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Reviews For: Palstar AT2KD Differential Tuner

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Palstar AT2KD Differential Tuner
Reviews: 59MSRP: 596 usd
Description:
BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY
We have decided to discontinue the AT1500DT and the AT1KP differential tuner series. The AT1500DT and the AT1KP have been combined into a new 2kW Tuner...

AT2KD!

An optional 4:1 current balanced balun can also be purchased, which can be easily connected externally to the tuner with a short length of COAX.

This new tuner has all our features, such as: peak and peak-hold; a resonant free roller system to operate from 6m to 160m continuously; new LED lit meter system; and a new compact size.

Production available immediately!
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/en/at2kd/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14594.7
EA3GEG Rating: 2012-02-24
Fast and easy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Very good components, solid tuner.Fast tuning with the inductor.
Joan EA3GEG
KE4WI Rating: 2012-02-12
Excellent quality Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is an excellent buy. Very well made. Calibration was spot on. Solid feel. I've been using it for 8 months running 5 to 1500 watts through it on 160 through 10. Very impressed. Ham for 50 yrs so I've seen a few in my days. This is a keeper.
W8JER Rating: 2012-01-16
Love this differential tuner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Current callsign:W8JER

I'm going on my 48th consecutive year as a licensed Ham Operator and spent 38 of those years as a Tool and Die maker.
This Palstar AT2KD is an Allstar.
Build quality is top notch!
Tuning this smooth machine is a joy.
The two knob(one knob and a crank) tuning, due to the differential,dual stator/common rotor capacitor, makes it a breeze to find the sweetspot quicky and deliberately!
Forget the decimals 1 to 1 easily.
Buy this as the last tuner you'll ever need.
N4SRQ Rating: 2011-10-13
A solid choice for any Ham Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
First let me say that this tuner is very solid and of excellent build quality. Coming up from a smaller autotuner I find this manual tuner very easy to work. The guide gives recommended inductance and capacitance for each band which is set on the front panel. Then it is tweak one, then the other and then I usually end up at 1:1. Takes about ten seconds or so. Whatever metal I hang off the back, this tuner keeps my radio happy. I am very pleased with this tuner and would not hesitate to recommend. 73, N4SRQ
KA5EOD Rating: 2011-08-01
It works for me! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I originally had a auto tuner from another manufacturer on the rig, and overall I was satisfied with it. But when I made the decision to buy a medium size amp I decided to shop around, since the auto's limits were closer to the 600w mark than I was comfortable with. I ended up reading Palstar reviews, and finially decided to call and find out which of their line they recomended for my situation and price range. Since I was looking at using the tuner with a 600w amp pushing to a less than optimal antenna, and because I had zero experience with manual tuners, Paul suggested that I go with the AT2KD. I am sincerely glad I did. To quote the CEO, this thing is "built like a Russian outhouse", and once I invested some time into figuring out how to make it work for me, I have been extremely pleased. I can tune down to a gnat's backside on a marginal compromise antenna, and the whole set works together. Definately recommend Palstar. I learned a long time ago not to scrimp when buying tools, and the AT2KD is great value for the dollar. Don't let the "manual" part scare you off. It certainly isn't complicated to operate, and with a little practice it becomes second nature.

Mark
KA5EOD
W8RMV Rating: 2011-05-28
Works Great Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought mine on Ebay from Palstar's rep. The purchase went very well & the unit was shipped quickly & arrived safely. I talked to Paul at Palstar before I bought it. In fact I called there a few times & I was always treated nicely & remembered! The AT2KD is really EZ to use & I like the color of the meter's illumination as it matches my Kenwood's display. Prior to this I was using a very nice TenTec 229B. The meter seems to be very accurate as it correlates very closely the meter on my Kenwood transceiver & my new Ameritron ALS600. The Peak- Hold function works very well. The unit seems to be very well constructed and I expect it will provide many years of service. This is my first Palstar purchase.
73 - Bob V KD8PHX
W8DTW Rating: 2011-05-19
Lives Up to the Hype Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The AT2KD Differential Antenna Tuner lives up to the high expections generated by tremendous reviews on this site and others. It is easy, almost "intuitive" to use and it was relatively easy to get to a 1.1:1 SWR. This is my second antenna tuner (previous MFJ-962D) and it is a huge step up!
KM6EG Rating: 2011-03-05
Should be a 5 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I would have given it a 5, except for one unsoldered connection that would have caused a failure and required a return. On the plus side it works well at touching up my multiband antenna, and will bring the SWR down to under 1.5:1 on bands the antenna was not designed for. I like the Peak Hold feature, and the readings agree well with my rig's power meter. I would recommend this for a manual QRO tuner.
KF5GOG Rating: 2011-02-14
BUILT LIKE A TANK! VERY EASY TO USE! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a high power tuner as I was getting an Ameritron AL-80B, and the only tuner that I had was the LDG 100 Watt tuner hooked to my rig.

Long story short, THIS THING IS GREAT!!! Handles the AL-80B like a pro, very nice construction, first class product! Works just as well at 100 Watts as it does at 1000.

ONE NOTE: There is an earlier version of the AT2KD that has a slightly smaller roller inductor and a switched-in secondary inductor for 160M. That version is no longer made, but I'm sure it works just as well.