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| Reviews Summary for PALSTAR AT2K Antenna tuner |
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Reviews: 38
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Average rating: 4.9/5
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MSRP: $$529.00
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Description: A newly-designed, smaller roller inductor allows the AT2K to tune 6 Meters, while a relay-switched toroid adds the extra inductance needed for 160 Meter coverage. Newly designed capacitors feature lower minimum capacitance for improved high band performance, while maximum capacitance has been increased to 400pF for better low band performance. In addition, the Peak/Peak Hold metering from the PM2000 has been incorporated into the AT2K.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.palstar.com/at2k.php
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write your own review of the PALSTAR AT2K Antenna tuner.
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G0JKZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 15, 2010 09:13
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Fabulous
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Ok, I've only had this tuner for a couple of weeks but I am more than impressed.
I decided on going manual after a bad experience with an LDG AT-1000 pro. All I can say is wow! Built like a tank, superb internals, and very smart to look at.
Oh, it works too!
Very easy to use, all controls smooth running. Tunes my doublet everywhere from 80m to 6m and easy to return to a previous setting using the markings on the capacitor knobs. The reduction drives are just right, not to quick or too slow.
The dual scale output power is nice, it is great to peak it all at qrp levels and it be accurate before hitting the 'loud' button on the amp!
The only downside to this tuner is physical size, it dwarfs my icom 7200, but then it has to be big for those high rated capacitors. I don't consider it a problem as the linear dwarfs the ATU and I bought it to handle the high wattage from that rather than it being a living room ornament.
So, in summary.... the best £450 gbp I have spent on an accessory in years.
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KG6MZS
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 17, 2010 08:02
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Not Perfect
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I finally broke down and forked out the cash to replace my MFJ-949E that my elmer had given me. I use the AT2K on two multi-band doublets.
First the good news - the tuning capabilities of this matching network are fantastic. I tune everything from 6m to 80m with it and it handles that job outstandingly. The scales on the variable capacitors and the roller inductor make returning to a band very easy. The backlit meter is excellent and I love the amber glow.
The bad news - There is no bypass on the balanced line. That was a feature I did use on the MFJ-949E. I went to outboard 1:1 baluns, so this wasn't a big deal. There is no dummy load like on the MFJ-949E.
The biggest problem that I have with the AT2K is that the roller inductor developed a squeak. I mean a squeak loud enough to wake up the YL in the next room. I sent the unit back to Palstar at my expense and when it returned the squeak redeveloped. I notified Palstar about this telling them that I did not wish to spend the considerable sum to ship it to them a second time and never heard back from them. This is really a shame on an otherwise great product. The MFJ 949E certainly isn't as beefy and doesn't have the tuning ability of the AT2K, but it never gave me a lick of trouble in the 5 years I used and abused it.
Here is a more detailed review:
Tuning ability 5/5
Functionality 3/5
Looks 5/5
Workmanship 2/5
Customer Service 1/5
Documentation 5/5
Value 4/5
73 de Eric, KG6MZS
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WD1W
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Rating: 5/5
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May 2, 2010 14:46
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Bought One ... Then 2 More
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought one ... was so impressed I purchased two more. Tunes all bands to zero reflected power, repeatable settings, set and forget over a wide frequency range, loafs at the power I use ... 100-1000 watts. It's worth every dollar.
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K5QWG
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Rating: 5/5
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May 2, 2010 13:10
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80 thru 6 on one antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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When I unboxed the tuner, it was wobbling on its four rubber feet -- removing the cover and reversing it eliminated the wobble. I also noticed the calibration was a bit off on the output capacitor, so I loosened the hex nuts on the shaft and lined up the "100" scale with maximum capacitance. Otherwise, I couldn't see any problems.
The build quality is pretty high, but these tuners are hand assembled, I would imagine, so a little finishing may be needed.
I just put up a new 80 meter dipole for all band operation. It's 128 feet long, using 18-guage bare copper clad steel wire. It's fed with 92 feet of 450-ohm ladderline to the 4-1 balun on the back of the AT2K tuner. With this setup, I can tune the low and high ends of every band between 80 and 6 meters with a 1:1 SWR. The smaller inductor really does work on 6 meters, where I can tune 50.125 for SSB, and well as 52 and 53 mhz for the repeaters. I haven't tried it out on 60 meters, but otherwise, I can hit just about any frequency between 3.5 and 53 mhz.
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W7RUE
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 18, 2010 21:30
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Outstanding!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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After purchasing another tuner of another brand and being terribly disappointed by the poor (broken) construction, I shipped it back to HRO Portland. (A great bunch of guys by the way!) They talked me into purchasing a Palstar AT2K which was quite a bit more expensive ($180 more!). I was was concerned about paying the higher price but when I got it in the shack and opened it up, I was very impressed with the build quality; the Palstar AT2K is a real work of electronic art in both form and function!
I have been running this tuner for about 8 months now and I couldn't be happier! It re-tunes to my preselected bands and frequencies without having to re-adjust the settings. The build/quality control is fabulous for this price level. I am extremely happy with it. I may purchase a high end auto tuner in the future but I doubt that I will let this one ever leave my shack! Great job Palstar!
'73 "Rue" - W7RUE
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KB6HRT
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 18, 2010 20:11
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I had no Idea!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Never had a Palstar tuner before. The AT2K is a Great addation, because one can make even a good resinate antenna better with it. Case in point have 2 inverted Vee antennas at the same height at the apex, one being a G5RV setup for low SWR on 75M the other a W9INN 20-40-80m antenna with low SWR on 75M where I ragchue most mornings, there was a 2 S unit differance between the 2 antennas most mornings, since installing the AT2K and making each antenna resinate using the AT2K tuner the signal strenth on receive and transmit is the same ( NO Differance) on 75M. I have checked this many times so far on 75M always the same. so one of the antennas is going to come down and a 160M-80-40M antenna will be replacing it in Oct or Nov of this year. The Palstar AT2K is a very nice addition to my Shack...............KB6HRT
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GM6HGF
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 23, 2010 16:33
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Solid
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I am very impressed by the quality of this tuner which I use (in conjunction with DL-2K) instead of the radio 'internal' atu when running qro. Nearly as big as the FT-1000MP it is easy to use and the meter is easy to read. Not the cheapest but in my opinion you get what you pay for. I am sure it will really prove itself further when I put a wire up for the lower bands. Excellent quality.
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CURTGEMMELAB9HB
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 27, 2010 06:59
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Great Tuner!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This tuner is fantastic. It matches my dipole no problem. It is well worth the money. The tuner is so smooth and easy to operate and you will not be disappointed with this tuner. It also looks great in the shack.
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PA7M
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 23, 2009 04:36
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great tuner
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Easy to use working great whit my home made dipool and mobile whipe's and look verry nice in my shack.
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K8JHR
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 5, 2009 22:29
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Solid and works right
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Good tuner. I use it to tame a 43 foot vertical monopole (from DX-Engineering) and it works well on all bands. Matches the rig to a very difficult radiator - which is, by design, not resonant on any ham band. Tunes my various wire antennas just as well.
Does its job well. Paul at Palstar has been approachable and helpful on the phone. Looks good next to my Ten-Tec Omni VII and Ten-Tec Centurion linear, which make for a very workable station.
========== James - K8JHR ============
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