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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
IZ1DXG Rating: 2011-04-28
Great Tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought it in the US and it does an excellent work.
You can't go wrong with this one.
I tried it with verticals, wire, rotative dipole and it tunes all with no problems from 160m to 6 m.
Great product
N8ERM Rating: 2011-04-27
WONDERFULL TUNER++ Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This tuner works great on all bands for me. Tune bed springs, Customer service for questions, just call. They don't down-talk to you just kind and helpfull
KC9NCS Rating: 2011-04-09
Great Tuner, Great Quality, Great Support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've owned my Palstar AT2K for 3 weeks now and have used it from 6M to 160M in that time. There are a number of things that really impress me about this unit:

1. The QUALITY of the AT2K is absolutely superb. The fit and finish is absolutely perfect, and it's a testimony to "Made in America." Don't we wish everything made here was built this well?

2. Operational capabilities are top notch. It's about as easy to setup and start using as 1-2-3. Manual gives excellent informaiton on tuning starting points for all the bands, in my experience the starting points in the manual were very close to my actual settings.

3. Documentation is well written and easy to follow. Nothing more to be said here.

4. Support is top-notch. I had a basic question on the peak-hold power adjustment procedure which I sent at 11:22pm on a Friday evening. The answer was in my email at 6:57am on Saturday morning! I figured I'd get an answer on Monday, but was pleased as punch to receive it Saturday morning and had the adjustment finished in minutes.

Someone else said in another review to pay attention to the QUALITY of the AT2K and not to get hung up on the price. I couldn't agree more. Every review I've read on Palstar has been top notch so I waited until I could afford the AT2K and I'm glad I did. Best money spent in the shack IMO and here's why: I had my 80 and 160 wires tuned specifically for parts of the bands I typically operate in, which made using more than 100 watts elsewhere on those two bands efficiently impossible. I was stuck with my internal tuner and 100 watts for those portions.

The AT2K has opened up parts of 80 and 160 that previously I was limited to 100 watts in and as a result really increased my activity on those bands.

The saying "you get what you pay for" is absolutely true. I couldn't be happier with this purchase.
AA6QQ Rating: 2011-02-24
Yup...built like a tank! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had my AT2K for about a year and a half now I purchased it on their Ebay store, The Radio Store. I've only one problem that turned out to be my fault. customer service sent me two sets of parts just in case I broke it again installing them.

Sure Paul can be pretty grumpy, however in the long run it's a handmade piece of equipment that will be part of this shack for years. It handles everything my Ameritron 572 can throw at it and tunes my G5RV to a flat 1:1 with great consistency, I have a "cheat sheet" with my tuner and amp settings and it hits the mark every time.

I was so impressed that I bought the DL2K dummy load, check it out

Roy
AA6QQ
W9OE Rating: 2011-02-14
SWEET!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have owned this tuner for just over 6 months. I use it to tune a 20 & 40 meter fan dipole. It performs flawlessly on every band between 6 & 80 meters. 90% of the time I only need to tune the inductor to achieve 1 to 1. 80 meters can be a little tricky, however the tuner will get it done on my 40 meter dipole. With the exception of 80 meters I can tune in less than 5 seconds. The price is right, the tuner is top quality. This is the one piece of equipment that will not be traded up as the years go by.
KD0MOQ Rating: 2011-02-13
Best Money I've spent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my AT2K last week. Read the manual, hooked it up and tuned from 10-80 on a Hy Power OCF 80 antenna. All SWR's under 1.2:1. My old tuner was a piece of garbage compared to the AT2K. This is the easiest piece of equipment to operate that I have. It does everything as advertised so far. If I need something else they build, I'll buy American made. It is worth it.
AC8JD Rating: 2011-01-20
LOOK FOR NO OTHER TUNER!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is my first tuner that is not built into a transceiver. I went back and forth on whether to get a auto tuner or manual tuner. I decided on the manual because a lot of folks say they feel the need to finely adjust some of the tuning. Knowing my personality I thought I would too, and I would like to be in control of the tuning instead of listening to an auto tuner click and clack.

I cannot add much more than what's already been said here. Quality is solid, works as it should, does not feel cheap. The watt meter is built in so no need to buy one more thing.

I really just wanted to post my comment so I can say what it is that I tuned for bragging rights. I tuned a 135' Carolina Windom on 160m and can made contact after contact playing with it my first night.

Don't hesitate on this one!
K0XX Rating: 2010-12-26
Good.....BUT.... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This tuner handles my 1200w output very well. The general construction is quite good; as is the impedance range. However, for a tuner in the $500 class, IMHO it lags in two areas.

While I don't expect a high degree of accuracy from the wattmeter, it was off by 300w or so in the high power position. I attempted to re-adjust it, and did well. BUT, there is reactance from the cabinet. So, you have to adjust with cabinet off, put the cabinet on, re-adjust, etc etc until you reach the right spot for the trimmers. I shared this with Paul. It seems that they could create a "jig" cover with holes for trimmer adjustment. Then, after their final adjustment, put on the finished cover. Paul said he would look into this, but no further word from him.

Also, the white front panel lettering damages EASILY. I am extremely careful with my gear and I still have found very small areas where the paint has chipped free from the front panel. VERY disappointing from a piece of gear in this price range.

It's just the way it is.......
W7TJ Rating: 2010-12-07
Outstanding Quality Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works well at both ends of the spectrum: (160M & 6M ) Especially 160M - where most Tuners fall down. Layout and operating is simple, basic and straight forward. Appearance is a great plus for any Shack. More money than most other Mfgrs., but the quality is superb.....probably the last tuner I will purchase as previous tuners have left alot to be desired. Customer support is excellent. - Randy W7TJ
AI4HO Rating: 2010-10-21
Well Made Tuner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my Palstar AT2K tuner for 21 months now, the AT2K has tuned everything I have thrown at it and then some. It doesn't get as much use now as it did, now mainly I use it in conjunction with my Ameritron AL-811H amp. Yea, its a bit big for the amp, but I figured I was only going to do this once, and if and when I got a bigger amp, then I would have enough of a tune to get the job done.

This is one well made tuner, with out a doubt, if you want to keep your Palstar AT2K tuner in prime tuning condition, please, by all means, every 6 months take the cover off, clean the shaft as is recommended in the manual, which mean I am a bit over due on mine as we speak. I tend to keep my equipment as clean and in top order as I can. I am now in need of another tuner, guess Im going to start saving for another Palstar, something I can use with my ALS-600 amp and my Ten Tec Jupiter.

A great well made tuner, American made, what else can ya ask for. You'll pay a bit more than the rest, but isn't quality worth it?


73 de Mark
W3LZK

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Earlier 5-star review posted by AI4HO on 2009-03-27

I am probably a bit premature in my review, I've only had my AT2K about 3 months now. WOW, what a tuner, simply outstanding, quality workmanship, would probably tune a string if you tried hard. Best tuner I've owned.