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write your own review of the Vectronics HFT 1500.
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W5VK
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 11, 2011 20:22
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Works for me
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've used my 1500 for many years at 100 to 1000 watts. It's always worked for me. Controls are smooth. It has never arced. I appreciate the ability to change frequencies and when resetting I rarely have to "tweek" to get a good SWR. I've used it with coax and ladder line. It has the 4:1 balun built in. Reason for #4 rating... it's sorta pricy but sure does the job. I've used a couple of other high power tuners. This one is better than the others.
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N1CKX
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 20, 2011 15:14
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SURPRISE - It works on 6 Meters
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Discovered that when we put up my stack of antennas, one of us evidently knocked the Gamma match out of alignment on the 6 meter beam and left me with a 1.5/1 SWR, not a lot, but my amp was not happy.
Only way to access it is it bring back the 90 foot man lift.
With delivery/pickup charges a day would cost me $1000.00
Had a Vectronics HFT-1500 tuner that I picked up at an estate sale practically new for $40.00.
Figured I would gut it and make a 6 meter tuner.
Put it on the bench to see how much I had to modify it, and to my surprise it actually tuned up to 6 meters.
I have no idea if it will tune a really complex impedance, but I only needed a little range for my beam.
Another Surprise, the Peak Reading Bar Graph meter seemed like a Gimmick, but actually comes in handy when tuning the amp.
Even the SWR bridge seems to work acceptably on 6.
The roller inductor tunes cleanly/smoothly and the 6:1 capacitor drives allow fine tuning.
I haven’t used it on HF so I can’t comment on all the horror stories of arcing on 80 meters.
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SM3LGO
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 18, 2011 05:54
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OK+ tuner
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Works OK+ for me for 10+ years. I do have reasonably low SWR already from my bare antennas so have seldom needed "stressed" it, except on 80. There, I have had tendency for arcing at about 500W, but nothing significant / no damage done. Like many others have reported the mechanics is not exactly "overdesigned", and the roller inductor coupling has lost its contact on occasion. If the rating scale had been finer, I'd give it a "3.75".
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W5VK
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Rating: 4/5
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May 14, 2010 19:15
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Good tuner
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've used mine for years without a problem. I've used dozens of different tuners and this is one of the better ones. It has a very wide range at lower power (100 watts) and has handled 1,000 watts at a more limited VSWR. The reason for the 4 rating is the price.... it ain't cheap.
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KK8ZZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 9, 2009 18:35
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FINE HIGH POWER TUNER!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Maybe mine is pre-MFJ, but it tunes smoothly and accurately, easy top reset for the best settings for the Ameritron AL-811 amp. I replaced the old incandescent lamp with the new MFJ LED replacement ($6 shipped) and it really looks great with the other gear. I guess the simple review would be -- matches the Zero-Five 43 foot vertical quickly and easily on all bands, even 160, which is darned hard to match with most tuners, automatic or manual ! Love this tuner!!
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KL7IVK
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 21, 2009 19:12
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Great piece of equipment
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my Vectronics HFT-1500 back in the 1990's when the company that made it was still in Canada before selling it out to More Flipping Junk (MFJ) I am not sure how the unit MFJ cranks out works but I swear by the one I have. It is a beautiful tuner and worth having. I would lkike to think that MFJ did not cheapen it up in anyway but who knows.
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KW4N
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 3, 2009 11:57
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You don't need a "tank."
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Silky smooth adjustments. Highly repeatable settings. Can tune my Zepp, G5RV, loops, end fed, vertical, etc. Power meter matches my Bird 43. Workmanship excellent: all screws tight, clean shiny solder joints, solid cabinet. High quality L and C's. The roller needs cleaning (I use Deoxit) maybe once or twice a year or it will jump settings; they all do it.
"It's vain to do with more that can be done with less"
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N7ZM
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Rating: 2/5
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Apr 3, 2009 12:41
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OK but not the best
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The Vectronics is slightly better than ok, but after all it's made by MFJ now. Had one for a few weeks then got rid of it when I heard arcing. I now have a Palstar AT1500DT tuner with quality parts and workmanship and it'll take all my Alpha can give it without arcing or any other grunts.
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KA6OTJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 3, 2009 11:47
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has worked great for me over the years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned this tuner for over 5 years and it has done very well for me. It has never arked or given me any problems. It tunes my doublet and Marconi antennas from 10 to 160 using about 600 watts. The tuning caps are smooth. The roller inductor is fine. The antenna selector switch allows for great flexibity. Is it in the same class as a Pal Star or my Dentron MT300A? I can't say. I will say it does everything my Dentron did and if you find one of these used like I did and can get it for a good price it is worth a shot.
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KE7FFM
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 2, 2009 20:17
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shoddy
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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doesn't even compare to my palstar 1500 at the same price. flimsy, coarse jerky controls. light weight. tuning is very rough, spotty, like lots of poor contacts. put a couple of lights on it and anyone will buy it i guess. those who like this tuner must have only used mfj's and other budget types. if you have used a good nye or palstar, you'll hate this one.
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