[TowerTalk] Re: [AMPS] Trade roller(s) for roller

[Guy Olinger, K2AV]

Hmmm...

First sentence, I'm not associated with MFJ, Ameritron, etc.

I recently purchased the Ameritron ATR-30. About 600 bux. After
perusing the Palstar page, I'm pretty certain that for 500 bux more
than the ATR-30 (1100) one gets the Palstar, which is the ATR-30 

plus a bargraph display, 
plus a fan, 
plus a better looking box, 
plus a switch with extra cap (that I haven't needed since I got the
ATR-30)

less a *silver plated* air-core edgewound roller inductor,
less 200 pf on each of the variable caps.
less a switch to go from average to peak mode on the meter.

Comments on the ATR-30.

I've never managed to get the ATR-30 even perceptibly warm, although I
did get the ATR-15 rather warm in the CQ160 tests last year. So the
fan wouldn't help me.

On the ATR-30 the peak function is on *both* needles when peak is
switched in. The decay time on it is five or six seconds. You need to
turn peak off when tuning up. 

The meter reading on the ATR-30 is the only one of my various in-line
instruments that consistently reads the same as the Bird.

I did need to lubricate the variable inductor shaft in the front-panel
bushing to stop an irritating squeal that was developing. A single
drop of sewing-machine oil run down a small piece of wire to the shaft
at the bushing did the trick.

Also, whilst we're into Delrin-bashing, on the selfsame website, have
a look at http://www.palstarinc.com/ri28.htm. Seems MFJ not the only
one to be using Delrin. Is there more than one kind of Delrin?

73, y'all

Guy.


On Thu, 11 Feb 1999 06:55:58 -1000, "Jim Reid" <jreid@aloha.net>
wrote:

>
>
>Rich wrote,  in part:
>
>>.Not only that, Lane, a Delrin core will assuredly melt and bubble at the 
>>kw level, as the ARRL Lab discovered with two MFJ "3kW" tuners
>
>Yes,  tuned up one evening to get a match on 160 using my 87A,
>I heard an odd sound from the MFJ 3kW tuner,  then a bit of smoke.
>Shut down,  took the case off,  and several turns at the back
>end of the coil had melted down into the Delrin!
>
>Replaced the inductor with the newer MFJ air-core part,  and sold
>the box.  Now using a Palstar AT4K.  This unit comes with a built-in
>blower to keep the inductor cool,  should you ever feel the need 
>to run a bit more power,  hi.  Have never used it.  Also has added
>capacitors which can be switched in as needed from time to time 
>on 80 and 160,  neat box,  uses high cost/quality parts,  so
>is not cheap! Photo of the AT4K is at: 
>
>    http://www.palstarinc.com/at4k.htm
>
>a close up photo of the rear of the inductor area is at:
>
>    http://www.palstarinc.com/products.htm
>
>Note,  I have no connection to Palstar,  just a
>happy customer!
>
>73,  Jim, KH7M
>On the Garden Island of Kauai

Guy L. Olinger
k2av@qsl.net
Apex, NC, USA


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