But you can watch the SWR level as it tunes, and stop it manually at the low spot if it won't automatically. You could also manually adjust up/down, there are buttons for that as well.

[W7LPN]

I've heard a lot of good reports from that combo. I have a friend who would probably sell his ATAS really cheap. Every time it iced, it wouldn't tune, and here in Idaho, that can be pretty often. Even with rain, it was problematic. He tried to ground it better, to no avail. I think it's either a lemon, or broke, but it's sitting in his closet.

[W6GQ]

I've heard a lot of good reports from that combo. I have a friend who would probably sell his ATAS really cheap. Every time it iced, it wouldn't tune, and here in Idaho, that can be pretty often. Even with rain, it was problematic. He tried to ground it better, to no avail. I think it's either a lemon, or broke, but it's sitting in his closet.

Its no lemon, I had the same problem. I do not like the ATAS 120a antenna.

If the weatherman even suggests rain it stops tuning! :eek:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5984

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2736

I prefer this antenna

http://www.tarheelantennas.com/little_tarheel_ii

[W8XV]

I guess I have been fortunate. I've never experienced any of the above issues.

[W4QF]

Thank you to all for your replies.

I did look on eham and saw the problems associated with the 120. It appears to be either you love the antenna or you hate it.

I investigated the little tarheel and the antenna boss from w4rt.
Has anyone used this combo?

Thank you again.

[WA3ERQ]

Rodney;

I have the same exact combo in my car. I enjoy digital DX and from Phila Intl Airport garages I've reached New Zealand, Peru and Asiatic Russia on 50watts BPSK and RTTY.

I have had a few problems. When the temperature drops below 40F, the ATAS will not tune. I don't recall any issues with the rain. I did just get my radio returned from Vertex this afternoon after blowing a few resisters and FET's from attempting an AM QSO. Still don't know what happened but the radio is running fine.

I am also experiencing issues with the ATAS during tuning. The lower 2" seem to be "bumpy" and sometimes it gets stuck in the fully retracted position. I am able to manually raise the ATAS then continue with the automatic tuning. You do need an excellent ground for the antenna so be prepared.

Overall, I am very pleased with this combination. So much that I purchased the 897D for my home shack.

Good luck.

'73
Jim
WA3ERQ

[WA3ERQ]

Rodney;

I just noticed your last post. The main positive aspect of the 120 is that you can automatically tune while driving. I can be driving down the highway and all that I have to do is select my frequency and hit the tune button. After a few moments or about 1 minute, the antenna is tuned and I'm ready for a QSO. I've looked into the Tarheel and High Sierra but you basically have to watch the SWR meter while tuning which means that you have to be pushign the PTT. Pretty hard to do while driving.

Good luck

'73
Jim
WA3ERQ

[W7LPN]

Rodney;

I just noticed your last post. The main positive aspect of the 120 is that you can automatically tune while driving. I can be driving down the highway and all that I have to do is select my frequency and hit the tune button. After a few moments or about 1 minute, the antenna is tuned and I'm ready for a QSO. I've looked into the Tarheel and High Sierra but you basically have to watch the SWR meter while tuning which means that you have to be pushign the PTT. Pretty hard to do while driving.

Good luck

'73
Jim
WA3ERQ

I have seen screwdriver controllers which do the same thing, Some pick-up magnets, and a counter with a brain, to tell it up or down.

[W6GQ]

Thank you to all for your replies.

I investigated the little tarheel and the antenna boss from w4rt.
Has anyone used this combo?

Thank you again.

This is a much better idea, in my opinion.

http://www.n2vz.com/

http://www.n2vz.com/images/tt-n2vz.jpg

[W6GQ]

Rodney;

I just noticed your last post. The main positive aspect of the 120 is that you can automatically tune while driving. I can be driving down the highway and all that I have to do is select my frequency and hit the tune button. After a few moments or about 1 minute, the antenna is tuned and I'm ready for a QSO. I've looked into the Tarheel and High Sierra but you basically have to watch the SWR meter while tuning which means that you have to be pushign the PTT. Pretty hard to do while driving.

Good luck

'73
Jim
WA3ERQ

And the best part about the Turbo Tuner with the Little Tarheel II is you can tune from 80-6 meter, just hit the tune button and forget about it. No watching the SWR while your driving or being limited down to 40 meter.

One thing to remember, if you use the ATAS:eek: or if you use the Tarheel:D
YOU NEED THE ANTENNA MOUNT TO BE GROUNDED VERY WELL!

:cool::cool::cool:

[KB3HLK]

I use the 857 and 120a. I have it in my 89 bronco, and never take it out. I go 4 wheeling, have driven from SC to NM in the dead of winner through rain, snow #### and blow. I have never had a moments trouble with the setup after initial install. A good ground is needed but nothing out of the norm is needed.

I want to mention that I did have some initial problems like most people with the antenna not wanting to tune. But I did some investigating and found out the problem is actually a setting in the radio. When the 857 comes from the factory, it has DEFAULT settings for everything. One of the settings in the "hidden menu" is CW tune carrier. After slowly bumping up the setting so the radio and antenna would work together it worked flawlessly. Since then, I have never had a moments trouble!

Get the setup and I promise you will enjoy its trouble free play!!!!

[N6YG]

Thank you to all for your replies.

I did look on eham and saw the problems associated with the 120. It appears to be either you love the antenna or you hate it.

I investigated the little tarheel and the antenna boss from w4rt.
Has anyone used this combo?

Thank you again.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the ATAS-1XX Antenna's. I think most of the negative reports come from hams who either don't know how to mount them correctly or who are expecting way to much from such a small antenna.

Sure an antenna such as the Tarheal might work a bit better but its also ugly as sin and nowhere near as wife friendly. I have used both and I prefer the ATAS-1XX simply because it is much less obtrusive.

As far as durability I still have my first ATAS-100 it has been mounted on a vehicle 24/7 365 days a year for the last 9 or 10 years....... last week was the first time it ever failed !! I actually wore out the motor. $40 later and a new motor is on the way..

After taking it apart I have to say I am impressed with the over all construction. I don't see how so many people are having water intrusion problems. the other thought that crossed my mind is condensation. Since my antenna is mounted 24/7 it does not see drastic short term temperature shifts. On the other had I have heard of people who take them off the car every night and they have had nothing but problems..

Like I said I have the same setup 857d and ATAS-100 it's worked great. I also have an ATAS-120 mounted on a van in the back yard about 20 feet from the shack. That antenna is fed by an FT-847 in the shack. I installed this antenna as an experiment just to see how it compares to other antennas I have. Whats funny is that hears better then my Hustler 5-BTV. I just don't get it? The hustler is mounted maybe 40 feet away and has a ridiculous number of ground radials, yet the ATAS-120 still hears better. EVEN ON 40... I just think 5BTV is a piece of junk!!

[K1TE]

I have the Ft-857D and am going to be operating "hotel" mobile occaisional weekdays. Is there a tuner with a drop a wire out the window or set up a short dipole between 2 points in the room that would have any likelyhood of working on say 20m? Would it work on 40m? Is the Atlas-120 a good choice for such a setup? Thanks! Bradshaw :)

[N6YG]

I have the Ft-857D and am going to be operating "hotel" mobile occaisional weekdays. Is there a tuner with a drop a wire out the window or set up a short dipole between 2 points in the room that would have any likelyhood of working on say 20m? Would it work on 40m? Is the Atlas-120 a good choice for such a setup? Thanks! Bradshaw :)

I have done exactly what you are planing. I used an ATAS-100 and a truck mirror mount. I always rented hotel rooms with balcony's that had wrought iron railings. It was a simple matter of clamping the antenna to the railing. In case of tuning problems I also had a short length of wire with alligator clips on both ends. There was always some kind of metal flashing or pipe around the porch even a gutter sometimes. I would simply clip one end to the ground connection of the antenna mount and the other to the flashing, gutter or pipe.

I never had a problem tuning. The only problem with this approach is if you are operating battery powered, It could use up a bunch of battery life auto tuning. I've also used buddy pole but it was a lot more work and did not seem to work nearly as well..

[K1TE]

Great, thanks!

What antenna did you use on the trunk mirror mount?

I would love to go with a tested solution.

I am staying at the same hotel for occaisional nights over the next number of months. It has "normal" new house metal casement windows. I will build something simple to hang around the "fake marble" sill and support the mount. I don't see a good ground solution. How would a couple of 10' or 20' bell wires be as a counterpoise? There is a heating coil and cover around the outside wall. I will hopefully look for a screw head to cliplead to. I would love to get back on CW at a mellow moderate speed and build my speed back up. That and PSK would be good evening entertainment.

I am assuming, dangerously, that it is coax from the 857d to the atlas, coax from the atlas to the mount, then some commercial antenna from there?

[N6YG]

Great, thanks!

What antenna did you use on the trunk mirror mount?

I would love to go with a tested solution.

I am staying at the same hotel for occaisional nights over the next number of months. It has "normal" new house metal casement windows. I will build something simple to hang around the "fake marble" sill and support the mount. I don't see a good ground solution. How would a couple of 10' or 20' bell wires be as a counterpoise? There is a heating coil and cover around the outside wall. I will hopefully look for a screw head to cliplead to. I would love to get back on CW at a mellow moderate speed and build my speed back up. That and PSK would be good evening entertainment.

I am assuming, dangerously, that it is coax from the 857d to the atlas, coax from the atlas to the mount, then some commercial antenna from there?


Here's an antena I forgot all about

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6986/nbantct9.gif
N5ESE's Notebook Antenna
http://www.io.com/~n5fc/notebk_ant.htm

I built this antenna and believe it or not when used in a hotel or motel room it actually out performed the ATAS-100. Not only was it fun to use but it was easier to setup and take down. The only problem is I lost it in the bookshelf