Acom AOM 04AT User manual

ACOM 04AT
Remote Automatic
Antenna Tuner and Switch
User's Manual
Installation, Operation
and Maintenance
October 2023
OUTSTANDING HF POWER PRODUCTS

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
Page 2of 88 | S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
October 2023
This manual is for electronic distribution mainly.
If you have it on paper and you no longer need it, please, recycle it!
The latest versions of our User's Manuals are available at
www.acom-bg.com

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
October 2023
S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION | Page 3of 88
ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
All ACOM documentation (including manuals, brochures, specifications, descriptions, presentations, video
materials, etc.) are based on the latest available information at the time of creation of our documents.
As we always strive to constantly improve and update our products, ALL PRODUCTS, PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ACOM reserves the right to make changes and
improvements at any time without further notice or obligation to notify any person or organization of such
revisions or changes, made in order to improve the reliability, function, quality and design, and/or
performance of the ACOM products and services.
Further, this User's Manual is provided AS IS and ACOM shall not be liable for possible errors contained
herein.
ACOM company creates and distributes its documentation in ENGLISH language only.
Any translations in other languages made by our dealers, partners, distributors, etc. cannot
be related to ACOM company in any way.
ACOM is not liable for non-English documentation correctness in any way.
We are continuously striving to improve our documentation, but nobody is perfect.
And our documentation is not an exception of this rule.
Have you found any errors or would you like to suggest changes in our documentation?
Please help us by sending your suggestions to the following e-mail address:
[e-mail]
The latest versions of our User's Manuals are available at
www.acom-bg.com
We highly recommend you to use this manual in electronic form as PDF-file instead of printed version. The
PDF-file is easy to read on any computer, tablet, smart phone or other similar device. In the PDF file you will
find the necessary information very fast due to context-oriented links (marked in orange) inside the file,
including context-linked Table of Content.
To open PDF-files you can use any free PDF viewer, for example:
-Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (https://get.adobe.com/reader);
-Foxit Reader (https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader);
-Your web browser. Web browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all have integrated PDF
readers.

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
Page 4of 88 | S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
October 2023
Title of Documentation
ACOM 04AT Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
User's Manual
Installation, Operation and Maintenance
Type of Documentation
User's Manual
Purpose of Documentation
This manual explains Installation, Operation and Maintenance of the
ACOM 04AT Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch.
Record of Revisions
Description
Release Date
Notes
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
-
First edition
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
-
Second edition
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
25.04.2018
Third edition
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
21.05.2021
Fourth edition, R01
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
31.10.2022
Fourth edition, R02
ACOM 04AT User's Manual
04.10.2023
Fourth edition, R03
Validity
The specified data is for product description purposes only and may not be
deemed to be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in the contract. All
rights are reserved with respect to the content of this manual and the
availability of the product.
Copyrights
© 2023 ACOM Ltd.
Copying this document, giving it to others and the use or communication
of the contents thereof without express authority, are forbidden.
Offenders will be held liable for infringement of any intellectual property
of ACOM Ltd. and all damages which may rise as a result.
Trademarks
ICOM, KENWOOD, YAESU, ELECRAFT, and other product names or brands
mentioned in this documentation are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective holders.
Published by
ACOM Ltd.
Bulgaria | Bozhurishte 2227
Sofia-Bozhurishte Industrial Park | 6 Valeri Petrov Str.
GPS coordinates: 42.748616о| 23.209801о
Web: www.acom-bg.com
E-mail: [e-mail]
Note
This manual has been printed on chlorine-free bleached paper.

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
October 2023
S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION | Page 5of 88
Contents
ABOUT DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................................................ 3
1. GENERAL INFORMATION......................................................................................................................... 10
1.1. Introduction and Description........................................................................................................ 10
1.2. To the Reader of this Manual........................................................................................................ 12
1.3. Product Features........................................................................................................................... 13
1.4. Product History and Documentation Validity ............................................................................... 15
1.5. Additional Documentation............................................................................................................ 15
1.6. Product Identification ................................................................................................................... 16
1.7. Equipment Supplied...................................................................................................................... 16
1.8. Owner Assistance.......................................................................................................................... 17
1.9. Safety Considerations, Explicit Definitions.................................................................................... 18
1.9.1. Lightning protection when the tuner is installed in a building........................................ 20
1.9.2. Lightning protection when the tuner is installed outdoor .............................................. 21
1.9.3. Electric Safety Precautions .............................................................................................. 22
1.9.4. General Safety Precautions ............................................................................................. 22
2. INSTALLATION.......................................................................................................................................... 23
2.1. Unpacking and Initial Inspection................................................................................................... 23
2.2. Tuner Location Selection............................................................................................................... 26
2.3. Power Supply Voltage ................................................................................................................... 27
2.4. Installation and Connection for Outdoor Operation..................................................................... 28
2.4.1. If the wall mounting option is chosen ............................................................................. 30
2.4.2. If the mast mounting option is chosen............................................................................ 32
2.4.3. Connections for Outdoor Operation ............................................................................... 34
2.5. Installation and Connection for Indoor Operation........................................................................ 36
2.5.1. If the desk mounting option is chosen ............................................................................ 36
2.5.2. Connections for Indoor Operation .................................................................................. 38
2.6. Grounding, Additional Information............................................................................................... 41
2.6.1. Lightning Protection Grounding ...................................................................................... 41
2.6.2. Grounding for Protection from Electric Shock................................................................. 41
2.6.3. Radio Frequency Grounding or Counterpoise................................................................. 41
2.7. Connecting RF Cables, Additional Information ............................................................................. 41

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
Page 6of 88 | S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
October 2023
3. GETTING STARTED................................................................................................................................... 43
3.1. Turning ON and OFF...................................................................................................................... 43
3.2. Indication, controls and menus..................................................................................................... 44
3.2.1. Tuner Information Area on the Amplifier Screen............................................................ 44
3.2.2. SEGMENT UP/DOWN buttons (Second Function - BAND)............................................... 45
3.2.3. TUNE button (Second Function - BYPASS)....................................................................... 45
3.2.4. АNT Button (Change of Antennas) .................................................................................. 46
3.2.5. Tuner Related Menus ...................................................................................................... 46
4. STARTING UP AND MAIN FUNCTIONS..................................................................................................... 47
4.1. What is tuning type / Rate (Selectivity Degree, Sharpness).......................................................... 47
4.1.1. SHARP .............................................................................................................................. 48
4.1.2. REGULAR.......................................................................................................................... 48
4.1.3. WIDE ................................................................................................................................ 48
4.1.4. FIXED................................................................................................................................ 49
4.2. Tuner Assignment and Unassignment .......................................................................................... 49
4.3. Tuning Modes: FULL, QUICK and BYPASS...................................................................................... 49
4.4. Quick Tuning and Non-Volatile Memory....................................................................................... 50
4.5. Operation in BYPASS Mode........................................................................................................... 51
4.6. Changing Frequencies and Antennas............................................................................................ 52
4.7. Specific of Operation in TRANSMISSION Mode ............................................................................ 52
4.8. Power Reduction at Overload ....................................................................................................... 52
5. BASIC FULL TUNING CYCLE ...................................................................................................................... 53
5.1. What a Full Tuning Cycle Does...................................................................................................... 53
5.2. Operator Actions for a Full Tuning Cycle....................................................................................... 54
5.2.1. Full Tuning for Transceivers with CAT ............................................................................. 54
5.2.2. Full Tuning for Transceivers without CAT Capability....................................................... 54
6. ADVANCED FUNCTIONS AND OPTIONS................................................................................................... 56
6.1. ANTENNA ASSIGNMENT Menu ..................................................................................................... 56
6.1.1. Antenna Assignments by Bands ...................................................................................... 56
6.1.2. Setting the Tuning type / Rate (Sharpness, Selectivity), (S, R, W, F) ............................... 56
6.1.3. Editing Antenna Names ................................................................................................... 57
6.2. Maintenance Functions - ATU SERVICE Menu .............................................................................. 57
6.2.1. ATU Individual Data......................................................................................................... 57

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
October 2023
S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION | Page 7of 88
6.2.2. ATU Status ....................................................................................................................... 57
6.2.3. Deletion of Individual or Group of Stored Tuning settings.............................................. 57
6.2.4. Erasing the Whole NON-Volatile Memory....................................................................... 58
6.2.5. Checking the Resource Used for the Current Tuning ...................................................... 58
6.2.6. Dumping the NON-Volatile Memory in a File on a PC..................................................... 58
6.2.7. Restoring (Loading) the NON-Volatile Memory from a File - Memory Load from File ... 60
6.2.8. Aging and Refreshing of Settings..................................................................................... 61
6.3. Overview of TUNING SETTINGS and Resources Used................................................................... 62
6.4. Measurements in the Tuner - ATU MEASURE Menu .................................................................... 63
6.4.1. Voltage and Current at the Antenna Output................................................................... 64
6.4.2. Reflected Power, Forward Power and SWR at Antenna Output..................................... 64
6.4.3. Power Supply Voltage and Temperature in the Tuner Unit ............................................ 64
6.4.4. Tuner Working Hours....................................................................................................... 64
7. MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................................................................ 65
7.1. Periodic Maintenance ................................................................................................................... 65
7.2. Cleaning......................................................................................................................................... 65
7.3. Fuse Replacement......................................................................................................................... 65
7.4. Block Diagram and Principle of Operation.................................................................................... 68
7.5. Troubleshooting - Monitoring the Antenna-feeder Path Status................................................... 72
8. SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................................................................................... 74
8.1. Parameters.................................................................................................................................... 74
8.1.1. Operating Frequency Range ............................................................................................ 74
8.1.2. Minimum Range of the Matched Impedances (at Each of the Four Antenna Outputs) . 74
8.1.3. Maximum Allowed Input Power...................................................................................... 74
8.1.4. RF Input Characteristics................................................................................................... 74
8.1.5. Antenna Outputs Characteristics, Antenna 1 to Antenna 4............................................ 75
8.1.6. Full Tuning Duration (Basic Cycle) ................................................................................... 75
8.1.7. Input Signal Needed to Prepare User Tuning Settings .................................................... 75
8.1.8. Power Supply................................................................................................................... 75
8.1.9. Remote Control ............................................................................................................... 75
8.1.10. Maximum Length of the Input Coaxial Cable .................................................................. 75
8.1.11. Size & Weight (operating, excluding fastening elements and connected cables) .......... 75
8.1.12. Operating Environment................................................................................................... 76

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
Page 8of 88 | S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION
October 2023
8.2. Functions....................................................................................................................................... 76
8.2.1. Process of Matching of Antenna Impedance................................................................... 76
8.2.2. Modes of Tuning.............................................................................................................. 76
8.2.3. Memory for the User Tune Settings ................................................................................ 76
8.2.4. Types of Antenna Selectivity / Bandwidth....................................................................... 76
8.2.5. Bypass and Use ATU Modes ............................................................................................ 76
8.2.6. Overview of Tuning Settings............................................................................................ 76
8.2.7. Evaluation of the Resource Used..................................................................................... 77
8.2.8. Backing Up the NON-Volatile Memory............................................................................ 77
8.2.9. Cable Required from the Radio Station........................................................................... 77
8.2.10. Protection Mechanisms................................................................................................... 77
8.3. Regulatory Requirements ............................................................................................................. 78
8.4. Storage and Shipment................................................................................................................... 79
8.4.1. Storage Environment....................................................................................................... 79
8.4.2. Shipping Size and Weight ................................................................................................ 79
8.4.3. Transportation................................................................................................................. 79
8.4.4. Returning to the Service Provider ................................................................................... 80
8.5. Information on Disposing and Recycling of Old Electrical and Electronic Equipment.................. 81
APPENDIX 1 | Lightning Protection ................................................................................................................. 82
NOTES.............................................................................................................................................................. 85
Figures
Figure 1-1 | ID (identification) label/plate, example....................................................................................... 16
Figure 2-1 | Packaging carton (outside view).................................................................................................. 23
Figure 2-2 | ACOM 04AT packaged in a cardboard box.................................................................................. 24
Figure 2-3 | ACOM 04AT tuner mounting possibilities ................................................................................... 26
Figure 2-4 | ACOM 04AT tuner........................................................................................................................ 27
Figure 2-5 | Wall installation bracket.............................................................................................................. 30
Figure 2-6 | Tuner installed on a wall.............................................................................................................. 31
Figure 2-7 | Mast installation bracket............................................................................................................. 32
Figure 2-8 | Securing the tuner to a mast....................................................................................................... 33
Figure 2-9 | Tuner bottom view with connectors ........................................................................................... 34

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
October 2023
S e c t i o n ABOUT DOCUMENTATION | Page 9of 88
Figure 2-10 | Desk mounted tuner.................................................................................................................. 36
Figure 2-11 | Desk installation bracket ........................................................................................................... 37
Figure 2-12 | Securing the tuner to a desk...................................................................................................... 38
Figure 2-13 | Tuner rear view with connectors............................................................................................... 39
Figure 3-1 | ACOM 700S amplifier screen with tuner installed ...................................................................... 44
Figure 6-1 | ACOM Terminal S screenshot...................................................................................................... 58
Figure 7-1 | Fuses location.............................................................................................................................. 66
Figure 7-2 | Tuner Block Diagram ................................................................................................................... 69
Figure 8-1 | Packaging carton (outside view).................................................................................................. 79
Tables
Table 1-1 | Production versions history.......................................................................................................... 15
Table 1-2 | Package contents.......................................................................................................................... 16
Table 2-1 | Package contents.......................................................................................................................... 25
Table 8-1 | Maximum input power of the tuner as function of the antenna SWR......................................... 74

User's Manual | ACOM 04AT | Remote Automatic Antenna Tuner and Switch
Page 10 of 88 | S e c t i o n GENERAL INFORMATION
October 2023
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Congratulations on purchasing one of the finest antenna tuners in the world today.
ACOM is pleased that you have chosen one of our products, and we will endeavor to provide you with the
information and support you need to enjoy your purchase for many years.
We urge you to read all of the following materials before you embark on operating your new antenna tuner.
1.1. Introduction and Description
This manual explains:
•Installation
•Operation and
•Maintenance
of the ACOM 04AT remote automatic antenna tuner for HF + 6 m with integrated four-way antenna switch.
The ACOM 04AT tuner is specifically designed and developed to work exclusively with the
ACOM series of solid-state (transistor) amplifiers:
- ACOM 500S, 600S, 700S, 1200S, or ACOM 2020S.
ACOM 04AT automatically selects one of four available antenna outputs (as assigned in bands by the
operator) and matches the impedance of the chosen antenna output by transforming it to 50 Ohm with SWR
below 1.5:1 at the tuner input (typically below 1.3), providing an optimum load impedance for the amplifier.
Any necessary readjustments are swift, following the frequency changes and antenna selections.