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Reviews For: Ameritron ATR-20

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Ameritron ATR-20
Reviews: 16MSRP: 459.95
Description:
1.2 KW 1.8 - 30 MHz Roller Antenna Tuner
Product is in production
More Info: http://mfjenterprises.com/collections/ameritron/products/atr-20
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15164.8
N7HO Rating: 2005-01-14
Great Tuner Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am very happy with this unit.
I bought this tuner to go with my AL-811 and it has worked great, and I have had no problems with it. So much better then my MFJ. I use it with a 246' dipole and it tunes just fine on all bands. Now if they could make an Auto-tuner this reliable.

73,
Steve / N7HO
K6CJB Rating: 2004-02-16
Excellent tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these (one in the primary station, one in the secondary) and I love it. I noticed the shaft coupler looseness in one of them and I have to adjust this, but other than that, it's a great piece of equipment.
K0KAV Rating: 2003-07-12
Works Great! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I use mine on a sloper and it works great. I can go back to various frequencies and the variable Capacitor[s]and Inductor settings are right on every time. As I understand it, the shaft coupler set screws have been replaced with Allen screws that are supposed to bite into the shaft[s]and correct the problem of the shaft coming out in your hand. I don't think it has the fit/finish/quality that my Palstar AT-1500CV had but it does a good job.
KC9ANI Rating: 2003-07-09
Solid Performer Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have had for about a month now and delayed reviewing until I had a chance to wring out a bit. Using a Al811 amp thru the tuner so power levels never exceed 5-600 watts. In any case, I experienced the exact same problem listed by the past two posters regarding the shaft coupler coming loose. Tightened real well and so far so good. Tuner works very well and loads all bands easily. Antenna is a G5RV. Much better than the MFJ 986 and 989's I was trying. Extra money well spent, but doesnt seem to be too popular of a tuner if the number of reviews is any evidence. I'm a happy camper at this point.
KH6AP Rating: 2001-10-06
Works well but! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am very happy with this tuner but WA7NCL is correct. The shaft coupler started to slip and came off in my hand. I have used some thread locker on the coupler and that should hold it for awhile. The power meter is intermittent...it just quits at times and for no reason starts working again.

The actual tuner is fantastic. It loads into anything. The actual tuner part of the design is great.

Had Ameritron spent a few extra dollars on the hardware this tuner would be a big 5.

73's and Aloha

Chip
WA7NCL Rating: 2001-01-30
Works good Some Quality Problems Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a skinny version of the ATR-30. The Turns counting roller inductor works well. The verniers reduction on the capacitors works well. The inductor and capacitors are large and are about as good as can be expected in these new non-mechanical times. The band switch has problems. No proper bushing on shaft thru the panel. 1/4 inch shaft coupler to switch so poor that it wont lock onto shaft. First use caused shaft to come out in my hand. I fixed the bushing by adding one from old junk wafer switch. I now need to replace the shaft coupler. From what I can tell this is better than most "mfj" products but like all the rest suffers from lack on quality on nickle and dime items. The watt meter works and agrees with my TS-870. I use this tuner at 100W so can't comment on power handling.
The output balun is large but has a steel bolt passing thru the center of the toroids. I am wondering if this could cause eddy current losses.
I bought it on theory that the larger components would have less loss and be more efficient. Is it worth it? There aren't a lot of new antenna tuners on the market and compared to MFJ brand product, I think it was a wise choice.