The ATAS-120A is a heavy antenna, I did some experiments with NMO Mounts, including drilling nmo hole directly into the roof, the issue is, the ATAS-120A under wind load gets heavy enough to bend most vehicle metals, I highly recommend sticking to a tri-mag mount. As for bonding, make sure your radio ground is connected directly to your vehicle battery, as this is also grounded to your vehicle chassis. After switching to a tri-mag mount, i was able to tune 40-80m.
That’s awesome. I will look into a using my Tri-mag Mount. So far I’m pretty happy with the results. But I would love to have 80. I also still need to do some bonding. Thanks for watching!
I was thinking the same thing. I don't think the wind load would be too bad sitting behind the truck cab like Justin's toolbox mount; however, on the roof of the car is a different story. My tri-magnet base has a 3/8 24 mount for ham sticks. I'm assuming yours probably came that way as well. What part did you buy to swap out the 3/8 24 mount?
@@nateitkin8279 I wouldn't try to adapt it because of the wind load. Plus anything you find to go from 3/8 x 24 to a SO-239 would make it so tall at the connections. My 239 to ham stick adapter was 30 dollars too. Here is a link for a mag mount from Gigaparts for only 40. That would be my route. www.gigaparts.com/intellitron-mm-2106s-5in-tri-magnet-mount-with-so239-connector-with-17ft-coax-pl259.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BFbou4dTz4GxC_u1b35F0ESA2lJ3b6pJYbPBZozdwwK_1YBLwbY0dhoC9UsQAvD_BwE Catch you down the log.
@@Blackabeard Thanks much. The Intellitron MM-2106S is an option but what I don't like is the coax that's typically supplied with the mag-mounts. I don't know about Intellitron specifically (I've never owned one), but generally speaking the coax tends to be low quality. The magnetic-mount manufacturers should optionally provide a high quality SO-239 connector and let us connect our own coax. Please reply if you are aware of a tri-magnet mount where I can connect my own coax without doing so by replacing theirs (it may come to that, but I would rather unscrew my quality coax and use it for other radio adventures when I'm not driving around). Some days I feel like I should be manufacturing and selling ham gear because a lot of what's out there could be a lot better. 73
Tri mag mount is a good idea..BUT.. I have a 2024 silverado. Guess how much of this truck is aluminum? I would say 90+%. I bought an advertising magent for my tailgate. The only place it will stick is the bumper.
Just starting an 891/ Atas 120 install on a 2022 Ram 2500. I have heard about the bonding requirements for this system and will install about 20 - 1" straps for the hood, doors ,body panels, muffler and frame. If your SWR is high continue to connect body panels.
Thanks for the heads up. Across 10-20 bands the SWR is 1.5 or less. On 40 meters it’s around 2 but still gets out ok. I’m going to start my bonding process one we have decent weather and I have free time. Thanks for watching!
Only a slightly "older" ham than you at a little over 2 years on air. I'm running an FT-891 and an ATAS as well for HF. I have the ATAS on a Comet SO-239 finished lead with a 5/8" hole drilled in the top of the cab side bulkhead (front bed rail basically) of the bed on my Gladiator, sanded some paint out of the way for the shield side of the mount to contact the bed, no other bonding. Hunted 3 POTA stations after I got it set up and did an activation with it the following day. 30 contacts in about 35 minutes, about 10 on 40m and the rest on 20m, including France and Poland from northeast GA. Very pleased with it. I then run an ID-5100 for VHF/UHF with the antenna off a bracket near the A pillar.
Man that’s great! I love hearing that you’re loving it too. Makes me even happier that people are have good success with minor bonding. Thanks for watching!
Great stuff, thanks! I'm getting a truck this year to house my FT-891. After seeing your setup, I'm definitely going to go with an ATAS as well. Cheers!
Awesome! I love my trucks. The setup has gone through three iterations now. But once I added the UHF/VHF and the Atas I haven’t changed a thing. Love the Atas still. One day if I win the lottery I might buy a Scorpion. But you can’t beat this antenna for the size or cost. Thanks for watching.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. I also purchased and recently mounted the ATAS-120A antenna on my truck, on one of those antenna mount brackets under the hood on the left side of my truck (RAM 1500 2012 model). Seems to tune very well on all HF bands. I mounted a wire between the bracket and the chassis grounding where the batetry lead also connects to the vehicle. Otherwise I used while mobile (parked) the Chameleon MPAS Mini with either the 17 ft whip or a wire. I like the ATAS system because I can quickly activate . I use the Chameleon mounted on the trailer attachment and use the truck as a counterpoise. Works great. I did not have the time to compare the 2 antennas yet but ATAS seems very promising.
Thats a great idea for a counterpoise. I am very happy with it over all so far. I have a few POTA activations on it and I like the fact that I can pull up and press tune then get to work. I am working on a fw thing now to try and make it an option for 80 meters. Hopefully I will have a follow up vid coming out soon. Thanks for watching.
Thanks I am trying. My gaol is just to pass the limited information I have so people can learn from it, learn from my mistakes or Help me learn through the comments. I really do appreciate the interaction.
Great video and wonderful setup. I also use Hamsticks on my truck and looking for a better option (what led me to your video). If anyone ever wanted to see how the even harmonics are 180 degrees out of phase, use a hamstick and go to a band it isn't rated for and it'll be quite obvious. Hope to catch you on the air sometime, mobile to mobile. I'd love to hear the 891/ATAS pairing for myself.
Nice video....suggest some nice silver straps to those screws to the truck framing. 40 Meters is tough to ground on mobile vehicles.. Good luck and enjoy your new antenna
My ground strap came in a couple of days ago. I’m planning on bonding it better once the weather breaks. And you’re for sure right. 40 is pretty tough. The one thing ground wire I have does ok but I think it will have better ears once it’s bonded together.
@@Blackabeard Thank you Blackbeard. Now I know how I will set up antennas on my pickup and did you ever do any bonding of truck bed and cab to frame or are you satisfied with the results of your setup? 73.
Well I don't have a lot of grounding at all. But everything you read will say you have to ground the crap out of it to make it work. I have part of a video that shows it will work just fine on without a lot of grounding. Best of luck and thanks for watching.
Why not tune in motion? My high serria has never had an issue tuning while driving. That the whole point of having a screwdriver antenna to change bands on the fly. I’ve been looking at installing my mobile in my new truck and am considering this antenna.
I am not sure. It's a Yaesu thing. They say only tune while you are stopped. If I had to guess it is the coils and screw driver itself can't handle the sheer load of moving while the vehicle is in motion. Just my very uneducated guess though. Thanks for watching.
I’ve had my hs 1800 for probably 12 years time for a new antenna. The atas was up there on my list. But now not so sure as we do lots of highway driving. Thank you for your reply.
For me it was the smallest package, under 500 dollars and does most of ht bands. Not perfect but checked the most boxes. When I am traveling I have a my favorite band that I hunt parks on or that I will be joining a net on so I pick that band to start. Then the next time I pull over or stop for anything I make an adjustment if I need to. If im on 20 and the band dies then I can always hop off an exit and tune up on another band real fast. Then drive straight across the road and get back on the Highway. Just my thoughts. Good luck on your choice. @@mikekoehler7098
That’s the exact setup I have in my pickup. Works great I use it for quick POTA activation before I go to work. Also great on dx as well. You’re going to love it. Enjoy it 73 de AC1O
I have one speaker wire as a ground as you saw in the video and it tunes. I just received some bonding strap that I’m going to put in to try and get it to have better receive functionality. Thanks for watching !
The ATAS-120A is a heavy antenna, I did some experiments with NMO Mounts, including drilling nmo hole directly into the roof, the issue is, the ATAS-120A under wind load gets heavy enough to bend most vehicle metals, I highly recommend sticking to a tri-mag mount. As for bonding, make sure your radio ground is connected directly to your vehicle battery, as this is also grounded to your vehicle chassis. After switching to a tri-mag mount, i was able to tune 40-80m.
That’s awesome. I will look into a using my Tri-mag Mount. So far I’m pretty happy with the results. But I would love to have 80. I also still need to do some bonding. Thanks for watching!
I was thinking the same thing. I don't think the wind load would be too bad sitting behind the truck cab like Justin's toolbox mount; however, on the roof of the car is a different story. My tri-magnet base has a 3/8 24 mount for ham sticks. I'm assuming yours probably came that way as well. What part did you buy to swap out the 3/8 24 mount?
@@nateitkin8279 I wouldn't try to adapt it because of the wind load. Plus anything you find to go from 3/8 x 24 to a SO-239 would make it so tall at the connections. My 239 to ham stick adapter was 30 dollars too. Here is a link for a mag mount from Gigaparts for only 40. That would be my route.
www.gigaparts.com/intellitron-mm-2106s-5in-tri-magnet-mount-with-so239-connector-with-17ft-coax-pl259.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwoa2xBhACEiwA1sb1BFbou4dTz4GxC_u1b35F0ESA2lJ3b6pJYbPBZozdwwK_1YBLwbY0dhoC9UsQAvD_BwE
Catch you down the log.
@@Blackabeard Thanks much. The Intellitron MM-2106S is an option but what I don't like is the coax that's typically supplied with the mag-mounts. I don't know about Intellitron specifically (I've never owned one), but generally speaking the coax tends to be low quality. The magnetic-mount manufacturers should optionally provide a high quality SO-239 connector and let us connect our own coax. Please reply if you are aware of a tri-magnet mount where I can connect my own coax without doing so by replacing theirs (it may come to that, but I would rather unscrew my quality coax and use it for other radio adventures when I'm not driving around). Some days I feel like I should be manufacturing and selling ham gear because a lot of what's out there could be a lot better. 73
Tri mag mount is a good idea..BUT.. I have a 2024 silverado. Guess how much of this truck is aluminum? I would say 90+%. I bought an advertising magent for my tailgate. The only place it will stick is the bumper.
Just starting an 891/ Atas 120 install on a 2022 Ram 2500. I have heard about the bonding requirements for this system and will install about 20 - 1" straps for the hood, doors ,body panels, muffler and frame. If your SWR is high continue to connect body panels.
Thanks for the heads up. Across 10-20 bands the SWR is 1.5 or less. On 40 meters it’s around 2 but still gets out ok. I’m going to start my bonding process one we have decent weather and I have free time. Thanks for watching!
Only a slightly "older" ham than you at a little over 2 years on air. I'm running an FT-891 and an ATAS as well for HF. I have the ATAS on a Comet SO-239 finished lead with a 5/8" hole drilled in the top of the cab side bulkhead (front bed rail basically) of the bed on my Gladiator, sanded some paint out of the way for the shield side of the mount to contact the bed, no other bonding. Hunted 3 POTA stations after I got it set up and did an activation with it the following day. 30 contacts in about 35 minutes, about 10 on 40m and the rest on 20m, including France and Poland from northeast GA. Very pleased with it. I then run an ID-5100 for VHF/UHF with the antenna off a bracket near the A pillar.
Man that’s great! I love hearing that you’re loving it too. Makes me even happier that people are have good success with minor bonding. Thanks for watching!
Nice! Loved the unboxing, you were like a kid at Christmas! But be careful don’t want the wife mad that you use her scissors!
I was like a kid on Christmas! Thanks for watching. And she never found out about her scissors.
Great stuff, thanks! I'm getting a truck this year to house my FT-891. After seeing your setup, I'm definitely going to go with an ATAS as well. Cheers!
Awesome! I love my trucks. The setup has gone through three iterations now. But once I added the UHF/VHF and the Atas I haven’t changed a thing. Love the Atas still. One day if I win the lottery I might buy a Scorpion. But you can’t beat this antenna for the size or cost. Thanks for watching.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. I also purchased and recently mounted the ATAS-120A antenna on my truck, on one of those antenna mount brackets under the hood on the left side of my truck (RAM 1500 2012 model). Seems to tune very well on all HF bands. I mounted a wire between the bracket and the chassis grounding where the batetry lead also connects to the vehicle.
Otherwise I used while mobile (parked) the Chameleon MPAS Mini with either the 17 ft whip or a wire. I like the ATAS system because I can quickly activate .
I use the Chameleon mounted on the trailer attachment and use the truck as a counterpoise. Works great.
I did not have the time to compare the 2 antennas yet but ATAS seems very promising.
Thats a great idea for a counterpoise. I am very happy with it over all so far. I have a few POTA activations on it and I like the fact that I can pull up and press tune then get to work. I am working on a fw thing now to try and make it an option for 80 meters. Hopefully I will have a follow up vid coming out soon. Thanks for watching.
Great video on a great antenna. I have an FT-897D. The ATAS is fantastic. They make a radial set for it as well.
I made some radials that I have used in it. But there wasn’t much of a difference. How are the ones they make? Do they increase performance?
@@Blackabeard I would say I agree with you 100%. Not a huge difference. Keep up the good work!
Thanks I am trying. My gaol is just to pass the limited information I have so people can learn from it, learn from my mistakes or Help me learn through the comments. I really do appreciate the interaction.
Great video and wonderful setup. I also use Hamsticks on my truck and looking for a better option (what led me to your video). If anyone ever wanted to see how the even harmonics are 180 degrees out of phase, use a hamstick and go to a band it isn't rated for and it'll be quite obvious. Hope to catch you on the air sometime, mobile to mobile. I'd love to hear the 891/ATAS pairing for myself.
We can always set it up. I’ll be in the truck some the next couple days.
has an atlas 120 and never used it. I may have to install on my truck now too LOL. Thanks for sharing.
I am truly liking it so far. I’m sure more bonding or grounding would make it receive better but I’m still very pleased. Thanks for watching !!
Nice video....suggest some nice silver straps to those screws to the truck framing. 40 Meters is tough to ground on mobile vehicles.. Good luck and enjoy your new antenna
My ground strap came in a couple of days ago. I’m planning on bonding it better once the weather breaks. And you’re for sure right. 40 is pretty tough. The one thing ground wire I have does ok but I think it will have better ears once it’s bonded together.
Great idea for the install. What size spacer did you finally? Thank you KN4OTZ, Jeff in Kentucky.
I think they are the 3/4 spacers. and they came from home depot
@@Blackabeard Thank you Blackbeard. Now I know how I will set up antennas on my pickup and did you ever do any bonding of truck bed and cab to frame or are you satisfied with the results of your setup? 73.
@@jeffreyashman9751 Good luck and happy radio !
Just add some more bonding straps and it tunes on all bands 1.2 to 1.5 max SWR. Key is the more grounding the better
I am working on that this week. I'll post a video on it once its done.
Have wanted one for home use for sometime but worried about the need for massive grounding
Well I don't have a lot of grounding at all. But everything you read will say you have to ground the crap out of it to make it work. I have part of a video that shows it will work just fine on without a lot of grounding. Best of luck and thanks for watching.
Great Video what is the bracket you are using I could do with getting one myself any info appreciated thanks
Tram Stainless Steel So-239 to... www.amazon.com/dp/B01EXIFYCI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share.
There you go. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Why not tune in motion? My high serria has never had an issue tuning while driving. That the whole point of having a screwdriver antenna to change bands on the fly. I’ve been looking at installing my mobile in my new truck and am considering this antenna.
I am not sure. It's a Yaesu thing. They say only tune while you are stopped. If I had to guess it is the coils and screw driver itself can't handle the sheer load of moving while the vehicle is in motion. Just my very uneducated guess though. Thanks for watching.
I’ve had my hs 1800 for probably 12 years time for a new antenna. The atas was up there on my list. But now not so sure as we do lots of highway driving. Thank you for your reply.
For me it was the smallest package, under 500 dollars and does most of ht bands. Not perfect but checked the most boxes. When I am traveling I have a my favorite band that I hunt parks on or that I will be joining a net on so I pick that band to start. Then the next time I pull over or stop for anything I make an adjustment if I need to. If im on 20 and the band dies then I can always hop off an exit and tune up on another band real fast. Then drive straight across the road and get back on the Highway. Just my thoughts. Good luck on your choice. @@mikekoehler7098
On my bolt I put a rubber ring around it to keep any water out of it
Which bolt did you rubber on to keep water out?
@@Blackabeard the 3/8 x 24 where the antenna screws in to the mount like where the fiberglass Mobile antenna goes
Ok. Yup I put an O ring there.
Thanks for sharing your video much appreciated. De Steve AA4SH
Thanks for watching Steve!
That’s the exact setup I have in my pickup. Works great I use it for quick POTA activation before I go to work. Also great on dx as well. You’re going to love it. Enjoy it 73 de AC1O
I do love it so far. I am ground to a bit more bonding just to make sure. But I’m happy so far. Thanks for watching!
Justin let me know how it goes because I been thinking about getting one myself. 73 K4BWN
Love it so far by the way. Took a 5 hour road trip today and everything worked great.
have mine for 15 years and could never get it to tune on 40
I have one speaker wire as a ground as you saw in the video and it tunes. I just received some bonding strap that I’m going to put in to try and get it to have better receive functionality. Thanks for watching !
Running one on a roof rack mount on a VW station wagon and tunes 40-6 no problems
Pretty good install. 73 KG5SDE
Thank you. I took a 5 hour road trip today and everything held up fine. I was able to play radio the whole time. It’s great!
Great video! de W2CSI
Thanks you. And thanks for watching