View Full Version : LDG Products
KG4LLQ
08-05-2009, 12:31 PM
I'd like opinions of LDG auto-tuners. Thanks & 73,
Ken Powell - KG4LLQ
N0AZZ
08-18-2009, 04:39 PM
I have the AT-7000 for my I-7000 and it seems to work ok for what I use it for. On the other hand I purchased a New AT-1000PRO for I think was 5 0r 6 hundred dollars and used for 3 weeks and sold it it was so slow and made so much noise I got tired of it. It was replaced with a Palstar manual tuner which is much faster with a cheat sheet that the LDG ever was.
73 de Fred
AE5JU
08-19-2009, 05:24 AM
I have the LDG AT-897 tuner mounted on my Yaesu FT-897. It works as advertised. Easy and fast to use.
Same for the LDG IT-100 tuner I'm using with my Icom 718. Due to the excellent performance of the AT-897, I knew I wanted another LDG tuner for the 718.
I also have the LDG FT-Meter, an analog meter for power, swr, etc, for use with the FT-897. Very nice!
All good products.
N8BHL
08-20-2009, 05:03 PM
Ken, I purchased a used AT-1000 tuner to use with my 600 watt amp and ft102. I was pleased with it's simple and thorough operation. Then one day, I let some smoke out of one of the chips (that's never good.) I returned the unit to LDG (after pleasant conversations with real people) for reasonably-priced repair. The unit came back earlier than forecast, and has worked well since. For the units operation, and for the service that stands behind the product, I have been very pleased.
W0LPQ
08-20-2009, 05:21 PM
Stilll have my original AT-11. Works fine and probably should send it back for some updates. Had an RT-11 Remote Tuner ... worked just fine in the car with the MkIIg and hamsticks to hit the band edges on 40M. Since replaced by an N9JMX Predator .. used the RT-11 inside with an Icom 7000. Nary an issue at all. Didn't even notice the relay noise. Also used it with a Ten Tec Omni VI+ ... non issue there either.
Many chats on the phone with Dwayne about some hints and kinks.
Great people, great product.
WB2WIK
08-21-2009, 11:55 PM
I've had a couple of LDG tuners, including the one built-in to my Ten Tec Jupiter (their "factory installed" tuner is actually made by LDG) and they're "clicky clacky" (you can hear the relays -- sometimes a lot) but I've never had one fail. They work well.
WB2WIK/6
I have a AT-200PRO. Word of caution, tune with the minimum power LDG recommends or else it may arc. I mistakenly tuned mine with 40w one day and it arced between a pair of leads which caused a carbon track in the board. I cleaned out the carbon, tested the relay & the cap where the arc went between, soldered them back on the board, then conformal coated the board. The tuner works as new again. LDG should be conformal coating these boards in the tuners to lessen the chance of arcing. LDG will NOT give out schematic's so your on your own for repairs unless you like to pay others to repair your equipment. Relays and caps are available online if you ever need a repair part. Just cross reference the LDG components with Digi or Mouser components. The relay's are a standard pin layout and voltage/current rating. LDG won't offer parts for sale or tell you where to buy them.
Other than that mishap, the tuner works excellent. Relay clatter is no big deal. It only makes noise when it needs to tune, then it is stone quiet. Tune with low power and don't run over the max power what LDG says, and you should get many years of use out of their tuners.
Mike
KC9FSH
09-03-2009, 05:44 AM
... then conformal coated the board. The tuner works as new again. LDG should be conformal coating these boards in the tuners to lessen the chance of arcing.
I never thought about doing that to a tuner. It would make sense though and in a way I'm surprised companies aren't doing it already. Then again depending on the type of coating they use, I could see some ham's getting PO'd when they go to troubleshoot/fix a board and would have to scrape off the coating before doing any soldering.
I may have to consider bringing my tuner's board into work one of these days...
It would be a good idea for an outdoor tuner also. The failure in my tuner was the voltage between the two leads was too much and the RF found the lowest resistance path and took it. If it would have been conformal coated before hand, it would have taken a much higher voltage to cross that path. I am now very confident that it will not arc again. Besides, a conformal coated board will not corrode or tarnish, and looks very professional.
Mike
I am not impressed with my Z 11 Pro LDG tuner. But part of the fault is my own. MOST, not all, but most of these automatic antenna tuners are just simple L C networks. An L C network is very limited in what it can handle.
There are times that I have mine in line and the antenna is 1:1 without the tuner. Not remembering where that frequency is, I hit the tune button and the final SWR to the rig is actually too high. The tuner tries to add some inductance and capacitance to get to a low SWR. It can not tell that it is not needed and go into a bypass mode. In its attempt to match the load to the rig, by adding L and C, the SWR goes up.
If you system need some tweaking, this type of tuner may be all that you need. For me, all that it's good for is tweaking my mobile antennas and that's all I even use it for.
Their selling point is the automatic tune feature. If you really want a great tuner, make the Ultimate Antenna Tuner that's in the ARRL books. I made mine over 30 years ago and it is so broad banded you could probably couple a wash machine to the rig.
Just remember, the LDG tuners are not broad band or wide range tuners. They are just automatic and very limited.
Bottom line: make a good resonant antenna and only use the tuner to tweak the SWR on the band's edges.
Barry, KU3X
I was about to buy a Z11pro for the FT-817, but before spending $180, I remembered the MFJ-901B packed away in a closet.
It has a built in balun and works great. Take some time and make a cheat sheet with the settings for each band, and tuning takes seconds if using the same antenna.
The good part, is no batteries or balun needed, and you don't have to worry about burned out relays.
Manual tuners have more range, and really aren't hard to use once you write down the settings. This one is 15-25 years old, and will last longer then me.
Don't rule out manual tuners, they work good.
http://www.gotoloveland.com/pictures2/FT-Tuner.jpg
W1GUH
10-15-2009, 07:35 PM
I have a AT-200PRO. Word of caution, tune with the minimum power LDG recommends or else it may arc. I mistakenly tuned mine with 40w one day and it arced between a pair of leads which caused a carbon track in the board. I cleaned out the carbon, tested the relay & the cap where the arc went between, soldered them back on the board, then conformal coated the board. The tuner works as new again. LDG should be conformal coating these boards in the tuners to lessen the chance of arcing. LDG will NOT give out schematic's so your on your own for repairs unless you like to pay others to repair your equipment. Relays and caps are available online if you ever need a repair part. Just cross reference the LDG components with Digi or Mouser components. The relay's are a standard pin layout and voltage/current rating. LDG won't offer parts for sale or tell you where to buy them.
Other than that mishap, the tuner works excellent. Relay clatter is no big deal. It only makes noise when it needs to tune, then it is stone quiet. Tune with low power and don't run over the max power what LDG says, and you should get many years of use out of their tuners.
Mike
LDG will NOT give out schematic's so your on your own for repairs unless you like to pay others to repair your equipment. Relays and caps are available online if you ever need a repair part. Just cross reference the LDG components with Digi or Mouser components. The relay's are a standard pin layout and voltage/current rating. LDG won't offer parts for sale or tell you where to buy them.
For me, that's a very good reason to steer clear of them. Their stuff is probably really good, I haven't heard a bad word about them, but it seems to me that that's a complete "dis" form them to us.
OTOH - I've got their FT-Meter for my '857 and that's close to a "required accessory." I love it. But then, I doubt if I'd ever need a schematic for that.
Byt contrast --
MFJ's policy encourages hams to make their own repairs. It is stated explicitlly in their warranty that user repairs will NOT void the warranty. And, if you call them (and maybe you have to get the right person), they'll support you with suggestions and replacement parts.
Yaesu will sell you a service manual CD, or you can get it free on-line, and ordering parts from them is a snap. They have no problem with hams fixing their radios.
Does LDG justify it's diss-ing to hams policy to hams? Or do they just stonewall it?
I'm floored to hear of a ham equipment supplier that won't release a schematic and parts list.
So was I.
I worked through the repair like anything else with no drawing. Took longer but I repaired it and conformal coated that area of the board and other places where arcing could happen.
I think everything sold should have a schematic in it's manual or online for the purchaser to download, if they so desire. Good customer support goes a long ways. Customers talk to other potential customers. A good reputation goes a long ways, and even more so in these tough economic days. A company craps on their customers, word of that gets out and business's can fail, or not do as well as could be, because of a bad reputation.
Mike
I'm floored to hear of a ham equipment supplier that won't release a schematic and parts list.
Not a good policy. I would probably never buy one of their products. I'm glad I saved $180.
Some companies just don't get it.
The tuner works but you are on your own if you fry it :D It's not a tough one to repair unless it is the controller part, then your screwed and have to send it in for $$$ :eek:
Mike
The tuner works but you are on your own if you fry it :D It's not a tough one to repair unless it is the controller part, then your screwed and have to send it in for $$$ :eek:
Mike
That is the part that makes me pause. We buy a lot of ready made stuff, but that shouldn't be the norm. Now they take it from "ready made" to you can't fix it yourself either? Guess I should just buy another Cobra CB when the current one breaks? I don't have a Cobra CB, but I sure see the parallel.
Well, business is business, but again, I won't buy their products, as they must think Hams are just CB dipweeds.
Pretty suprising, and I am glad to read this before I bought an LDG product.
I'd like opinions of LDG auto-tuners. Thanks & 73,
Ken Powell - KG4LLQ
They are great tuners. The 2 yr warranty transfer so try to find a used one if you need to save money.
_____________________
...... Bob
The warranty transfer is interesting as their tech support didn't mention anything when I told them the serial number hand written on the bottom of the circuit board. I thought it was a little strange to have a serial number hidden like that on the bottom side of the board. Pull the cover on a AT-200PRO and tell me how easy it is to see that number :rolleyes:
But, bottom line, the tuner does a fabulous job finding matches. I am not afraid of repairing any radio device I own, schematic or not :D
Mike
The warranty transfer is interesting as their tech support didn't mention anything when I told them the serial number hand written on the bottom of the circuit board. I thought it was a little strange to have a serial number hidden like that on the bottom side of the board. Pull the cover on a AT-200PRO and tell me how easy it is to see that number :rolleyes:
But, bottom line, the tuner does a fabulous job finding matches. I am not afraid of repairing any radio device I own, schematic or not :D
Mike
Inductors and capacitors do the job. Nothing that LDG invented.
Maybe I take this the wrong way, but auto L-C auto tuners aren't exactly rocket science. But maybe LDG thinks it is.
Idiots, if you ask me. There are people that won't buy their tuner because they don't sell parts.
KB1KGA
10-18-2009, 12:58 PM
I have a Z-11 Pro tuner that is currently back with LDG for warranty service. One of the coils overheated, emitted some smoke and got rather burned around its base while I was on 20m CW. I smelled it and took the cover off. It was about 10 minutes before that coil and relays close to it were cool enough to comfortably touch. I explained to LDG in an email that I was running 100 watts into it and then to a DX Engineering balun and then to ladder line. The person who responded was happy that I was using it within its power rating so invited me to send it back for service.
Despite all that I'm still think it's reasonably good value considering the price. I'm pleased that they accepted it back for warranty service but I'm still a little bit skeptical about whether it was really faulty or it will happen again if I give it the same stress. It seems to me that they can't really give these things a power rating in watts because its voltage and current that does the damage and that depends on the impedance you're trying to match. The manual does say 125 watts "at the most".
I bought it mainly to live in a plastic box outside so that I could run coax to it instead of having to run the ladder line into the house. It can run on flashlight batteries which is very convenient. If it seldom needs to tune, ie it's mostly recalling from memory, then the batteries will last two years according to the manual.
Now that I've managed to bring the ladder line into the house I've gone back to my old MFJ-941D manual tuner. It's easy enough to tune so I think I'll be keeping the Z11-Pro mostly for portable QRP operation.