Deciding on a antenna tuner

[K3CAP]

I am trying to decide on which antenna tuner I should purchase. I do somtimes run a 500 watt amp but rarley. the two tuners that I am looking at are the Yaesu FC-901 and the Kenwood AT-230 which one is the better one

[AD4U]

If you "sometimes" run 500 watts (even rarely) then you will need a 500 watt "tuner".  I cannot recommend one over the others, because in over 40 years of hamming, I never owned or used one.

Dick  AD4U

[G3RZP]

I build my own - it's far cheaper.

[WB6BYU]

The first question to ask is, what range of impedances (both R and X components)
do you need to match? On what bands?  With what level of efficiency?

Tuner power rating is a function of load impedance and frequency.  Some impedances
will generate high voltages in the tuner.  Others will cause high currents.  Low
impedances require more capacitance to match efficiently, and this can be a limiting
factor 80m and 160m.  I have a homebrew tuner made using parts from a 200W
commercial AM rig, so they are quite robust, but I've arced the capacitors at 10W
when matching an extreme load;  the same components would handle 500W under
more tame conditions.


If I'm always using the same antenna, then I find it more convenient to make
a fixed-tuned matching network for each band and select them with a big
switch:  that allows me to optimize performance and power handling for
each band.

[KU3X]

The only thing I can tell you here is, "The AT 230 WILL NOT handle 500 watts."

Good luck on your tuner hunt.
Barry

[AD6KA]

The only thing I can tell you here is, "The AT 230 WILL NOT handle 500 watts."
Good luck on your tuner hunt.
Barry

Yep!
Besides that very important issue:
I had an AT-230. It was pretty, nicely matched
the appearance my other Kenwood gear, but
otherwise I thought it was a poor to mediocre tuner.
GL ES 73, Ken  AD6KA

[M5AEO]

I bought a Palstar AT-1KP and have never regreted it.  They are quite expensive, but are very well built and seem to tune anything. A worthwhile investment that will last a lifetime.

Jonathan, M5AEO.

[KB5UBI]

Sooner or later you will end up with a legal limit tuner. Buy it now and save money in the long run.

[W9KDX]

I bought a Palstar AT-1KP and have never regreted it.  They are quite expensive, but are very well built and seem to tune anything. A worthwhile investment that will last a lifetime.

Jonathan, M5AEO.

I second the Palstar recommendation, unfortunately the AT-1KP seems to be out of production and the replacement looks like it is $100 more expensive.  I have had a an Ameritron ATR-20 (luckily no factory defects) for a year or so and after experience with some other Palstar equipment, I wish I had paid the extra for the AT-2K.  Buy the best now and save the cost of upgrading later.

[WN2C]

You did not say what type of antenna you are using.  Are you talking about a wire or are you trying to load a tower on 160?
For just about any thing at 500 watts then look into the SGC 230 or 235 (forget which will handle 500 watts)

Rick  wn2c