Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Palstar AT1KP

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Palstar AT1KP
Reviews: 42MSRP: 429.00
Description:
The AT1KP features 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. NEW!
Peak and Peak Hold dual cross-needle metering ($149.95 value found in our
popular PM2000A wattmeter). As on all Palstar tuners the front panel and top
cover are powdercoated.

Specifications:
-Power rating 1200 watts pep
-160m to 20m(1200+/-j1200), 10m to 15m (1000+/-j1000)
-Output to both balanced and unbalanced lines
-Impedance matching range 20 ohms to 1200 ohms
-Easy and quick tuning with only two controls
-6 position mode switch for multiple antennas
-Crossneedle metering with backlighting (wall transformer supplied)
-Meter power range 0-300 watts / 0-3000 watts
-Differential capacitor tuning with 2 stators and 1 rotor (430pf - 19pf -
430pf@3.5kv)
-Palstar designed ceramic body roller inductor
-High power ferrite 4:1 balun
-Crossneedle metering with backlighting (wall transformer supplied)
-Powdercoated front panel and top cover
-Dimensions: 10 1/2" wide x 4 1/2" high x 11"deep
Weight: 8 lbs
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/at1kp.php
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00424.8
N9PUZ Rating: 2009-11-22
Excellent Product Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased this higher power tuner to use in conjunction with my AL-811H amplifier. I have been very pleased so far. The unit works flawlessly and in my opinion Palstar's reputation for quality is well deserved.

Two features I would like to see added: 1) The ability to mechanically lock out unused antenna positions, and 2) a third, lower power range on the metering. Neither of these are shortcomings, just opportunities to make a great product better.
KD0IDQ Rating: 2009-09-28
By far the best tuner I have ever used. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I struggled with two previous tuners from another manufacturer. Those tuners had trouble tuning my inverted-vee on 160-m and 80-m. This tuner is rock solid every time. The controls are smooth and precise. I can return to a frequency and tuner setting that I recorded and find that it is perfectly in tune without any further adjustments. This tuner makes my antenna better, and it makes my transceiver better. It has become my favorite piece of equipment in the shack. Well done Palstar. I am reminded of the saying "I am too poor to buy cheap". This is the last tuner you will ever need up to 1 KW.
AH6ZZ Rating: 2009-06-21
Agile Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Outstanding quality, finish and performance. But the most welcome feature is precision; time and again I can repeat a tune to resonance simply by dialing in the recorded values – e.g. if it took 40 and 185 the first time to tune antenna number one to resonance it will do it again and again. This is really a help when you switch antennas or bands and cannot re-tune using a carrier.
N5EKC Rating: 2009-04-27
Excellent tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Over the 30 plus years I've been a ham I've used everything from homebrew matchboxes to factory built automatic tuners. This is one of the best products that I've had the opportunity to operate. The quality of the product is very good. The performance is excellent. the controls are smooth to operate. I've tried this tuner with vertical and wire antennas with good results and it seems to have very low losses from the signals I'm hearing and the reports I get.
N3JBH Rating: 2009-04-08
Great tuner JUNK Balun Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ok maybe kund of harsh i know but the balun in these tuners is junk,,, And Paul (the Owner) is not willing to stand behind them. I really liked the tuner and still do. But it is a shame that they wont use a decent balun. Hey Paul try a 1:1 current balun wound on 3 mix 61 cores. Heck i will make them for you if you cant.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N3JBH on 2007-07-31

Update

After using this remarkable tuner for awhile I did notice a rather astonishing fact.
When I run bare foot(No Amp) I just used the built in tuner on my 746. But what I found out was by using the Palstar instead of the built in tuner netted me a 2 S-Unit increase in signal on every band. To me the can only mean one of two things. Either the built in tuner on the Icom 746 is very lossey or the Palstar is nearly lossless. I tend to think the Palstar is the reason. It still amazes me how great it is. Hey Paul many many thanks for a great tuner

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N3JBH on 2007-07-15

Like the Palstar ad reads “Like most Hams you've probably tried tuners made by the "other" guys. If you're ready for a switch to high-quality American Made products the AT1K series tuners are a good place to start.”

Well this tuner like so many other items Paul makes is just great. I own many of his gadgets and swear by all them. But I really think he should be more honest about his statement above. It should have read some thing like this.

You tired of getting screwed by martins silly pieces of junk. Tired spending your good money for land fill scrap. Tired of martins bull crap stating 1500 watt tuners to buy it and read the manual and see it refers to some kind of pipe dream about 1500 watts into the final amp section of your radio? And it honestly cant take 800 watts?

Then buy a palstar tuner or any other item. It is what they say it is at the very least. And most likely it is a whole lot more. Thank you paul be for being a great ham ops friend and making products we can be proud of. Friends don’t let friends by Martins Famous Junk. Friends tell friends about Palstar’s quality that’s what real friends do. Martin I hope you are reading this. And I hope you repent for your ways/
PHILIP_EX_KC7FWB Rating: 2009-02-14
As advertised Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been using this ATU with my 80, 40, 20, 10m fan dipole for about 2 weeks now.

It performs exactly as advertised, easy to use and matches very well, even on bands that the dipoles are not cut for (except 160m, but I never expected that to work anyway).

What could be better? Well I did have some problems trying to tune, and after a few minutes head scratching found that the 160m push button was pushed it. It might be nice to have a small indicator (LED) to indicate when this is selected.

The turns counter could usefully be illuminated. Its not easy to see in a dark shack.

Both of the above points are, of course, nit-picking. As far as functionality and construction goes I am more than happy.
PG00023016 Rating: 2009-02-13
It will outlast me! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Every aspect of this tuner I like----except the color of the tuner and meter. I'd like to have it in black with a white meter. O.K. That's not a fair complaint....and It's built like a tank. I'm still happy with this baby and would reccomend it to my best friends!

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by PG00023016 on 2008-10-13

I really liked this tuner. Then a few weeks ago I switched to a ladder-fed vertical loop. It tunes extremely well and puts out a great singal. I would suggest this tuner to anyone who is switching to an amplifier of up to 800 watts. With or without ladder line.!
W4KKX Rating: 2009-01-18
Excellect piece of equipment! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This tuner is extremely well built...the finest quality...smooth roller with excellent meters. This is an excellent and accurate tuner. While experimenting with this tuner it has exceeded the abilities of past tuners that I have owned. The Peak-Hold feature is great too. Very pleased with this addition to my rig!
N5VU Rating: 2008-12-30
Works as advertised! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Not a piece of crap, hard to use, poor design, loose parts, poor craftsmanship. Not inaccurate or poorly built.

I have had other tuners. Some good, some not so good. This unit is built to last. Heavy duty metal cabinet, nice illuminated cross needle meter, 300 and 3000 watt range, peak & peak hold. Smooth roller inductor that is a "Real" roller inductor. I.e., The wheel is on the outside.

Wheel on the outside: This is very important when tuning. The constant even pressure of the little roller wheel along the "whole" length of the inductor makes for easy and accurate tuning.

The only way I'd get rid of it would be in exchange for a bigger Palstar. If the need ever arises.

I use mine with inverted Vees on 75 meters. Running an Ameritron AL-80B, Heathkit HL-2200 and a 1963 Henry 2KD. Never spits at all.

73, Marcel N5VU

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N5VU on 2008-05-06

I went on a reccomendation of a friend of mine, W5SUM, In the process of giving me grief about selling my Murch 2000, he said, "When I get my next tuner it will be a Palstar." I mentally recorderd this brand name and did my usual search on eham before I bought. I found nothing bad about the Palstar tuners. However, I did find plenty about my recently purchased tuner that I returned for a refund. I thought,...well,...anyway. I bought my Palstar AT1KP and just like everyone else, W5SUM and K5BOC included, they were right. Built like a tank! Easy to tune and to return to previous recorded settings. I'm glad to offer Palstar a 5 out of 5 for my tuner.
K2ID Rating: 2008-10-24
Best Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use a random wire and this baby tunes it down to 1:1 on all bands. Not much more difficult than an auto tuner. Usually just tune to center of band and just touch up a little if necessary.

The Meters themselves are worth praise. Hard to find a tuner with a peak reading meter much lest a peak hold.

I also find their customer service supurb. They answer all of my emailed questions, even the stupid ones. :)