Palstar HF Auto | Ultimate Automatic Antenna Tuner | How I Setup and Tune with the Palstar HF Auto

[@ericthielking262]

That call sign implication just sunk in... Nice Call

[@DarrenN4VFR]

lol yep a vanity call. I was lucky to apply for it.

[@ericthielking262]

@@DarrenN4VFR I am lucky to have NC2W... (in to CW)... Hope to hear you on the air, or going somewhere.

[@stevespainhour4940]

Great video, Darren. Thank you!

[@Andy2e0ree]

Great job Darren looks a fantastic tuner

[@douglaswilliams6834]

This is probably the best auto tuner that money can buy for HF amateur radio, IMO. It's not as fast as the switching tuners, but it is very rugged and it is also gives the benefit of the tuner being inline during receive, unlike many built in tuners on modern transceivers. 73 de WB4DW

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I agree and that's why I bought a used one. 73's

[@douglaswilliams6834]

@@DarrenN4VFR Nice! Yours looks brand new.

[@DK5ONV]

Nice Documentation Capt. Happy Weekend 💯🙋‍♂

[@Outdoors_with_kg4muk_Wayne]

Mine is on the way !!!!

[@DarrenN4VFR]

You will say, "This is the best Ham Equipment that I ever bought!". Enjoy the HF Auto.

[@Outdoors_with_kg4muk_Wayne]

I’m looking forward to seeing my shack done I got over half my R9 built I’ll send you a short video on FBM

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@Outdoors_with_kg4muk_Wayne Great job! I saw your video clip.

[@Outdoors_with_kg4muk_Wayne]

@@DarrenN4VFR had mine for almost a week and I’m super happy with it, honestly Palstar is in my one week of having one it really is the best equipment I have ever bought yes it’s pricey and the wife was kinda 😮 like ouch but after seeing how other tuners worked and then seeing the palstar in action even the wife gives it two thumbs up. It’s well worth every penny for sure. Hopefully next week the R9 box comes in then I’ll be on the air full blast.

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@Outdoors_with_kg4muk_Wayne Sweet! I agree, that's why I bought that 2nd one from QRZ. I have one at each QTH. 73's

[@happyending486]

I have AT2K like yours Capt... Awesome your new Palstar Auto ..🎉

[@mw0lge]

man, that is lush. I think I will have to break my piggy bank !!

[@arthurgumbus3969]

I have been running the HF-AUTO for a year now. Great tuner... Once it "finds" an AUTO tuning solution for an antenna system, you can often fine tune a "better" tune solution by going to MANUAL mode and dial in the L & C, when you do that, and the and it will STORE the better manual solution in the HF-Auto memory. (you show this at about 12:20 into the video) I do wish that the HF-AUTO had more than one INPUT (like perhaps 2 or 3 RF INPUTS). There is also an optional remote control head for the HF-AUTO that allows you to put the tuner at the base of an antenna if you can keep it environmentally secure. I have not used that remote head. Art W1SWL

[@DarrenN4VFR]

That would be cool if PALSTAR offered more than 1 RF input. This definitely would be great at the base of my Zero Five antenna and very efficient however, I'm not going to be too OCD about it. I dont want to go all out and run power and building an enclosure, in addition an added.cost of the remote control unit. Thanks for commenting.

[@arthurgumbus3969]

@@DarrenN4VFR Capt... indeed try pressing and hold it in for about 2 seconds, the Right Hand > RED button after you find a "Better" tune solution in manual mode. The unit will reply back "SETTINGS CHANGED" which implies the tune solution was saved into the HF-AUTO memory. Yah I hear you about putting this unit remote. It is not built for condensation, freezing, and ultra high temps... BTW I use this tuner on my Big SKYloop 80-10M 270 foot horizontal loop... it can transmatch the system usually to 1:1.03 or better. Great tuner. My QRZ page has an off page link to a vast collection of SKYloop videos and articles... W1SWL

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@arthurgumbus3969 Have you seen my Part 1 of 2 video of my 40 m horizontal loop. I don't have enough room on the roof top to make an 80m version. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXiTkqijrtSsi9U

[@arthurgumbus3969]

@@DarrenN4VFR Yes I have seen the first installment of the LOOP video an made a comment on there. This loop of yours will be interesting. I just wonder if the height above the roof vs the height above the ground will take precedence in the SWR area. You may find the loop very quiet if it does not couple with house noise, etc. We shall see. Look forward to your second video on that build. I just had to take my loop down for repairs... actually the LMR400 Coax. Squirrels nibbled the LMR400 and broke the outer shield/braid. Was getting high SWR under power on transmit. They ate the coax just below the Balun Designs 4:1 Balun. Replaced the coax so all is good now. In general, if I can hear a station on the SKYLoop I can work the station. Hope your SKYloop works out as well... fingers crossed. 73 Art W1SWL

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@arthurgumbus3969 An idea from one of my viewers, to use the length of the full wave length of 80m and make an inner loop. I will try to do that this week as I have a few days off however, my little girl is coughing with a running nose and she won't goto school because of that and I may have to tend to her. While she's napping, then I'll work on the 80m loop. 73's

[@SkyCharter]

Very helpful review.

[@Johnny5]

My LA-1K was shipped to me in supposed fully working condition. However when it arrived, the power supply was D.O.A. So, living in Ohio, me, my wife and our good friend Brian took a trip to Palstar just down the road off Hwy 75. When we got there, I told Paul about this and he said " did you bring the Amp?". I told him that I did and he told me to bring it in. Without a word to me he asked Mark to open the amp and take a look, to see what the issue was. Mark took it apart super quick speed and determined that the power supply was indeed dead. So, Paul asked Mark to install a new power supply on the spot. Mark answered all of my many questions and Paul did as well. In less than a hours time, Mark had not only installed the new power supply and tested for operation, but he re-calibrated all bands and he installed a copy of the latest firmware, not on the site yet. My amp is NOT under warranty, yet Paul and Mark did this for me for less than $160.00. I have to say that not only is Palstar equipment the best I have ever used but, Paul, Eve, Mark and the gang treat you like family. Palstar didn't have the HF-Auto in stock at the factory, so I drove down to R and L two days later and picked one up. Best auto tuner I have ever used! Palstar forever!!!!

[@DarrenN4VFR]

That's awesome with excellent customer service.

[@patrickslevin6424]

How did you run your coax in the back? On the auto tuners. I have diabetes and twisting knobs hurts

[@mauromiro7366]

Very nice Tuner ! but can i ask where did you found that small star trek-style rectangular lights located above the monitor , i like a lot!

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Thank you , those lights are called Tix Clock. The ones I have are discountinued. www.geekalerts.com/tix-led-clock/

[@JohnFT3414]

Now all you need is a VHQ Hex Beam!

[@k2icc]

How well it works with the ZeroFive 43' on 160 and 80, even 40?

[@dougtaylor7724]

Hey Captain, when you do your intro lines loosen up and let them roll off like your message to the passengers. You kind of sounds little tense. You have some great content. Really enjoy you channel Sir!

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Thank you for the critique. I'll rewatch the video to see what you mean.

[@Yaegermeister163]

When you switch the antennas on the 7610 does it switch the tuner?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@Yaegermeister163 When you switch antennas via the IC7610, it doesn't change the coax position on the Palstar HF Auto.

[@ShaneKA5GSS]

I have the same setup as you with the Palstar hf auto tuner and the rf2ks amp I received this message: As has been mentioned, the Palstar relays will only handle around 100W when in bypass (whether it is turned on or off) so if you want to use it ( with any amp!) you should have it in-line and 'tuning' the antenna, otherwise it should be completely bypassed with a good RF transfer switch / relay that is rated for the amp's full output. I always tune 1st with the amp in standby and once tuned I put the tuner in manual to prevent any tuning while transmitting and then turn the amp on and transmit. Haven’t had any issues with the tuner as of yet like he mentioned. Have you had any issues or do you operate it any different than what I’ve described?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

No problems here. I have 2 antennas connected to the RF2KS; 80m double bazooka and the DX Commander Classic. On the 80m double bazooka, I have the RF2KS's tuner bypassed and used the Palstar HF Auto for matching. On the DX Commander, I use the RF2KS's built in antenna turner and I put the Palstar HF Auto in Manual so it doesn't attempt to tune. So far no troubles for me.

[@anthonyfarina3538]

Hi Capt Darren, the Palstar brochure shows that this tuner covers 160-10 m, in your video it shows that it tunes on 6m also. 6m is important to me, so I was wondering if you can clarify this? Also, does it tune the WARC bands? Regards, Dr. Tony K2AF

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Dr Tony, I will check in a few days on both my 40m Skyloop and Zero Five 27' vertical. Please remind if don't get back to you. 73 N4VFR

[@Yaegermeister163]

Did you make any changes in the tuner menu on your 7610? Change the PTT setting?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

Haven't changed any setting on my 7610.

[@thomashenderson603]

Hi Capt Darren! Im New to the HF Auto, question in the auto position, I key up and it tunes for 18.100. I then go to another freq and tune up on that one. When I go back to the 18.100 it retunes up again, is that normal or do I have a setting wrong? I thought it would remember the setting from the first time! -Tom K1cxs

[@DarrenN4VFR]

It does remember your tune. I also goto Manual Mode to fine tune it then Press Right Arrow and then Left Arrow to stow new values.

[@thomashenderson603]

I must not being doing something right, but it does not take long for it to find the lowest SWR! Thank you! @@DarrenN4VFR

[@mopicsun]

I have a Zero Five 28’ vertical with an IC 7300 and an Ameritron AL 811 H. I can hear many DX stations but am not heard very well. Would this benefit me?

[@ronjoseph7973]

I’ve never heard a hf multi-band vertical that sounded worth a flip. A hex beam is going to give you the best bang for your buck. If you don’t have room use a OCFD (Carolina Windom) or end fed half wave as high as you can get them. KC5RJL Houston, TX

[@ericsrussell]

What are the major benefits of the HF Auto vs the 998? Is it worth the jump in price?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

It's most efficient for an antenna tuner to be placed at the base of the vertical. What I don't like about the 998RT is that I can't see the antenna is tuned. I'd prefer to have the display in the shack. I like fine tuning my antenna to get the lowest possible SWR. I'll be putting up my 998RT for sale in the future. 73's de Capt Darren N4VFR

[@g0fvt]

Pretty clear explanation, a shame it is not remote controllable over ethernet though. There are ways round it but it gets messy (to change antennas remotely),

[@casanova419]

Look at w1tr hf auto software. You can remote usage of the tuner.

[@JohnFT3414]

How does your HF-AUTO have a firmware version of 2.39, when the latest on Palstar's website is 2.36?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I don't know. I haven't updated my HF-AUTO. Seems to work though.

[@JohnFT3414]

@@DarrenN4VFR 2.36 is the version in my HF-AUTO. I also notice that your HF-AUTO has a black ON/OFF button, mine has a red one!

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@JohnFT3414 I have 2 HF Autos and both have different power switch colors.

[@JohnFT3414]

@@DarrenN4VFR Do they both have the same firmware? I guess you bought them at different times? Mine was bought in Feb of 2021. I also bought the LA-1K amplifier.

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@JohnFT3414 the black switch i bought new and the red switch was bought used.

[@daveborchard2019]

If you’re using a non-resonant antenna with a very high SWR and a shack located antenna tuner instead of a remote tuner at the antenna, then you’re going to have a severe power loss in the coaxial cable. Perhaps you can measure how much power is at the antenna. Dave KY0L

[@douglaswilliams6834]

@Dave Borchard Technically true, but I've had great luck with my 27' ZeroFive vertical on the WARC bands, and I'm just using LMR-240. The key is plenty of ground radials and good coax. I plan to switch out to LMR-400 for all outside coax. 73 de WB4DW

[@ronjoseph7973]

Instead of spending $1600 on an ATU, get a good resonant antenna and a less expensive tuner. LDG makes excellent autotuners for a fraction of the price. I rarely need to use more than 500 watts to make just about any contact. Anymore than that, all you are doing is heating the clouds. Nothing is going to overcome poor propagation. KC5RJL Houston, TX

[@ShaneKA5GSS]

Thx for the video Sold me on it Ordered one for myself 73 KA5GSS

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I have 2 HF Autos. One in each QTH. I bought one used on QRZ.

[@ShaneKA5GSS]

What amp do you have it paired with Im looking at the Palstar amp as well

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@ShaneKA5GSS I use an RF2K-S or the Mercury Lux amplifier.

[@ShaneKA5GSS]

Did you buy the amp from island amplifier?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

@@ShaneKA5GSS That's correct. If you don't need 1500watts, I would go for the Mercury IIIS. It's quite a wait for the M3S though, a lot longer than getting the RF2K-S.

[@researchcapt]

Ridiculously expensive....1700 bucks?

[@DarrenN4VFR]

I was lucky to pick one up on QRZ for a decent price.

[@greydogmusic]

What do you recommend that is cheaper ?

[@douglaswilliams6834]

You get what you pay for. 73 de WB4DW