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Reviews For: Palstar DL2K Dummy Load

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : Palstar DL2K Dummy Load
Reviews: 41MSRP: Suggested Retail Price $159.95
Description:
Specifications 2000 watts for 1.5 minutes Fan cooled ( switched ) Frequency range DC to 30 Mhz Internal wattmeter and analog metering
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00414.7
N3JBH Rating: 2010-12-18
Not bad but not perfect Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the older unit with the switch on the rear. It was no problem i moved it myself it was a simple over sight i am sure. My complaint is it is not 50 ohms mine reads 88 ohms. still it works but do not expect to find a 1:1 match using the load
N8PVW Rating: 2010-09-24
Works as advertised Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned it for about a year now purchased new from R&L in Ohio. I can pump 1500 watts in and tune my amp in a liesurely manner and the load barely warms up. I'm giving it a 5 becuse it is a great unit at a great price. But, the watt meter is a joke. Not even in the ball park on accuracy. I checked it against my Bird and a military lab type meter and not even in the ball park using single or dual tone. My cheapo MFJ meters are dead on. But still worth a 5 and well worth the money.
N2QQF Rating: 2009-12-08
Great Load Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a new dummy load as my other one went bad after some time. I have had such great success with PALSTAR Equipment I decided why not buy a load from them. The long and short of it is that the dummy load works great with no issues, looks nice, well built and an overall good product.
K9SQG Rating: 2009-07-10
Top notch! Robust. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Beefy unit with typical high quality Palstar is known for. It's dry, has a built-in fan, and you don't have to worry about an extrnal wattmeter. It's ratings are more than adequate for my testing and repair of linears. Only negative is the scaling on the wattmeter that takes some study before each use. Definately a keeper. Few companies have quality like this.

Thanks Palstar!
K9MHZ Rating: 2009-05-17
Holy cow do these guys build good stuff! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This thing is fantastic. Palstar really knows how to build quality stuff. I had a MFJ dummy load previously, and in same price category, but the Palstar is light years ahead in design and quality. I already own an AT4K tuner, and it's the perfect companion to that magnificient tuner. If you need a dummy load.....buy this one, you won't regret it!
David Meyer Rating: 2009-03-27
Super piece of ham gear Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After speaking to ICOM technical support, I was informed of the importance of using a dummy load. After speaking to several hams, I purchase the DL2K. So far, it has been a solid part of my radio desk. The meter seems to be accurate to within a few whats of my ICOM-7700. There has been much mention of the fan noise. Not having an amplifier, the themostat controlled fan has never switched on... and I did check to make sure it does work. In fact, I have not felt any heat to speak of radiating from the unit. You can pump 200 watts into it all day long without any reservation.

It is a solid piece of equipment just like the other PALSTAR products. It sits side by side my matching AT2K tuner.
W6NFL Rating: 2009-02-28
Very Good Quality Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This dummy load works as it should. The switch for the fan is on the front unlike the older version. The meter seems very accurate. Please note this is not a pep watt meter.The fan is on the loud side but seems to keep the dummy load cool under long key ups. This is a nice addition to any shack. As with other Palstar products, you get what you pay for.
N2TU Rating: 2009-02-09
Two Thumbs Up! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased the older version of the DL2K from an estate sale, however it doesn't have some of the niceties of the newer DL2K units. It is, however, built with the same high quality as my AT4K tuner.

The newer version of DL2K Dummy Load is equipped with a thermostatically controlled fan, larger lighted meter and the coax connector in the rear.

Not needing another SWR/Power meter in the shack, I was OK with the smaller meter and a front mounted coax connector didn't bother me. I did want a thermostatically controlled fan so I called Paul.

I purchased the board required and did the modification. It works great. As I increase power, the board senses the load resistors heating up and turns the fan on full blast. While I had the DL2K open, I installed meter lamps and fused the new circuit board.

I pushed 1.5KW into the Dummy Load and the unit appeared to handle it with ease.

By the way, good old US Postal Service manhandled the shipment and I wound up with a defective thermistor. I called Paul and I had a new one in two days. No questions asked! He was great to deal with and I have an upgraded DL2K.

If anyone needs pictures of the mod or instructions, I'd be glad to pass them along. (my call at ARRL.net).
W7CNK Rating: 2008-11-02
Ezcellent product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The mechanical design is great, very solid. The fan is a bit noisy but it hard to find a fan of this size that isn’t. The highest power I’ve used is 1KW and it handled that just fine. The power meter is accurate, however, I believe it should read Peak Power not Average, I’ll probably correct that issue after the warranty period. I would recommend this dummy load it’s an excellent product.
OE3SGU Rating: 2008-07-09
Very valuable addition to the shack Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After my purchase of the AT2K and experiencing the superb quality of this tuner, I could not resist and added the DL2K. It shows the same great quality and the meter seems to be quite accurate. As everything from Palstar I ever owned it is wellworth the money allthough it is not cheap. But it might save you some trouble that you could experience with other less quality products. Guess its the last dummy load I will ever need. Waiting patiently for a new model of the Palstar antenna analyzer that adds at least 6m.