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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
W9OY Rating: 2004-04-22
Good Tuner Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this tuner for years, and it works well. The meter is useful for setting SWR, and is reasonably accurate as to power as well. The tuner is not infinite as far as range goes, and there have been some loads I could not get to 1:1 on the SWR. It has never arced and remains cool to the touch at full legal output. I tried the balun once, but found and external DX engineering balun worked better. The antenna selection switch is also an asset. You can choose 3 coax, one open wire balanced and one long wire output. The first switch position also can be bypassed, so if you lets say "tune" your beam you can also set the switch to bypass the tuner.

The knobs of the Capacitors are insulated with press on insulators, and one of these came loose. I fixed it by drilling a hole through the insulator and capacitor shaft where the press on insulator joins it, and putting a piece of 14g wire through the hole. It was an easy fix, but my guess is if you tune much at all with this tuner eventually this joint will fail, and require fixing.

The inside of the tuner is impressive, big beautiful caps and coils and switches. Over all this one is a keeper, and in my opinion much perferable to a roller inductor.
K0KAV Rating: 2003-12-14
I really like this tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had 'em all and this one ranks right up with the best of them. Smooth meter movement, gives me a match on anything I've tried it on, with ease. I was very fortunate to pick up a like new used one for a good price. Quality , big wide spaced variable caps, great tapped inductor. All components look excellent. Definitely a keeper!
KB4QLZ Rating: 2003-02-26
A++ Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Tunes my G5RV from 10 to 80 Meters with my Ameritron AL80B without any problems. Have used it to touch up a 160 Meter V. Never has arced with 1K.
NZ4I Rating: 2003-02-21
Great Tuner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had at least one of these tuners in use at my ham station since 1989. They work very well, and the meter is easy to see. However, as been stated before it my require calibration to be very accurate. My first unit, did have some quality controls issues, but they were quickly fixed without any need to involve the manufacturer (although this is not fun on something you buy from a store). Definately, my first choice in terms of a high power tuner.
N9AI Rating: 2002-09-18
Excellent! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my ATR-15 used about 1 1/2 years ago and I've never had a single problem with it. The quality is excellent. The tuner is very well built with rugged contruction overall and the switches and ceramic insulators getting particularly high marks. I run about 800 watts ouptput through mine, but it'll take twice that, except on 160m, where it's rated at a kilowatt out.

While it's true that the ATR-15 does not have a roller inductor, I find that the switched inductor has plenty of range- I've been able to tune both my G5RV and 40 meter dipole for 160m. I might be biased on this, but I prefer the switched inductor. I've always found roller inductors to have reliability problems on antenna tuners, especially in this price range.

If you can find an ATR-15 at a reasonable price, buy it! They're getting pretty hard to find these days and I'd bet that's because people are starting to realize that they're at least as good as the ATR-30 and better than the ATR-20, for less money. I consider mine one of the best deals I've gotten in amateur radio.

N4LQ Rating: 2002-01-25
Rugged Time Owned: more than 12 months.
One of the most rugged, well constructed tuners. Range limited due to fixed inductance taps instead of roller but easier and quicker to change bands of course. My 160m antenna wouldn't tune until I added some inductance to the coil. Balun can be rewired for either 1:1 or 4:1 ratio. Having a switch for this would be handy. Meter isn't very accurate but good for swr checks. Switch quality is the best. This is a lot like using a Johnson Matchbox only not a true balanced tuner.
AD4C Rating: 1999-09-08
AMERITRON ATR-15 Time Owned: unknown months.
In almost a year I get this Tuner I haven't found anykind of troubles at all.I pass trough it 1500 W from a SB-220 and never have heard any arc,if you open it up will see a quite profesional built,I have had many Tuners and this one is compared in quality only with the venerable Dentron 3000MT,it said its for only 1.5K but I am pretty sure by the capacitors size and the switch contacts space,that will stand 3KW easy,the meter reads smoth PEP values without needing to touch any switch,its definitively a good Tuner to buy and keep for ever.
AA2T Rating: 1999-09-07
Good tuner, minor nits Time Owned: unknown months.
Had very good luck with this with everything from random wires to off center fed dipoles and loops.
Minor issues:
1. Arc'd over around the delrin insulators where the wattmeter toroid is mounted to the pcb. I got replacement parts and also ground the etch around the mounting hole for more creepage.
2. 100W out on the high scale, reads 150W on low scale.
3. Found a loose ground stud, which caused arcing.