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write your own review of the Palstar AT4K.
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VE6XL
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 15, 2006 23:22
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Well Built
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This tuner is very well built!
Having used a couple of MFJ tuners, this tuner is a clear step above. The quality of the components is obvious in both the old and new model.
It tunes very well and previous settings are easily reapeated. It will tune almost anything within reason.
The unit itself is huge and a fair amount of space is required.
I would recommend this unit (new or old) to anyone who is looking for an high power capable alternative to the MFJ and Ameritron line up.
VE6XL
www.ve6xl.ca
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N1URE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 3, 2006 06:22
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Tune a wet noodle
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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My first impression on opening the box was “Wow this thing is big”. It took some rearranging of my shack to fit the tuner. Operation is very smooth. The input and output controls turn like a VFO on my radio. Tunes as smooth as silk. It’s very easy to return to the settings. The inductor is a little stiff but I’m told that this is just the nature of the beast and it will loosen up a bit with use. Nothing bad and certainly nothing like the clunky MFJ “Roller inductor”. So far I can get a 1:1 on everything I have, including a random wire. I hit it with full legal and no arcs. Did I mention that the Palstar looks really nice too? Yes it’s a lot of money but this is the Godzilla of antenna tuners. Let’s hope the company does not cheapen its product. I would rather pay the extra. Besides for the cost of the three MFJ’s I have nuked over the years, I could have had a real tuner.
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WB9JOX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 5, 2005 16:34
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money wellspent
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I think its a very good tuner for me anyway. Use 75 meter inverted v with ladder line and also full wave loop for 160 meters also using ladder line.Plus use Al 1500 amp and Alpha 99 as well.Still have no problems So its money well spent I think.Quality ,yes there could be more improvements to this tuner.If enough folks dropped Paul a e-mail about their ideas maybe things can be even better.But there is a price to pay.You get what you pay for.Havent found anything better yet. Take care. Ted
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W2MSK
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Rating: 2/5
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Apr 4, 2005 18:19
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Early unit only
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is a follow up to an earlier review. My experience is similar to the last two reviews, the early units are the good ones. The unit I purchased was based upon the description and picture from an earlier website. Roller inductor was massive according to the picture and the LED bar graph was still pictured as was a fan. The unit turned out to be much less well built than pictured. It arched on occasion and I was bit more than once by RF (unit installed and grounded properly). After using it for many months and experiencing quality issues (stiff roller inductor held in place by tie wraps) I got rid of it. If they ever produce a model built as the originals I would give it another chance. Current production is overrated and expensive.
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K5YY
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2005 15:30
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great, early model
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Agree with NT4I! Earlier units were a bit pricey BUT better than later models. Perhaps early costs scared too many people off and the price had to be lowered (with less expensive components?)in order to sell more units and be competitive with lower priced tuners. There is a happy medium somewhere where quality will not suffer and pricing can make a profit.
No mistake, the AT4K I have with the LED, an early unit, is the BEST tuner I have ever had. Maybe the newer AT5K will be about the same in quality as the old AT4K..
San K5YY
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NT4I
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Rating: 2/5
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Apr 4, 2005 12:10
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The first one's were good but not anymore!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased 2 new AT4K tuners over the years. The first unit was great with the roller inductor manufactured by Henry Radio and the LED bar graph. I should of never sold it! The later AT4K had a roller inductor that looked like a middle school science project. It had nylon tie wrap’s around the brackets to help hold it together and it arched like crazy. Needless to say, I dumped that piece @&%#@ quick. If Palstar ever goes back to when they first made them, I’d buy another, until than I’ll save my money!
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KF3EG
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2005 14:20
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battleship
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The tuner: I conducted 1 month of testing on this tuner, and I used a AEA Bravo analyzer ( not a cheap toy). The tuner does as advertised.
I found this tuner to match everything I threw at it within reason and did not have any problems such as sharp tuning, no arc's or sparks anywhere.
I read the review from the fellow with the foriegn call, well don't know what to tell him, on a whim a friend of mine and myself decided to do a test, we loaded 2 aluminum lawn chairs on 10 meter, center condutor of the coax to one and the shield to the other and we got a 1 to 1 swr and worked 2 stations within 500 miles.
The other test, I live on a farm and we have electric fence around the 72 acres, I disconnected the power to the fence and loaded it up with the tuner and worked 160 meter at legal limit.
The only change I would make to this tuner is the size of the numbers in the turns counter on the inductor, getting old and eyes getting weak the numbers could be bigger for ease of viewing.
That is a minor thing.
As far as Palstar goes, I have called and emailed them with questions, I always received a answer promptly and was never blown off.
Disclaimer: I don't work for Palstar nor do I know anyone who works for Palstar. The tuner I tested and use was bought from a supplier.
The last bit of advice as I always say in a review, READ THE MANUAL, works wonders.
73
Enjoy radio
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KB4QLZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 25, 2004 17:43
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Fantastic
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This thing is BIG. Great looking construction, easy to follow manual. Has tuned everything I’ve thrown at it so far. Repeatability is a snap! Not like the cheaper ones from that company in Mississippi. Buy this one, and be done with it.
73
Mark - KB4QLZ
www.kb4qlz.com
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AA2AT
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 3, 2004 17:11
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Very Good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Been using this tuner for a couple of weeks now. Tuning is smooth, the Peak reading wattmeter is one of the best in the business, runs right along side a bird 43 for accurate readings. using a couple of different antennas for 160M I am able to run the legal limit in cw without any arcs or sparks, 80-10 very fine tuning no arc or sparks. I looked inside the unit nice quality componets. I am glad I forked over the few extra bucks to get this tuner instead of one of the cheaper headaches.
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K5YY
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Rating: 5/5
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May 20, 2004 16:11
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Best tuner available
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I own 2 of the Palstar tuners, the last one bought used recently. Having been a ham for 47 years and still owning a Nye MB-VA and Drake MN2700, I feel qualified to say the construction and service at Palstar is the best I have ever seen. The Drake is very nice for smooth tuning and seems to load most antennas very well and the Nye is heavily constructed but a bit contrary on 160 and portions of 80 and 10 meters. The Palstar does it ALL. You must look inside to see the true quality of construction and check the schematic for the balanced tuning method that will load a wet string, for those who can't afford wire. hi Sincerely, if you get one of these it will be the LAST tuner you will need, ever... Paul is a wonderful owner to deal with and has a 4+ knowledge of tuners. The new design AT4K (mine is the older one with LEDs and fan) is worth ever bit of the lower price compared to my earlier unit. The AT5K newer unit is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and get a catalog of products, then buy something that will last a lifetime and looks good in the shack too.. San K5YY
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