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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
K4KZ Rating: 2012-10-18
Excellent Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have used other tuners since 1978. This is the best tuner I have ever owned. As others have said, it is well-built and performs well. Expensive, but well worth it-in my opinion.
KK5JY Rating: 2012-10-08
Very Solid Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This tuner has been in use for the better part of the year, and it has never disappointed.

The capacitor movement is geared-down, and very smooth. The inductor is less smooth, but it is still not bad. The movement of the inductor is a little clunky for the user, but electrically it is very solid. Moving the inductor with power applied results in smooth SWR transitions.

The watt-meter appears to be within tolerance when compared to my LP-100A. The LED backlight is very nice. Finally, a meter with no bulbs!

The front panel rotary switch is nice. There are two dedicated antenna connectors, plus a "bypass" position, that I use to connect to a load resistor. Both antenna connectors can be bypassed or sent through the T network, just by turning that switch.

I do not notice any SWR drift due to heating of the tuner components, even at the 500W level on RTTY.

For a tuner that claims this power range, I would prefer N connectors to M. That said, the provided sockets are all tight.

The highest SWR I have tried to match was about 6:1 at the tuner.
W8FLC Rating: 2012-08-09
Best tuner I have had Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I had purchased this AT2K tuner from a fellow in California last fall. I did not need it until I put my tower and beam up along with a inverted G5RV at 47 feet. I live about 20 miles from Palstar, so one Friday I decided to drive up to Palstar and see if I could get it all checked out.
When I arived I found that only Paul and his wife Eva there. They were getting ready to walk out the front door. They said that they were not opened on Fridays. When asked why I came in I told them that I just wanted to see if I could get my used Palstar AT2K's alignment checked out. Both he and his wife were very gracious to me. He took me back to his work area and proceeded to take a look at my tuner. How's that for customer service. Taking care of someone who was not an original customer.
Paul spent about 20 minutes fine tuning, cleaning, and lubing area's that needed lubed. He then printed out a manual for my tuner which I found out was an older version that has the built in 4:1 balun.
Next he took me on a tour of his place which I really enjoyed. I didn't know he had made so many ham related items in the past and now.
When I got home I immediately put my tuner in line and went thru tuning up 10 meter thru 80 meters. How easy that was. I could get all the bands below a 1.2 or less. I have had several other tuners in the past, and still have a couple that I will be selling off. And like a lot of other users have stated, this is built like a tank. Open it up and you can really see the workmanship that has gone into this tuner. I would not hesitate to promote this tuner to anyone.
I believe in Palstar and I am going back to pick up one of his PALSTAR SP30H Ultimate Communications Speakers. I heard one and I believe it is one of the best sounding speakers I have ever heard.
Thanks Paul and Eva for your time and a tour of your business.
NX8P Rating: 2012-07-28
The BEST! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Set-up
Tuner: AT2K
Antenna: G5RV up 35 feet (L-configuration to conform to property)
Radio: Flex-3000
Power: up to 800 watts
Amplifier: AL811H

I bought this tuner from Palstar at the Dayton Hamvention. The lady there that sold it to me was very helpful and friendly. The tuner works perfectly. I get a 1:1 SWR with no problems on all bands with the G5RV. I keep a spreadsheet to record my settings and I use the Palstar ZM-30 Antenna Bridge to tune the AT2K initially. Once I tune to a particular frequency I record the tuner settings in my spreadsheet. When I go back to that frequency later I merely set the tuner setting from my spreadsheet. I'm always within three tenths of an SWR unit when going back to a once used frequency. The tuner is rock solid, the settings are very easy to set and precise. Tunes extremely well. It handles the AL-811H at full power with no problems at all. I wish I bought one of these years ago. No need to shop around. This is the best.
EA5BJ Rating: 2012-07-13
AT2K Serial # 18576 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got this tuner to replace my old MFJ962D,installed in my shack two weeks ago, I am very satisfied how it tunes smoothly to a flat 1:1 on every band with any antenna (beam,rotary dipole or inverted V) matching my K3 and a 800w amp. Its peak/peak hold meter is very accurate in both 300/3000 QRP/QRO ranges and I like the amber glow when in the darkness...
In short, I highly recommend this tuner to anyone for its solid construction, performance and easy/handy tuning controls.
Finally, I would like like to mention the professional help,friendly communication,service and reasonable price from HAMRADIO.es in Brenes (Seville), Spain specially with the manager Rod, EA7JX. Congrats. Well done!. OLÉ/Gracias amigo Rodrigo!
73, Pedro EA5BJ
G7JZD Rating: 2012-06-27
Brill Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have had this tuner for just over a year now, i use it between the amplifier and antenna.
I must say it works faultlessly, here in the UK we are limited to 400 watts,and at that power it loafs along.
The settings in the manual are very close to what i use for a perfect match.
Antenna wise i use either a Cobwebb by Steve G3TPW or a Carolina Windom 80 mtr special for 80 mts.
Quality is first class,i can not find a fault with it, would i buy again, YES I WOULD, but i dont think i ever will have to.
Well done Palstar.
NG0Y Rating: 2012-06-26
Made me smile Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm very satisfied with the quality and functionaliy of this tuner. Everything from the shipping container to the documentation has been well thought out. The gear reduction on the capacitors makes it feel smooth and high quality. The inductor is also smooth and has a "solid" feel. This is a large investment compared, to competitive products, but i'm confident this will be the last tuner I'll ver need to buy for HF. Nice work Palstar!
73
KY6R Rating: 2012-06-12
Palstar Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently replaced an Ameritron ATR-30 which has a pretty bad design flaw in the "edge wound roller inductor". See my review on that tuner.

As soon as I spun the dial on my AT2K, I could not believe the difference. Not only is the Palstar roller inductor smooth and accurate, but the turns counter is much higher quality than the one in the ATR-30.

I feel much more confident that the Palstar AT2K will last a long time and not fall apart like the ATR-30 did. I wish I bought the Palstar first - hi hi.
IZ8FFA Rating: 2012-03-18
Nothing beyond this Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Finally I can work all the bands without that my amplifier goes in protection. Arranged the outline for the tuning of the variable condensers and the roller, I succeed to work without problems, also with my dipole to spin for the 80 meters, than until yesterday it did not want any to know is made to feel. But before trying it “on the air" I have intentional to see as it was made within… IT'S FANTASTIC. This is all!!
Many thanks to Wilhelm, DK5OC
N5RL Rating: 2012-02-15
Great tuner ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this tuner because I needed a reliable tuner for high power. Over the years I have used both manual and auto tuners with good results, starting back in 1967. What I looked for this time was a tuner that would be both built like a battleship and essentially bulletproof, something that if I ran into a problem I could repair on my own. I truly beleive this tuner fits that profile. It has both a rugged and attractive look -- tunes smoothly and would probably match a bedspring if need be, hopefully I can do better than that though. I have only owned this tuner a short time but so far, I am impressed with its ability to match what I have used with it ... a wide variety of both resonant and non-resonant antennas 80 thru 6 meters. I have yet to use it on 160 but I will update this at a later date.