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Reviews For: Kessler Engineering AT-AUTO

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Kessler Engineering AT-AUTO
Reviews: 88MSRP:
Description:
Production of the legacy AT-AUTO was halted per court-enforced settlement and to facilitate product improvement and redesign.

Kessler Engineering continues to service and support the legacy AT-AUTO, and is continuing to develop and release new firmware, which is freely available from the Kessler Engineering website for use on any AT-AUTO.

Although temporarily out of production, this is still very much an active product.

The revised AT-AUTO builds upon the capabilities of the legacy AT- AUTO and will debut shortly. Please contact Kessler Engineering directly for support and information.

Thanks, Don ki6sz@sbcglobal.net

Product is not in production
More Info: https://kesslerengineeringllc.com/tuners.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25884.9
K5INI Rating: 2023-01-25
A good alternative to the HF Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this because LDG doesn't make a legal limit auto tuner. The other options were the HF model or the MFJ 998. I use this with 4 different antennas. Changing antennas or bands and sending a tuning carrier will let this unit just click it's way to a match. It does make a little noise while "doing it's thing" and that's OK. I've had it for several years and have zero reason to repair/replace/upgrade.
N9CHM Rating: 2022-12-30
Excellent tuner which follows my radio Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As my antennas and amplifiers have changed over the last dozen years, I've had one HF-AUTO and 2 AT-AUTO tuners. I recently picked up a KESSLER (PALSTAR) AT-AUTO to go with my Mercury LUX amplifier, since it is a legal limit SS amp. The AT-AUTO is connected to my FLEX radio (6400) via an RS232-USB cable with the FTDI chip. I set the memory tune for every 10 kHz on 160M, every 20 kHz on 75M (on a 160/75 fan dipole) and several frequencies on 20M on my 40/20 fan dipole (don't need the tuner anywhere on 40M). The tuner has 256 memories, so plenty of memories for higher frequencies once I get around to setting them. The tuner follows the FLEX radio from freq to freq, no additional input is needed, once the tuner is finished (takes seconds within band, but does take 25-30 seconds to move the roller when going to/from 160M & 20M), everything is good to go. As most know, the PALSTAR HF-AUTO tuner will not follow the radio via a CAT or BCD connection, but W1TR wrote an application (HF-AUTO APP) which many use, and seems to work well (I have not used it). I prefer the simpler approach using the CAT connection with the AT-AUTO. I also like the cross needle meter on the AT-AUTO which gives a quicker read on what exactly is going on when tuning, IMHO. The AT-AUTO does not have the small annoyance of trying to tune during a QSO, as has been reported by many people (and myself) when using the HF-AUTO. And while the HF-AUTO does have RF sensing, needing to activate the tuner with a carrier or mic click does have its draw backs. I just like the tuner automatically following my FLEX radios without any extra user inputs. The fact that Don Kessler continues to service the AT-AUTO is a big plus. He has kits for upgrading to a new meter design with LEDs, as well as a QRO keyline mod to disable the amp when tuning.

ADVANTAGES OF AT-AUTO OVER HF-AUTO:

Tuner will track with radio via CAT control
Tuner does not try to automatically tune during a QSO
Cross-needle SWR meter, this is subjective, but I like it
QRO keyline circuit which protects amp and disables amp during tuning if over 1.5:1 SWR
Tuner has balanced line output and an internal balun

ADVANTAGES OF HF-AUTO OVER AT-AUTO:

Tuner has 3 coax outputs, only one with the AT-AUTO
Tuner is RF-sensing
Tuning speed is adjustable, slow-med-high, and tunes a little faster than AT-AUTO
N2XPM Rating: 2022-06-24
It's a Kick A$$ Performer! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got the tuner back from Kessler after it been repaired, updated and upgraded. I have been putting it through it paces and it works very well. Flat VSWR on all bands 10-160M's using my 1/2 Wave End Fed Antenna and ACOM 1010 Amplifier. It's a Beast and works better compared to other tuners I have used. I am a Happy Camper. Don Kessler is a gentleman to talk too and his expertise are unyielding. If you have any questions about these tuners, he will walk you through it. I am very satisfied with the repair and upgrades. I am seeing more of these tuners for sale on other websites. Grab one. They are worth every penny.
KA8Q Rating: 2021-04-01
Tough and Dependable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the AT-AUTO for 12 years. During that time it has logged almost 40,000 contest QSOs. I operate mostly search-and-pounce, roaming up and down the bands. Consequently, I'm retuning very frequently. I have to use it all manually because I use 5 wire beams aimed at different parts of the globe. Consequently, it's not as fast as if it were used on automatic tuning. But, it's dead accurate and it tunes whole band from 160 to 10 meters. During those years I've had one problem, twice. It was quickly fixed after an email to Dr. Kessler. This is a zero maintenance, top-quality workhorse. It has my unrestricted endorsement.
KG7RLG Rating: 2020-12-31
Great Tuner and Great Support Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This tuner is dynamite and I always get a quick straight answer from Kessler Engineering!
N7GCO Rating: 2020-02-24
Outstanding heavy duty tuner with awesome service Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This tuner is built like a tank. The workmanship is excellent. Dr Kessler provides outstanding service.
I have honestly not seen another tuner of this quality.
W5WE Rating: 2019-11-22
Battleship + Service Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have a secondhand AT-Auto that was built in 2006. With one minor exception, it has been an excellent tuner with impressive features. I was able to put the current firmware on it in a straightforward manner since Don Kessler has ensured backward compatibility with all versions of his AT-Auto. I love the CI-V combability so the tuner stays tuned to the receive frequency of my radio before I ever transmit.

The one exception has been the "Mode" button (or in my case it was labeled "Manual/Auto" from the early days). It would not work reliably and would often require multiple presses to get it to toggle through Auto/Manual/Bypass. Since this button is also used to enter the menu by holding it for several seconds, it was almost impossible to get into the menu. So, I submitted a support requested through the Kessler Engineering website describing the problem. I quickly received a reply from Dr. Kessler himself. After explaining that the only solution was to replace the button, he offered a fair price to do the repair (hard to believe in itself). He was also willing to provide the exact part number so I could replace it myself if I didn't mind a little through-hole soldering. Since shipping costs would have been considerable for such a sizeable and heavy item, I asked him for the part number. While he didn't carry the button in-stock, he provided the part number so I could buy it online, and HE PROVIDED DETAILED AND PERSONALIZED REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS!!.

In the end, I was able to replace the button for less than $10 and now have a fully functioning AT-Auto!

I can't think of many instances where a 13+ year old electronic device that is no longer being manufactured would have this level of repair-ability and such amazing support. While Dr. Kessler did not get a dime for his assistance, I do plan to remain a loyal customer and will be on the lookout for his next new products. I'm also considering the purchase of some of his AT-Auto upgrades like the QRO keyline kit and/or meter upgrade kit (but I have to say the meters and lights on my tuner are still working fine at this point).
K2CD Rating: 2017-10-10
Built Like a Battleship Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had purchased a used Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX linear back in March. No-tune was quite a revelation in convenience to me. I decided I wanted to further automate my station and began searching for a suitable QRO-capable automatic antenna tuner. I narrowed my choices to the Kessler AT-Auto, and Palstar HF-Auto. A Kessler AT-Auto became available on the used market from a nice fellow in Iowa, and made the deal.

I'm not sure of its vintage, but it has all of the features as listed on the Kessler Engineering website, for the current model, and has the latest firmware installed.

I don't know how I ever got along without it. Having used manual tuners for decades, I can state emphatically that this thing works, works flawlessly, and works fast. The thing with the manual tuners I have used is that sometimes a group of settings will present a good SWR to the amplifier, but not deliver it to the antenna. Power is being lost in the tuner, and a different combination of settings must be tried, which can cost time. This one takes the guess work out of the equation and finds the best match. It saves time and effort and maximizing the chances of putting that DX station in the log.

Construction is superb, form and fit are perfect. It's a piece of gear that will last a long long time. I'm very pleased with the tuner (and amplifier, btw), and I would definitely buy more Kessler products in the future.
KB5RU Rating: 2017-10-10
Excellent Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It is very refreshing to buy a product that works like it should. I bought mine used at a ham swap meet and it works great. I use it with several old tube type radios as well as solid state modern radios so I changed the set-up program to vintage radios. It not only works as expected but the program settings make it flexible.
K2AR Rating: 2017-04-19
Great Auto Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked up a used 2006 production unit at a very good price and although a great tuner, I wanted all the up to date features. I sent it to Kessler Engineering to do the QRO, Meter, 2nd coax output and latest firmware upgrade. He also lubed the inductor roller shaft and checked everything else out. I really like the QRO feature to disable the amplifier while the tuner is finding a match and with the serial port connection to the radio makes the tuner automatically tune after it reads the frequency from the radio. I am so happy with this tuner that I may get a second one as a spare.