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Reviews For: Palstar AT1KM

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Palstar AT1KM
Reviews: 56MSRP: $359.00
Description:
The AT1K comes in two models: the AT1KM meter display (pictured) and the AT1KD digital display.
Featuring differential capacitor tuning with 2 stators and 1 rotor. For ease of use the AT1K series utilize only 2 controls to operate for tuning with a precision ceramic body roller inductor and high power balun. As on all Palstar tuners the front panel and top cover are powdercoated.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/palmain.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00564.9
DM1MT Rating: 2007-01-06
Perfect... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Solid like a tank... Yes its true.
I read a lot antenna tuner reviews in the last half year.
Now i bought this fantastic american product and realy all the
reviews are true.

This Tuner is in my opinion the best on market for 1kw Stations.

I do highly recommend this Tuner. Its well build with a nice look and the Parts inside are solid like a rock.

The only negative ( for Europe ) is the included Power Supply. Its good with 120V AC for the American Market but here in Europe we have 240V AC. But no Problem the Backlight runs on 12V DC.

Thanks to Palstar for the AT1KM and many thanks to eHam.net for this great service.

73 Michael DM1MT
WU8P Rating: 2006-11-25
Very Nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This a very fine piece of equipment. Built very well. Performs as stated. Very easy to use. I don't know how MFJ can continue to produce the same old trash when fine gear like this is available for a very fair price.
Way to go Palstar!
AC4R Rating: 2006-11-21
TOP SHELF !! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
What can I add that hasn't been said. I have owned several tuners over the years, and the AT1KM beats them all hands down. Before buying the Palstar I bought a MFJ 969, what a joke that was. I junked it out. They dont call it mighty fine junk for nothing. Back to the Palstar. I am running a 160 ft dipole fed with home-brew open line and the palstar loves it. I can even load up on 160 meters with a SWR of less than 2 to one. Just started on 160 and worked 5 states the first night. It is worth every penny ! You cant go wrong with this one !!
W5SSC Rating: 2006-09-28
A+++++++++++ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These products made by the folks at Pal-Star are absolutely top nothch.I think it would tune a string and two can's.!Seriously you can't do better on any tuner. These things are built to be almost indestructable.If you need a tuner For whatever power range get ahold of PalStar. You won't be sorry. Scott Chamlee W5SSC
KA4SSH Rating: 2006-09-28
BEST I OWNED Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I USED THIS TUNER FOR OVER 18 MO.S BUT HAVE I AM HAVING SOME EYE PROBLEMS SO I GIVING THIS UNIT UP VERY SADLY. I AM GOING TO A AUTOMATIC I HOPE IT DOES HALF AS GOOD PALSTAR AT1KM-BUILT LIKE A BATLESHIP--
K6SBA Rating: 2006-09-27
A Great Performer, But.... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my AT1KM for about a year. I use it with my MKV and a 100 ft. ladderline-fed doublet. The tuner finds an easily repeatable match on all bands 80-10 meters. I even once found a little patch of 160-m where I got a less than 2:1 match (no comment on the efficiency with the 100 ft long antenna on that band).

Removing the cover will convince you that you have bought a quality and robust product.

I do have one complaint although I will not downgrade my "5" rating because of it. The painted lettering on the front panel is beginning to flake off in a number of places (such as the model number and the lettering around the antenna selector switch). I'm sorry to say it, but it looks like a pretty low quality job. I'm not sure if others have had a similar experience.

Paul offered to replace the front panel for a reasonable fee, but did not indicate if more recent panels have a more durable finish.

Instead, I'm in the process of removing the panel and will spray it with a few coats of acrylic clearcoat. Hopefully this will solve the problem because I intend to use this fine performer for many years to come.

73 de K6SBA
David in Santa Barbara CA
N7WR Rating: 2006-08-13
Best Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'll add my "5" to all the others. I've used a lot of tuners over the last 48 years and this one is way up at the top of the list for those who don't need one that handles full legal power. I bought one very recently and it tunes every antenna I have (that need tuning--some don't). Quick, easy, and very smooth. I have a series of 1/4 wave slopers (switchable) around a 100 ft tower on 160, 75, and 40 meters. All work fine w/o a tuner at their design frequency. However on 160 & 75 I sometimes venture outside the DX window way up in the band for nets. This tuner makes it easy to QSY up quickly and achieve a match my transceiver and amp like. I run just under 1KW PEP output and this tuner handles that just fine. Haven't found much need for the extra 500 watts so this tuner and my current amp should do just fine for a long time to come.

A quality, well made, AMERICAN made product!
WD6GLA Rating: 2006-06-12
Nice tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this tuner for well over a year now so guess I'll write a review on it . It's a nice tuner , with a couple of issues which I'll explain.

Good things first :
The build quality is very good , very sturdy construction when you take the cover off and look inside . Nice cross needle metering , sure it would be nice to have a PEP reading wattmeter .. but I can live with it as is , and there is an outfit that makes a PEP conversion kit for I believe around 30 bucks . It would be a good investment and I'm going to probably make that modification on mine . Tunes up easily and the turns counter makes it very repeatable when band hopping . Make a cheat sheet for your favorite frequencies and its a breaze . Paul includes a nice wallwart for the meter backlight too . Tune up instructions are good and easy to understand .

OK now the negatives :
I noticed after a week or so the capacitor tuning control had kind of notchy feeling and seems to stick a bit sometimes . I tried to readjust/and lube the capacitor bushings but it really didnt help much . A few months later the roller inductor started screeching and feeling gritty . Hmmm , I cleaned /lubed as per instructions that come with tuner but still the same . I have talked to a couple of others on the air who said they experienced the same problem with theirs also . I could have sent it in for warranty work , but I can repair/re-engineer both of these things without too much trouble , it's not worth the hassle of boxing it up and paying freight back to the factory and risking possible damage in shipping . I was just a wee bit disapointed because I bought the Palstar over the comparable MFJ unit because of the complaints that I read here that on some of the MFJ units the controls were sometimes rough feeling . Ha ... I guess not a whole lot of difference . Anyway , what's the bottom line ? Would I buy another one ? You bet , overall its a good unit and the price is right . I gave it a 4 only because you shouldnt have to work on a new piece of equipment .
AA0TT Rating: 2006-06-12
Great Tuner! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I recently replaced my MFJ differential T tuner with the Palstar. The difference was night and day! The typical shack configuration is a Icom PRO 2 to a Force 12 C-4 or a 524.8 ft. center fed long wire inverted Vee. The quality of workmanship and materials offers no real comparison between the two. I realize that the Palstar is a little more cost than the MFJ but, " it's like my Grandpa told me.... ya get what you pay for".

The tuning is much smoother than what I had became used to. I do miss having the peak reading as I used to have, with the Palstar only showing RMS, but as 99% of my operation is cw that is no big loss.

If you are looking for a smooth tuner that is built like a tank, this is the one for you.
N7LK Rating: 2006-05-11
Underrated Performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this antenna tuner in October 2004 to match my Alpha Delta DX-DD trapped dipole for 40 and 80 meters which is installed 20 feet above ground. Without the tuner this antenna has very little band width. I also began using the tuner to bring my Hy-Gain TH3-MK3S "Thunderbird" (up 30 feet) into unity on 10, 15 and 20 meters.

My station is a stock Collins S-Line and until January 2006, I only ran a 30L-1 linear amplifier and ran 600-1000 Watts. When I first used the AT1KM, it arced over inside. I opened it up (very easy to do), and found some contamination across the plates of the variable capacitor. After cleaning this FOD out, the tuner has been running flawlessly.

After January of 2006, I have added a Collins 30S-1 and continue to use the AT1KM on all bands without any problems. In a way, I was hoping that the AT1KM would collapse under the 13-1500 Watts of tune-up carrier, so that I could buy a larger Palstar tuner with a "holding" watt meter.

However, I am very content to continue using the Palstar AT1KM as its enduring quality is complementary to my Collins equipment and is very easy to use. Except for the AT1KM, I have had the same equipment since 1984. Although I constantly look at new ham gear that will outperform or add capability to my station, (for voice SSB), I have only added the AT1KM to my station since then. This tuner should not fail for at least 50+ years because no software is needed, nor are there any ICs around to spike.

I would however, like to see the Palstar tuners offered in other color combinations, (such as Collins grey), to match our various station equipment.

My thanks to Paul Hrivnak for his well designed and built products, Larry Karpurk N7LK