Recently I replaced my manual Palstar AT2K with an fully automatic antenna tuner from mAT. It is the model mAT-1500.
Unfortunatly this tuner does not support 160m (my fault). Also it makes some noise, while transmitting with high power. The hardware seems to be good quality and the price is fair. A little drawback is also, that there is only one button (short press toggles tune/bypass, long press starts a tuning cycle)…
At GB-Antennes I found a used Palstar AT-AUTO (2017 model) in perfect mint condition for a very fair price 🙂
The Palstar AT-AUTO is a fully autonomous, fully automatic antenna tuner that employs an embedded microprocessor to position a conventional roller inductor and a split-stator variable capacitor. It provides continuous coverage tuning from 1.8 – 54 MHz and is rated for 1500 W continuous carrier operation.
In automatic mode it is possible to connect the tuner via RS232 to the radio. The tuner follows the frequency of the radio and operates completely automatic. In my case I used a USB-RS232 converter and “connected” it to Thetis.
No more relay-clicking noise in my shack 🙂
3 thoughts on “new antenna tuner Palstar AT-AUTO (Kessler)”
Hi Ernst,
very nice station. Quick question, what are the setting to use for Thetis RS232 connection to Palstar AT-Auto antenna tuner. I have never tried it so any help would be highly appreciated.
Hi, i use a software, which I have written by myself. It connects to Thetis via TCI and via virtual COM to the Palstar. The Palstar RS232 is not speaking a common band data protocol. 73 Ernst
Hi again, about RS-232: I remembered that wrong. Of course you can also connect Thetis “directly”. You will need a RS232-USB Adapter. Connecting this to your Palstar AT-Auto will give you a new COM-Port on the PC. You will find more information about the configuration in the Palstar user manual. 73 Ernst
Hi Ernst,
very nice station. Quick question, what are the setting to use for Thetis RS232 connection to Palstar AT-Auto antenna tuner. I have never tried it so any help would be highly appreciated.
regards,
Mukesh
ke3vg
Hi,
i use a software, which I have written by myself. It connects to Thetis via TCI and via virtual COM to the Palstar.
The Palstar RS232 is not speaking a common band data protocol.
73 Ernst
Hi again,
about RS-232: I remembered that wrong. Of course you can also connect Thetis “directly”.
You will need a RS232-USB Adapter. Connecting this to your Palstar AT-Auto will give you a new COM-Port on the PC.
You will find more information about the configuration in the Palstar user manual.
73 Ernst