Video: Inside Palstar AT5K & Millen 92200 Antenna Tuners

Friends:
In this short 6 min video episode I take apart the Palstar AT5K & James Millen 92200 Antenna Tuners and compare the built layout, differences and similarities between the two great tuners! More post will follow on my youtube channel as well!
Enjoy, Tyler KA0KA

 

I did have a slip of the tong when saying fixed tapped 'roller' L1&L3, that was muscle memory on the Millen description it is not a 'roller' obviously

 

TYLER, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPER VIDEO.

IF TIME ALLOWS,
CHECK OUT THIS SITE.


http://www.isquare.com/millen/millen-page.htm

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I want the Millen!

 

Nice video. thanks for sharing.

 

It's a good start, and I appreciate the effort. But I was expecting a critical analysis comparing the two, including operational performance. Sort of a Consumer Reports or ARRL lab type of measurements and analysis. I have both tuners, thus I was disappointed. Also, the voice describing the specs sometimes differs from the specs shown on the screen, esp. the KV ratings of the capacitors.

 

Tyler,
Thank you! Nice to see a good vid. More like this would be a great thing for all of us!
73 Art WA6AM

 

Thanks, the specs of the AT5K tuner as stated in my narration and text notes are both correct. Over time, like any product the specs change and I wanted to be as thoughtful as possible thus I made the effort to both speak and have over-lay text that indicated they were "current specs" that were different from my AT5K.

Again, some of the themes mentioned, were never in the title or description of this video and sorry it was not as satisfying for you, those topics are separate all together and have to be on separate videos.

Thank you for your support and stay tuned for some really interesting videos being posted shortly on the public youtube channel!

 

Unfortunately the Millen wont make it to 160 and the Palstar has too much Minimum C to do a good job on 10 for a wide range of antennas.

Both frequency ends of most tuners are a compromise and it is often easier to modify a tuneable tube amp for the desired results since a Pi Network is actually an impedance matching circuit.

I have modified my amps since the late 60's after being disappointed with a borrowed Drake MN-2000.

Carl

 

Thanks Art, it was fun to start to clear the log-jam of video content accumulating, I do not know if you are a youtube member, if you are check out my page where a lot of great topics are going to illustrated!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOPyqu-ly3yAWd5BQn2Sojg

 

Carl that is 100% correct, if you saw in the video I put some over-lay text indicating that as well. Hard to have it all. I had to just get a tuner done up from scratch to achieve my goals, but everything is a compromise really to some extent.

 

quality all the way to the bank , i have a mfj-986 early model , works great but just not as good , James millen quality, i often see the separate roller inductors at ham fest , for a great price .

 

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Excellent points, Carl. I'm curious about the performance of each tuner in: 1) handling poor SWR antennas; and 2) a simple wire antenna, not necessarily a "long" wire. Opening up the case and showing the capacitors and inductor and their ratings really doesn't tell me much.

Fred

 

Thanks for the post Carmen glad you enjoyed the video showing the insides of two great tuners from yesterday and today!

 

I had some additional questions on the application of the lubrication on the roller inductor so here is that video as well if interested, also posted on my youtube channel: