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Reviews For: Ameritron ATR-15

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Ameritron ATR-15
Reviews: 18MSRP: 520. USD
Description:
1.5 KW 1.8-30 MHz Antenna Tuner Ameritron no longer lists this one on the website.
Product is not in production
More Info: https://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=ATR-20
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00184.7
K5TER Rating: 2022-08-01
Both hands makes for short work! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Couldn't ask for more, unless the meter was peak reading. I find that I can tune anything quickly by using both hands, one on TRANSMITTER and the other on ANTENNA, then watch the REF meter.

The ANTENNA switch selections is a big plus for me too. I use the COAX DIRECT-ANT1-ANT2-ANT3 frequently.
N8FVJ Rating: 2016-11-10
Works Perfect Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good tuner that works well. No fussy roller inductor that can have poor contacts and need a dozen turns. Simply switch to band in a second and tune. It does not get easier. I never used 160 meters though.
VK2ONE Rating: 2015-05-27
Great Tuner - Even better with a few mods Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this tuner for a good price about 2 years ago when I started running a linear. Basically a good tuner just had a few annoying features:

1. No bypass switching on antennas 2 and 3
2. Xmitter and Antenna controls very touchy and a bit stiff
3. Balanced line Balun great on 160M but hopeless on 10M. Also gets very hot at a Kilowatt.

To fix this, I have purchased a couple of dual speed vernier drives and fitted them to the tuner - what a difference! The controls are now silky smooth and its really easy to find that notch in the SWR. I also purchased a large ceramic switch from the Ukraine and wired it in as a bypass switch. Position 1 on the main switch (that was bypass for ant 1 only) is now for a dummy load, and I now have 3 switchable antennas + the wire and balanced line.
I have purchased a new balun from G4ICD in the UK and it now works great on 10M and only just gets warm at a Kilowatt. Check my QRZ page if you want more info and some pics.

If you are prepared to do a few mods, this really is a great tuner. I have run it at up to 1400W on every band and no arcing or any dramas at all. Tunes my open wire fed dipole to 1:1 on every band to 10M. The SWR meter is large and easy to read and will read with as little as 10W.

This one is going to remain a permanent part of my shack!
AK6ZZ Rating: 2015-03-29
Solid manual tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned the ATR-15 for about three months and it is rock solid. Really think this is the best piece of Ameritron gear I have ever owned. I have paired it up with an Acom 1000 and it is a nice match. It tunes all my antennas from 80 to 10 m perfectly. The band you are operating may or may not be always the one that provides the best tune. For example, I had one antenna that would tune 20m better on the 17m selection of the tuner versus the 20m selection. Not a big deal to me because it always works with no issue. Just thought I would mention it in case someone didn't figure that out.
KD8QNC Rating: 2014-04-15
Maybe the best manual tuner ever Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought the ATR-15 used about three years ago. I use it in power ranges from 5w. to 1200w. PEP. I haven't hooked it up to any antenna that it couldn't match to 1:1. I like the tapped inductor rather than the roller type. It is faster to find the right solution and more fool proof. I am really sorry this great manual tuner is not still in production. They're hard to find on the used market. If you're looking for a manual tuner and find one of these.....buy it, you won't be sorry.
W6UXB Rating: 2012-05-23
Excellent tuner good calibration 80 -20 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have gone through five tuners in my shack in the past 15 years KW-107 keeper but an oldie that still is good to 20 M, MFJ 986D OK but what you expect, Palstar KT1M very nice but did not like the differential tuning capacitor, then a MFJ-989C OK but did not like the fiberglass insulators on the capacitors. Then I got this Ameritron ATR-15 massive capacitors with ceramic insulators and for the swithces no roller inductor and the only antennna tuner that I have had that tunes my Chameleon V11 to 1:1 on every band so far love this thing had to alignn the meter drops off on 15 and 10 the only one that did not do this was the PalStar but al in all this is the best of the bunch
N3OQD Rating: 2010-05-08
update Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Got this tuner for $150 about 2 years ago at a local hamfest. After several patches to the plastic shaft to the left Transmitter capacitor I finally called MFJ. They sent to me at no cost at my request two shafts for good measure. This morning it went in easy. Trimmed and with a few light taps with hammer to secure. Now it is good as new. Pros: quick tune, well built. The only con is that because of fixed inductor taps, tuning range for my random wire is limited. For other antennas I am sure that this is not an issue. All in all a pretty good set.
K9MI Rating: 2009-04-09
One Comlaint Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My only complaint is that there isn't a "direct" setting for antennas 2 & 3. That wasn't a problem when I had a good antenna switch. Just use 100 watts now, but no problems when I had my AL-811. Sort of overkill for my 100 watt station, but I bought it used for a very reasonable price, and it would cost a lot more then I spent to replace it with a tuner of it's quality.

Mike - K9MI
EA6TS Rating: 2009-03-05
Solid like rock Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi guys:

Mine is here in the shack for about 3 years and still like first day.

Working with no problems with an ACOM 1000, no arching and no problems.... Please don't compare with MFJ

I prefeer to use antennas 1,1swr but in 80 or 75mts its quite difficult if you wanna work ssb and cw and then he job of the ATR15 is needed.

Good help in the shack

73's from Menorca Island
AK4QA Rating: 2009-01-12
Still rocking Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Been almost a year and still works great. New radio (756Pro) and new amp (AL-1200) and still no problems. Not to speak of the antennas.

Just bought another one off Ebay to build a twin station, so will keep ya'll upto date on this.

Lee
KE4VYN