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Reviews For: Palstar HF-AUTO

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Palstar HF-AUTO
Reviews: 106MSRP: $1695. USD
Description:
* 1 Watt to 2500 watts....average, peak, and peak- hold
* Load into a 10:1 SWR from 1.8 to 54 Mhz
* NO CI-V cables required
* Tunes on SSB
* Digital Display...no analog metering
* Remotable... up to 400'!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/en/hf-auto/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
64.51064.8
WB2PJH Rating: 2015-03-26
Outstanding Value Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
When it was time to upgrade to a larger amplifier I looked into every tuner available that could handle the necessary power. I had previously owned LDG autotuners but my LDG 1000 was not suitable for my new Alpha 8410. A manual tuner was initially considered due to cost but but I decided to go with an ATU for the convenience and I am glad that I did. The Palstar HF-AUTO is an "L" type tuner so there is only one correct match for a given frequency. Once it memorizes your antenna settings it takes a only a few seconds to find the correct match. When changing antennas a match is usually found in less than ten seconds in most cases. It works like a dream, and I can hear the stepper motors moving the inductor and capacitor as it follows me up and down the band. I was also able to get rid of the band switch on the wall since the Palstar can switch between three antennas with the push of a button.

Everything about this tuner says quality, from the fit and finish, the heavy metal case, and the clear, large and readable LCD readout. It's built like a tank, just like the Alpha 8410 it sits next to. Tech support is first rate. Before my purchase I called Paul at Palstar and myquestiions were answered politely and in full. Eva, who runs the office, was a delight to talk to. She handled my order and I had the unit in my hands within a week. It came well packed, with a clearly written owners manual. The power cable comes with a large ferrite choke so there is nothing extra to purchase. I may change out other parts of my station as the years go by but this HF-Auto is never going to leave my operating desk as long as I'm around.

Yes, it is not the least expensive unit on the market, but in this case you most certainly get what you pay for, and in my opinion a little more. It has exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it without hesitation.
W5WJH Rating: 2015-03-05
Outstanding Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had various other tuners that I thought did a good job.
In November of 2013 I finally purchased the Palstar HF AUTO tuner. It never has missed a beat especially when switching between antennas.Works perfectly every time.
A little expensive but like a Mercedes Benz,I will never need another one.
I highly recommend the Palstar AUTO HF tuner.
Thanx Paul and Eve.
W9OWO Rating: 2015-01-24
Still on top of the list! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a followup on last year's review. Due to some antenna changes, my demands for tuner efficiency have been reduced. I considered selling my HF-Auto to a good Ham friend and even let him try it out for a few days. Well, he didn't go for it and I've got it back. Now, it's not going anywhere! I'm not taking another chance on "seller's remorse." This tuner is truly my best (equipment) " friend." The firmware upgrades have refined operation of this tuner to the max. There aren't enough "stars" to measure my pleasure with my HF-Auto.
N2IRO Rating: 2015-01-09
Great tuner; Great support Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I've had two HF-Autos. I bought the first when the tuner first became available. I located it remotely in my garage attic where the antenna feed lines depart the house. That spot is 110 cable feet from the shack. I located the HF-Auto at the feed line departure point and monitored SWR in the shack. It worked wonderfully, but I always wanted the HF-Auto Remote. When it became available, my tuner needed upgrades to work with the remote. Rather than take the time to have Paul update my tuner, I bought another with the HF-Auto Remote. (The first HF-Auto sold very quickly on eham.net). I think I was the first customer for the HF-Auto and HF-Auto Remote combination.

But eventually I had a problem with the HF-Auto... the power measurement drifted and was alway reading too low. Paul suggested that I return the tuner. In a week, I had the tuner at home again. It's working perfectly and all is well.

I rate this tuner combination so highly because it works well, but also because Paul so eagerly took care of my problem. Great product and equally great service and support.
AB4IQ Rating: 2014-12-01
Great Tuner Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought my HF-Auto at Dayton in May. I enjoyed the way it operates and is easy to tune because you don't have to really do anything. It tunes my Hy-Tower on any band even 30 and six meters in a matter of seconds. I recently had an issue with mine, I sent it off on Monday thru FedEx and it was setting on my porch on Wednesday which is less than 48 hours turn around time and NO CHARGE. Kind of hard to beat that kind of service. Needless to say, I bought another one for my other operating location. I run full legal power and it don't even grunt. Good piece of equipment or should I say great.
KW4CQ Rating: 2014-10-01
The Perfect Tuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This tuner has dramatically changed the way I am able to chase DX from band to band. Due to HOA rules I am limited to stealthy wire antennas at my QTH and HF-AUTO has made the job of re-tuning the antanna(s) a joy to behold. Tuning is now completely automatic and takes only a few seconds to tune the transmission line to resonance. For instance, I can tune my Off Center Fed Dipole (OCFD) 6m-80m antenna (including 30m and 17m) to a VSWR of 1.2 or less in less than 3 seconds, and in some cases in 1 second, by just tapping the cw key.

There is only one improvement I would love to see included in the firmware and that is the capability to clear the memory of all stored presents when I change out to a new antenna. Having the old memory presets in there is a bit of an annoyance.
A wonderful product though and a real keeper.
K8EO Rating: 2014-09-30
Available at My SK Estate sale (hopefully Many yrs from Now) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been licensed for 38 years now. Items come and go in my shack, but this tuner is going NOWHERE. It will be with me until I check out. I have had auto tuners, manual tuners, many of them over the years.

I have never bought a better ham product than this; tuner, radio antenna or anything, period.

Available for purchase at My S.K. Estate sale hopefully MANY yrs form now...
KA5M Rating: 2014-09-14
Outstanding Performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a high performance quality auto antenna "tuner". Easy to install, and easier to use. It will match complex impedances that my previous high-pass "T" manual tuner and then a reconfigurable high-pass, low-pass "L" manual tuner could not.
G0MJK Rating: 2014-09-09
Superb tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having been a ham for over 25 years many tuners have been through my hands including a couple of auto tuners but none can compare with the HF-Auto. It tunes anything I throw at it perfectly and I have used it with my Drake L7, Acom 1000 and now SPC Expert K1-FA amplifiers to good effect. It is important to read the instruction book as it only requires low power rf to tune which it does in seconds. Yes it is expensive but worth every penny, if you buy one you will not quickly part with it.
AB2IR Rating: 2014-05-30
Love it Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not a big detail person of pros or cons for all antenna applications, but this unit I love ! Key up and it tunes in roughly two to five seconds 99% of the time. Once in awhile, and I think it is moisture on antenna, it takes 3x to tune. This is always on antenna I hardly use. One possible improvement of use, would be to have a single button up front for straight by-pass mode. Have to switch display to do it now, four button pushes. If you can afford it, beats out all the rest in my view. Using Tentec omni7, mosler tribander, sloper, and other ant. with Ameritron ALS-1300 solid state amp. Would buy again.