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Reviews For: Dentron mlt 2500

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Dentron mlt 2500
Reviews: 1MSRP:
Description:
10-160, 4:1 Balun, Dummy Load, coax and wire connections
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
KY5G Rating: 2018-06-11
Just love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OK, so the MLT-2500 has not been produced in some 3-4 decades? I picked this 100% functional/ 90% cosmetic MLT-2500 up at a hamfest for $250.00 because I had a friend who owned the matching MLA-2500 amp. Before I could get with him to give him the tuner, he sold the amp.... so I've had this manual tuner for 2 years and FINALLY hooked it up today.

Well, there were some NON-manufacturing issues that were caused at some point. The roller inductor contact wheel had jumped the track manifesting in some pretty wild VSWR swings while changing inductance.

AND someone had installed/calibrated the capacitor needles 180 degrees out. "0" on the dial was MAX capacitance, and "10" was near zero capacitance.

Both easy fixes. Popped the top and put the inductor contact wheel back on track and took the time to calibrate the LED readout to "000" where I wanted it on the inductor winding to MAKE SURE it wouldn't jump track again. Reversed the needles and "calibrated" the needle to indicate MAX at 10, and pretty close to 50% at 5. Below that, it gets iffy.

FINALLY, I was able to put it back inline and play.... well, after reading the manual I bought for the unit from "Manualman" first. Not a lot of pages, but worth the money to have on-hand.

The reason I am using it right now is that I have the use of an SPE 1K-FA amp sitting between the tuner and my Elecraft K3s.... AND I only have an 80 meter horizontal loop antenna at about 60 feet to use until the tower goes up.... AND there are some crazy SWR values in places, even after optimizing the transformation system with 300 Ohm twin lead, and custom 6:1 balun and a VERY short coax feed.

I know... this is long, but here comes the punch line...

I have tuned on EVERY band from 80 meters to 10 meters already, and I have YET to find a single frequency I cannot get an almost perfect 1:1 match and all but full power out.

The SPE has an EXCELLENT SWR measurement circuit, more precise and I think more accurate than the K3s onboard reading, and I have yet to fail to tune to 1.05:1 or less.

Te MLT-2500 has 5 antenna inputs that are relay switched from the front panel. 3 x coax, 1 for single wire, and 1 for balanced feed. There is an onboard 4:1 balun.

There is a (In/Out) switch to bypass the tuner while powered on. The Forward and Reverse power meters are excellent and adjustable, though mine did not require it. The Forward Power meter auto ranges between 0-200W and 0-2000 W, with an LED that switches from green to red when you switch to high range.

The tuner auto switches to Antenna Input #1 when the power is removed for whatever reason. If you put your dummy load on this input, you are always sure to have the proper load on the output.

I'm planning to buy an HF AUTO to go inline for use with a future legal limit amp so I can tune the loop even after I get the tower and resonant antennas up.... To simplify and speed tuning, PLUS have the ability to store settings in non-volatile memory.

But you know... I don't think I am going to let this one go. I think I will keep it around. It's so simple and elegant of a design.

It is a shame that more people don't know about these. Information on the net is almost non-existent, and I think the companion amp in this line may have hurt this tuner's rep unnecessarily.

Bottom Line: If you like/want/need a manual tuner and you see one of these for under $4-500. Grab it!