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Reviews For: Palstar AT2K

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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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
M0KZX Rating: 2008-09-14
The best tuner money can buy Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Remember that old expression “they don’t make stuff like they used to” well Palstar do. The AT2K is an engineering masterpiece. I really don’t recall the last time I bought something that was so well engineered and did its job so well.
This tuner knocks the socks off all of the competition not only in terms of build quality but also useability and function. This tuner would probably match a bent metal coat hanger to top band! This is a tuner for life, buy one and you will not be disappointed.
KE7ENR Rating: 2008-08-28
Great First Tuner! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After doing a lot of shopping around, I made the decision to buy this tuner. If was my first tuner ever. I got my feet wet in HF with a FT-101ZD. A fun radio, but was limited to 20M with my one antenna. I wanted to do more, so after learning more about tuners, I decided to shop around, and came up with this one. I wanted to have a tuner that would last my whole life, and I think this one will. Having the ability to use ladder line (aka: window line, balanced line) is also very handy considering you can get a 100ft roll from radio shack for around 15 bucks. The fact that it is rated to 2Kw means that I shouldn't have to much trouble pumping out legal limit, and the fact that it is built like a tank means that it should be tuning up the first dipole of my grandchildren, 50 years from now.

So long,
KE7ENR
Tyler
W4MAA Rating: 2008-08-09
Smooth Tuning! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a major upgrade from an older antenna tuner that was removed to a different location. Very impressed with the G5RV antenna being able to tune 160 meters with the push of a button. Anything from 10-160m is possible with using this tuner. I really like the 6 to 1 reduction on the input and output controls and the large crank on the inductor. You can tell quality is all over this Palstar. It has the ability to bypass the tuner at the flip of a switch and has 2 YES 2 coaxial inputs to make your 10 meter verts or longwire tune 6 meters which is getting active and a perfect time to have the tuner. I wish there was a scale for 1000w which the AT2K has the 300/3K onboard metering system. I did not need to adjust the SWR/POWER meter. They were so close that fine tuning of the meter was not required. This is no MFJ gear and I am not worried about putting close to legal limit into it. Bravo!
OE3SGU Rating: 2008-07-04
solid quality! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After owning many MFJ-tuners and really NEVER having a single problem with them I thought it was time to compare with other products. The Palstar AT2K really amazes me. I got mine from a well known dealer in the UK and the price was right. Wow, compared to the MFJ units I owned this one is in another league, its really extremely rugged built and the meter is accurate. It tunes virtually anything and I think this is the last QRO tuner I bought. Its built to last. I was so impressed by the built quality that I orderd the matching DL2K dummy load too. Dont look further, this is the quality you have earned!
K6CTA Rating: 2008-05-31
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have owned numerous tuners over the years - Nye MB IV and MB V-A units, and most recently a Ten Tec 238. While they were are great tuners, each one had one or more shortcomings. The Nye units had issues on 160, while the Ten Tec's dial cord/pointer indicator was pretty annoying, along with the metering. I was a little reluctant to change, however, due to the fact that the 238 did seem to tune most anywhere I needed it to.

However, I'm glad I made the choice. The AT2K is a solidly constructed unit. It looks great, and the tuning controls are very smooth (something that the Ten Tec inductor tuning was not). It tunes anywhere I need it (even 160M), and handles the power from my amp (Alpha 89) with no problems.

Before I made the purchase, I had a few questions, and had nice replies from Paul at Palstar. There was also a question on the shipping, and Palstar again was quick and helpful in their response.

Highly recommended!
VK3QD Rating: 2008-04-10
Quality Build Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I decided to 'order direct' from Australia, the whole exercise being 'easy' - from enquiry stage to signing for supplied goods.

As for the quality of the product; unequalled in this day and age of 'corner cutting'. The market no doubt makes it difficult for Palstar to
achieve a good balance between 'cost cutting/being competitive' to 'over engineered/too expensive'. They've achieved a good balance.
Personally I abhor the under engineering so often seen in consumer products. These Palstar tuners are obviously in a different catagory; that of the 'quality engineered' category, from the evidence.
The tuner is very well made in totality. The finish is far better than I expected with some very nice touches. Having examined soldering quality and 'loom layout care' - factory quality checking is obviously excellent.
Definitely a quality made product. Well done to the Palstar team!

Aub McKibben VK3QD
KB6LI Rating: 2008-03-26
My AT-2k works well and I'm quite satisfied,. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I went through MFJ's two most expensive tuners,MFJ 998 and MFJ 9982, neither of which worked as advertised. I am grateful for MFJ's return policy. So I finally ordered My Palstar AT-2k. It tunes my 160 Meter horizontal loop 160-20 and my super loop 80-15 to full power with only one problem. I get some arcing on 160 if I run in excess of 500W output...but for me, running 500W or less on 160 is not a serious drawback. I love the peak reading wattmeter with peak hold. The roller inductor is smooth and I can make slight adjustments to the inductance while running full power with no adverse consequences. The package seems very well built, easy to use and it is attractive in my shack. No it's not perfect, but for me it is very very good..I'll say Great! Someday I want a Palstar AT-Auto.
M0CCN Rating: 2008-03-16
Superb!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Tried other high power ATU's in past and disapointed! Especially with name begining with M! Dave at radio world twisted my arm with this and I am so glad he did! Real solid controls and tunes with ease. No arcing at 160 or complex loads compared to others I have tried. A triumph in design and build quality. Thanks PALSTAR!!
RUSS324 Rating: 2008-02-12
Awesome! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a piece of equipment. Made like a tank and looks great tto. Very large and tunes like there is no tomorrow. I would recommend any tuner made by Palstar. I also have there SP-30 speaker and DL2K Dummy load. All are great products. You will never have to buy another tuner!
N8ZBA Rating: 2008-02-02
Works Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Well let me say that i am very happy with this tuner. I went from a mfj 962 to this palstar tuner. It will tune anything i throw at it. I am useing a 160 meter full wave loop, and it will tune it from 160-6 just fine. The customer service at palstar is top shelf.
73
N8ZBA