The Palstar auto was in the $1200 - $1300 range. It went through a
couple of firmware updates in the few years it was produced. Somewhere
along the line they also added a amp line connection to bypass the amp
during the tuning process. Like most other things in this world, it
had a visual display. Since it was out of my price range, I never
investigated to see if viewing the display was mandatory to using the
unit. I think this one went out of production a few months ago. Not
sure when the new one will be out.
73, Steve KW3A
On 9/17/2010 12:39 PM, Butch Bussen wrote:
> How much did these Palstars go for? I remember my tuner in my 440, it
> was actually motor driven, not like all the relay driven stuff you see
> these days. I think my 690 was the same, not so with the 2000.
> 73
> Butch Bussen
> wa0vjr
> open Node 3148
> Las Vegas
>
>
> On Fri, 17
> Sep 2010, Steve Dresser wrote:
>
>> Steve,
>>
>> Interesting. You've given me more info than I had, and maybe even a third
>> option: Somebody somewhere may be looking to get rid of the Palstar for
>> less than the original price. I like the idea of the motor-driven roller
>> inductors.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 11:10
>> Subject: Re: auto antenna tuner
>>
>>
>>> Steve,
>>>
>>> Well I did take a deep breath before ordering. While I have never had
>>> a lot of MFJ stuff, the stuff I've had over the years has all worked
>>> fine. I know others haven't been so lucky, but I've had this one over
>>> 2 years with no problems.
>>>
>>> I can't compare to the LDG since I've never owned one. At the time of
>>> purchase I did compare the specs for both. The LDG had 6 meter
>>> coverage, but I work very little 6M and no amp, so no big deal. The
>>> MFJ offered higher power (1.5K vs. 1K) as well as the ability to
>>> automatically lower rf drive and change to cw for tuning, while the LDG
>>> required you to do all that manually. The MFJ also had the amp relay
>>> connections. Of course LDG may have something out today with more
>>> features.
>>>
>>> Truth is, I've switched the MFJ and the Palstar manual tuner in and out
>>> of the system a number of times over the past 2 years. Each has it's
>>> benefits. I would have loved a Palstar auto tuner, but too rich for
>>> me. The Palstar auto had a motor driven roller inductor and either 1
>>> or 2 moter driven caps. It just went out of production, but a new one
>>> is coming soon, although I've not seen any specs on it.
>>>
>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>
>>> On 9/17/2010 10:25 AM, Steve Dresser wrote:
>>>> Steve,
>>>>
>>>> How do you think your MFJ auto-tuner stacks up against LDG's AT-1000?
>>>> I'm
>>>> sure the MFJ is cheaper, but based on things I've heard about other MFJ
>>>> tuners, I wonder how reliable the internal components are.
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 10:05
>>>> Subject: Re: auto antenna tuner
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Butch,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a MFJ-998 in the shack. I'd give it a 4 out of 5 rating. It
>>>>> will handle 1500 watts, which is more then my AL-80B or THP solid state
>>>>> amp will put out. The problem I think you will find with auto tuners
>>>>> including the ones built into the radio is limited matching range due to
>>>>> the fixed values of L and C. You won't be able to load your
>>>>> grandmother's walker on 40 meters.
>>>>> It has a ton of memories and up and down L and C buttons so you can find
>>>>> a match manually if the auto function can't. An optional 20$ cable
>>>>> will interface to many rigs, and when connected this way hitting the
>>>>> auto tune button on the rig bypasses the internal tuner, puts the rig
>>>>> into cw mode at low power for the tune process, then returns to
>>>>> original mode and power when tuning is complete. If the amp relay
>>>>> jacks on the tuner are connected between the amp and radio, the amp
>>>>> will be bypassed during tune up. This relay is also supposed to
>>>>> prevent the amp from keying in the event of a high swr, but I can't say
>>>>> that I've really tested this function fully.
>>>>>
>>>>> There are some menus for which sighted help would be needed, but they
>>>>> are the set it and forget it type of stuff. Things like swr point at
>>>>> which it should start looking for a better match, and swr point for the
>>>>> amp relay to bypass the amp.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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