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INTRODUCTION
LDG pioneered the automatic, wide-range switched-L tuner in 1995. From its laboratories in
St. Leonard, Maryland, LDG continues to define the state of the art in this field with innovative
automatic tuners and related products for every amateur need.
Congratulations on selecting the AT-897P lus automatic tuner for the Yaesu FT-897
transceiver. The AT-897Plus provides semi- automatic antenna tuning across the entire HF
spectrum plus 6 meters, at power levels up to 125 watts. It will tune dipoles, verticals, Yagis, or
virtually any coax- fed antenna. It will match an amazing range of antennas and impedances, far
greater than some other tuners you may have considered, including the built-in tuners on many
radios.
The AT-897Plus is similar to previous LDG tuners, but is specially engineered to integrate
with your Yaesu FT-897 HF radio. The AT-897Plus connects to the CAT (Computer Automated
Transceiver) port on the back of the radio. The CAT interface allows an external device such as a
PC or the AT-897Plus to control the FT-897 by sending it serial commands. The AT-897Plus
takes advantage of this interface to simplify the tuning process -- one button push is all that is
needed in order to switch the radio to AM mode, reduce output power, transmit a carrier,
measure the transmit frequency, and then restore the radio to its previous mode and power level!
The AT-897P lus is powered by the transceiver’s CAT interface itself, so there is no
additional power cable required to use the AT-897Plus. Latching relays are used, so the AT-
897Plus consumes no power when not tuning.
The AT-897Plus improves upon the previous AT-897 automatic antenna tuner, in that the
memory has been expanded to 2,000 frequency memories. The transmit frequency is actually
read directly from the FT-897, so memory tuning is a snap.
JUMPSTART, OR “REAL HAMS DON’T READ MANUALS!”
Ok, but at least read this one section before operating the AT-897Plus:
1.
Turn off power to your FT-897 radio.
2.
Connect the HF/50 MHz antenna jack on the transceiver to the “Radio” SO-239 jack on the
AT-897Plus, using the supplied 50 ohm coax cable jumper.
3.
Connect a 50 ohm coax antenna feedline to the “ANT” SO-239 jack on the AT-897Plus.
4.
Connect one end of the supplied radio DIN-8 interface cable to the CAT/Linear port on the
back of your FT-897 radio.
5.
Connect the other end of the supplied radio DIN-8 interface cable to the “Radio” jack on the
back of the AT-897Plus.
6.
Turn on power to your transceiver. Once it powers up, hold in the FUNC key for one second
to access the extended menus. Rotate the SEL knob until menu #001, “EXT MENU”
appears. Rotate the dial knob until “ON” appears, to activate the extended menus. Rotate the
SEL knob until menu #019, “CAT RATE” appears. Rotate the dial knob until “4800”
appears. Rotate the SEL knob again until menu #020, “CAT/LIN/TUN ” appears. Rotate the
dial knob until “CAT” appears. Hold the FUNC key for one second again to return to normal
