Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Palstar AT2K

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 AT2K
Reviews: 130MSRP: 595.95
Description:
A newly-designed, smaller roller inductor allows the AT2K to tune 6 Meters, while a relay-switched toroid adds the extra inductance needed for 160 Meter coverage. Newly designed capacitors feature lower minimum capacitance for improved high band performance, while maximum capacitance has been increased to 400pF for better low band performance. In addition, the Peak/Peak Hold metering from the PM2000 has been incorporated into the AT2K.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/en/at2k.php
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
231304.6
AA4UC Rating: 2022-12-04
Guess I Got A Lemon Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased the AT2K because I wanted to replace my vintage NYE Viking MB-IV-A with a tuner capable of 6 meters. Once I got the AT2K connected I noticed a problem. The manual states to start the tuning procedure for 10 meters set the inductance to 274. Really? The AT2K tuner I had doesn’t go past 268.5. Further looking into the manual, it says the inductor is supposed to go up to 279. Guess I have a tuner that shouldn't have passed the most rudimentary of QC. As it turned out the inductance setting wasn't all that critical as I was still able to easily get the tuner to tune all bands flawlessly until I got to 160. Now I’m using a 160-meter horizontal loop. On 160 my antenna SWR without a tuner is only 1.4 to 1. I thought this is going to be a piece of cake. Wrong! The AT2K did indeed easily tune 160 on this almost resonant antenna but when I increased power, it arced at only 400 watts! I have never seen an ARC in the 25 years I’ve been using the ole NYE Viking. I’ve used the NYE Viking with legal limit power on all bands with a variety of HF antennas and never an issue. The Palstar AT2K arced at just 400 watts on an almost resonant antenna! Luckily my Acom 1500 linear instantly shut down saving the linear and Yaesu FTdx101MP transceiver. I immediately packed up the Palstar and returned it for a full refund. The NYE Viking is back in service where it will stay until someday someone makes a high quality QRO manual tuner capable of 6 meters. This was a very disappointing experience. I was really looking forward to this new tuner and I always thought Palstar had a good reputation. Maybe they do and I just got a lemon.
PY2ONU Rating: 2022-10-30
The best manual tuner! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is the best manual tuner I've ever had, very robust and capable of almost 100% of the antennas I've put on it until today. Supports high power with peace of mind and does not form arcing. I had good experiences with manual tuners from other brands as well, but the difference in quality and robustness of the palstar AT2K is noticeable and easily visible. It's worth every penny it costs. 73 from Brazil.
K4TOR Rating: 2021-12-02
Excellent Tuner Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Have used this tuner for a few months, and has worked great. Easy to get a perfect tune with this roller inductor tuner. All controls feel pretty solid, and the tuner is well made.
Had an incident where it all of a sudden refused to tune anything. Took the cover off, and discovered that the output cap shaft setscrew had come loose. The output knob turned, but the capacitor hung fully open. A quick alignment of the cap with the scale, and a good, snug tightening of the setscrew, and she was back on the air.
KD9VV Rating: 2021-10-08
Works Supet Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I operate a lot of 6M, so this one tunes better on 6 than the KD version.
Read a review that claimed it does not work with modern rigs. Bologna!
I have a IC 7300..this tuner works super..zero complaints.
Running the ACOM 700S into tuner, no sweat.
N4KZ Rating: 2021-08-19
Best manual tuner I've owned Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought my AT2K about 8 months ago and love it. I use it with my IC-7300 on a variety of antennas. It's my first roller inductor tuner. I have a huge manual tuner from another company with tapped inductor settings but it sometimes won't achieve the lowest SWR settings. But the roller inductor tuner seems to achieve the best SWR in all cases. I also have two auto-tuners -- one from MFJ and one from LDG -- and although they are very convenient to use, they often don't get the best SWR because of their design. They both sit in my radio closet now while I have made the AT2K my everyday tuner. Regarding another posting down below from another gentleman, based on his comments, he apparently believes incorrectly that the AT2K is an automatic tuner. It's not. He says this tuner lacks a communication cable between the tuner and rig. Huh?? None is needed. None is used. It's a manual tuner. This reminds me of the time a few years ago when a fellow put on eHam that his new AL-811H amp was DOA. But when he later put the fuses in the amp, it mysteriously came to life. He had mistakenly, he said, assumed the fuses taped to the top of the amp were spares and didn't need to be installed. Lesson: be thorough about things before posting in haste. 73, N4KZ
M0IMM Rating: 2021-08-19
My go to tuner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've have tried several other brand of tuners over the years, but i always go back Palstar. The AT2K is always on the bench, and have a couple other Palstar 'backups' should i need them. Simple but effective in their operation and will always tune what i throw at it!
I recently needed some after sales support and Paul at Palstar very promptly responded.
Overall i couldn't be happier!!
KB6HRT Rating: 2021-02-28
I had no Idea! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Never had a Palstar tuner before. The AT2K is a Great addation, because one can make even a good resinate antenna better with it. Case in point have 2 inverted Vee antennas at the same height at the apex, one being a G5RV setup for low SWR on 75M the other a W9INN 20-40-80m antenna with low SWR on 75M where I ragchue most mornings, there was a 2 S unit differance between the 2 antennas most mornings, since installing the AT2K and making each antenna resinate using the AT2K tuner the signal strenth on receive and transmit is the same ( NO Differance) on 75M. I have checked this many times so far on 75M always the same. so one of the antennas is going to come down and a 160M-80-40M antenna will be replacing it in Oct or Nov of this year. The Palstar AT2K is a very nice addition to my Shack...............KB6HRT
NS3L Rating: 2020-11-26
Simply the best "Manual" Tuner money can buy..!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned two Palstar AT2K's for years now and they see daily service and are simply the best "Manual" tuners you can buy.. Hands down.. Just look at all the previous positive reviews.. Most everyone knows how good they are..

These AT2K's will tune anything connected. And they handle the power of my ACOM 2100 and ACOM 600S with no problem. I have three wire antennas connected to my two. I own a tuned 160M Inverted-L which will also, with the help of the AT2K tune perfectly for other bands all the way to 10M. I also use a 600 ohm Open Feeder Doublet that requires the AT2K to tune from 160M-10M. In addition I have a EFHW that the AT2K handles with ease.

Mind you these are the simplest of all "manual" tuners. They work with "ALL" rigs modern to old..!!!. Maybe another previous reviewer missed this but AT2K's do not tune on their own, you can't expect to push a button and expect it to tune for you.. It's manual..!!!.

Modern rigs that have built in tuners have limitations too. If you need a "Auto" tuner then go to LDG or someone else, you will then maybe get one push button automated tuning. But if you have antenna systems that are finicky and cannot be matched by rigs that have built in auto tuners, then you need a Palstar AT2K.

No need for special interface cabling for CAT control, the AT2K is "manual".. Just make a preset list and work the bands.. It's simple...!!! Steve NS3L
KN6KFM Rating: 2020-11-25
not compatible with many modern transceiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Beware, this tuner should not be paired with many of the popular new transceiver, such as Icom 7300 and Yeasu 991A . It does not match. Palstar as a manufacturer is difficult to deal with. Fortunately I bought it through Amazon and was able to return the unit. It lack the communication cable arrangement that a MFJ 939I or LDG it-100 have.
VE7REN Rating: 2020-09-06
wow.......... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
this is a update to my march 2011 review. i have aquired a dentron mt-3000 tuner a few years back,that i feel tunes better,and more accuratly then the palstar.seems even heavier build quality,and more/better indent on the switches..below is my previous review. i give the palstar a 4 rating,down from a 5.

having compared this to my mfj and drake tuners,this thing is wow.amazing. ill mimic all the good previous posts. i bought mine used as new,and there is no looking back. tunes every antenna i throw into it to a 1.1 flat everytime.