I am looking at the FT-857D and the ATAS120 antenna. Would appreciate any
of you FT-857D owners helping me out -- thanks.

Most of my questions are about the ATAS120 antenna.

I drive a small pickup with an aluminum cap on the back. The cap has a
ladder rack that seems as though it would make a good antenna mount. I
could either clamp the antenna to one of the uprights on the ladder rack,
or, I could attach a flat aluminum plate to the cap -- lay the plate flat on
the top and run bolts through the inner frame ribs of the cap.

Here are my questions:

As I understand it, this antenna somehow tunes itself?? How does that work?

What cables go to the antenna -- obviously there's coax from the rig and I
assume it needs a power cable of some kind ????

I understand if I run a tri-plexer between the rig and the antenna I can use
this one antenna -- otherwise, run coax from the rig's antenna outputs to
respective HF, VHF, UHF antennas -- right?

How did you mount yours? If you have photos on a website, please give me
the URL.

How tall is the ATAS120 when fully-extended? Is it flexible so I could tie
it down the way we did the big ol' 72-inch whips we used way back when men
were men?

I'm planning to get the FT-857D, ATAS120, separation kit, narrow CW filter,
and the fancy mobile mike that can be used to control the rig. What else do
I need? Specifically, do I need an antenna mount, or, can I build my own
from aluminum plate?

Thanks.

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JAS