Palstar Incorporated

9676 N. Looney Rd., AT1500CV 1500 Watt Antenna Tuner

Piqua, OH 45356 USA
Customer Service and Sales Telephone:
1-800-773-7931
Fax:
Owner’s Manual
1-937-773-8003
Email:
info@palstar.com

© Copyright 2005 Palstar Inc.

Printed in the U.S.A.
2 Important Safeguards Service and Warranty 15

WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR An appliance and cart combination should

be moved with care. Quick stops, exces- Limited Warranty Repair Policy
ELECTRICAL SHOCK DO NOT sive force and uneven surfaces may cause
EXPOSE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE the appliance and cart combination to When sending in a product for service,
overturn. Palstar Inc. warrants products please “double” box it carefully and
The lightning flash with arrow head manufactured by it to be free from ship it insured for your protection.
symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence defects in material and workmanship Please include a note clearly describing
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of
under normal use and service for a the problem, how you wish the item
sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.
period of one (1) year from the returned and how you wish to pay for
date of delivery to the first buyer the service. Package your unit prop-
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the (the “Warranty Period”). Palstar Inc’s erly. Palstar, Inc. is not responsible for
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the obligation under this warranty is lim- merchandise damaged in shipment.
literature accompanying the appliance.
ited to repair or replacement of the Our service rate is $30 per hour (1/2
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT product; at its option at the Palstar
factory in Piqua, OH. hr. minimum).
EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. DO NOT
OPEN THE CABINET WHILE OPERATING. REFER SERVICING TO Return Policy
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ONLY.
Effective only when the product is All returns must receive prior authori-
returned to the factory with all trans- zation from Palstar. Returned items
CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT USE THE THREE WIRE
CORD WITH AN EXTENSION CORD RECEPTIACLE OR OTHER portation charges prepaid and exami- must be received in original—AS
OUTLET UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY INSERTED TO nation of the product discloses in Pal- SHIPPED– condition including the
PREVENT BLADE EXPOSURE. star’s judgment, to have been defective original box, manuals, accessories, and
during the Warranty Period. copy of sales receipt. Returns must be
within 14 days of purchase. Returned
1. Read Instructions—All the safety and proper ventilation is provided or the manufac-
operating instructions should be read before turer’s instructions have been adhered to. Any
items are subject to a 25% restocking
the appliance is operated. slots or openings in the cabinet are provided The Warranty Period shall not extend fee. Shipping is not refundable.
2. Retain Instructions—The safety and for ventilation. To ensure reliable operation of beyond its original term with respect
operating instructions should be retained for the video product and to protect it from over-
future reference. heating, these openings must not be blocked to interim in-warranty repairs by Pal-
3. Heed Warnings—All warnings on the or covered. The openings should never be star. This Warranty Period shall not
appliance should be adhered to. blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, apply to any product which has been
4. Follow Instructions—All operating and rug, or other similar surface.
use instructions should be followed. 10. Grounding or Polarization—this product repaired or altered by anyone other
5. Cleaning—Unplug this appliance from the is equipped with a 3-wire line cord receptacle. than Palstar without prior written
wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid It is intended for use with a 3-wire properly authorization. Warranty does not ex-
cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp grounded power socket. Do not defeat the
cloth for cleaning. safety purpose of the supplied line cord and
tend to any products which have been
6. Do Not Use Attachments—not recom- plug. subject to damage from improper in-
mended by the manufacturer or they may 11. Power Sources—This product should be stallation, application or maintenance in
cause hazards. operated only from the type of power source accordance with the operating specifi-
7. Water and Moisture—Do not use this indicated on the marketing label. If you are not
product near water—for example, near a sure of the type of power supplied to your cation. Palstar neither assumes nor
bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, home, consult your appliance dealer or local authorizes any person to assume for it
in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool— power company. any obligation or liability other than
and the like. 12. Power-cord Protection—Power-supply
8. Accessories—Do not place this product on cords should be routed so they are not likely herein stated.
an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or to be walked on or pinched by items placed
table. The product may fall, causing serious upon or against them. Pay particular attention
injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles,
to the appliance. and the point where they exit.
9. Ventilation—This product should never be 13. Lightning—For added protection for this
placed near or over a radiator or heat register. product during a lightning storm, or when it is
This product should not be placed in a built-in left unattended and unused for long periods of
installation such as a bookcase or rack unless time, unplug it from the wall outlet.

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14 Operating Your AT1500CV cont’d Important Safeguards cont’d 3

Notes 14. Power Lines—An outside antenna sys- technician to restore the product to its normal
tem should not be located in the vicinity of operation.
overhead power lines, other electric light or e. If the product has been dropped or the
1. An SWR of 1:1 is best, but an power circuits, where it can fall into such cabinet has been damaged.
SWR as high as 2:1 may be acceptable. power lines or circuits. When installing an f. When the product exhibits a distinct change
Check your transmitter/amplifier man- outside antenna system, extreme care should in performance—this indicates a need for
be taken to keep from touching such power service.
ual for details. lines or circuits as contact with them may be 19. Replacement Parts—when replacement
fatal. parts are required, be sure the service techni-
2. If you cannot get an acceptable 15. Overloading—Do not overload wall out- cian has used replacement parts specified by
lets and extension cords as this can result in a the manufacturer or have the same character-
SWR, lengthen or shorten your an- risk of fire or electric shock. istics as the original parts. Unauthorized sub-
tenna and/or feedlines and retune. 16. Object and Liquid Entry—Never push stitutes may result in fire, electric shock or
objects of any kind into this product through other hazards.
3. If you get low SWR readings at openings as they may touch dangerous volt- 20. Safety Checks—Upon completion of any
age points or short-out parts that could result service or repairs to this product, ask the
more than one setting, use the setting in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of service technician to perform safety checks to
that gives: any kind on the product. determine that the product is in proper operat-
17. Servicing—Do not attempt to service this ing condition.
product yourself as opening or removing 21. Outdoor Antenna Grounding—Before
- highest FORWARD power reading covers may expose you to dangerous voltage attempting to install this product, be sure the
- lowest REFLECTED power reading or other hazards. Refer all servicing to quali- antenna or cable system is grounded so as to
- uses the largest capacitance (highest fied service personnel. provide some protection against voltage
18. Damage Requiring Service—Unplug this surges and built-up static charges.
number) on the INPUT and AN- product from the wall outlet and refer servicing a. Use No.10 AWG copper, No.8AWG alumi-
TENNA controls. to qualified service personnel under the fol- num, No.17AWB copper-clad steel or bronze
lowing conditions: wire or larger, as ground wire.
4. Once every 4-6 months clean the a. When the power-supply cord or plug is b. Secure antenna lead-in and ground wires to
damaged. house with stand-off insulators spaced from 4
roller coil with 70% isopropyl alcohol b. If liquid has been spilled, or objects have feet to 6 feet apart.
and a clean cotton cloth. Do not trans- fallen into the product. c. Mount antenna discharge unit as close as
fer any of the conducting grease on the c. If the product has been exposed to rain or possible to where lead-in enters house.
water. d. A driven rod may be used as the grounding
rod that guides the roller wheel as this d. If the product does not operate normally by electrode where other types of electrode
will contaminate the windings on the following the operating instructions. Adjust systems do not exist. Refer to the National
roller coil body. only those controls that are covered by the Electric Code, ANSI/NFPA 70-1990 for infor-
operating instructions. An improper adjust- mation.
ment may result in damage and will often e. Use jumper wire not smaller than No.6
5. Any time a new or different antenna require extensive work by a qualified AWG copper or equivalent, when a separate
is connected, it is necessary to repeat antenna grounding electrode is used.
the tuning procedure for each antenna.

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4 Table of Contents Operating Your AT1500CV cont’d 13

Thank you for purchasing a Please carefully read the

Palstar AT1500CV Antenna Owner’s Manual in order to take
Tuner. This antenna tuner has advantage of the many interest- 7. Rotate the INPUT, ANTENNA and
INDUCTOR controls for maximum
been designed and manufac- ing features that will provide
noise or signal as heard on your re-
tured to high quality standards, years of enjoyable amateur ceiver. Refer to preset tuning chart on
and will provide reliable opera- radio operation. page 12.
tion for many years. 8. Key your transmitter and adjust the
power level for a reading of 50-100
watts on the FORWARD scale. Adjust
Important safeguards 2 the INPUT, OUTPUT and INDUC-
TOR controls for a minimum RE-
Table of Contents 4 FLECTED reading while maintaining a
FORWARD reading of 50-100 watts
using your transmitter power control.
General Description 5
9. Read the SWR on the red scale at
the point where the two needles inter-
Specifications 6 sect. Repeat TUNING the input and
antenna controls until the lowest SWR
Installation 7 reading is obtained. The SWR should
be 2:1 or lower.
Unpacking 7
Location 7 This procedure takes patience the
Installation Procedures 7 first time. The input and antenna
AT1500CV Schematic 8 controls vary the capacitors and
provide fine adjustments. The roller
Rear Panel Connections 10
inductor crank control provides
coarse adjustment.
Front Panel Description 11
10. When you have tuned your an-
Operating Your AT1500CV 12 tenna to the best SWR, record the
settings of the INPUT, ANTENNA and
Before Operating 12 INDUCTANCE controls on the chart
Tuning 12 above for future reference. When you
Notes 14 retune, use these settings as your
starting point.
Service and Warranty 15

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12 Operating Your AT1500CV General Description 5

Before Operating

1. To avoid possible damage to the 4. If you use a linear amplifier, set it to

AT1500CV set INPUT, OUTPUT, Standby. Do not use the linear ampli-
INDUCTOR, and POWER RANGE fier until the AT1500CV is tuned. Do
switches as outlined in the chart below not exceed 1200 watts average
before applying transmitter power. (single tone).
2. Begin tuning with your transmitter/ 5. Set RANGE switch to 300 W
lamp into the tuner set at a low output (button out).
power setting (50-100 Watts).

WARNING: DO NOT OPERATE THE AT1500CV

WITH THE COVER OFF.

Tuning

1. Select the band and frequency of 6. Set the DIRECT/TUNED mode

desired operation. switch to BYPASS or the position The Palstar AT1500CV Antenna Front panel controls allow for
2. Set TUNE and INDUCTOR controls matching your antenna connection. To Tuner is an American made im- selection between coax feed
to the suggested setting before apply- tune your antenna, the switch selection pedance matching network. lines or end fed wire antenna or
ing transmitter power (see chart). must be set to: COAX 1 TUNED, direct bypass which bypasses
Actual settings will vary from antenna COAX 2 TUNED or WIRE The AT1500CV optimizes the the impedance matching circuit
to antenna. (BALANCED ANTENNA). performance of your antenna but allows for the SWR, FOR-
BAND INPUT ANTENNA INDUCTOR and transmitter by providing WARD, and REFLECTED
SUGGESTED ACTUAL SUGGESTED ACTUAL SUGGESTED ACTUAL
adjustable impedance matching power meter readings.
using a T-type circuit configura-
160 M 75 90 54 tion. Tuning is achieved with the front
80 M 45 50 207 panel mounted controls. The
The AT1500CV also measures Vernier dials allow for tuning
40 M 35 40 290 the power and Voltage Standing with precision and accuracy,
20 M 20 20 330 Wave Ratio (VSWR or SWR) while the Inductor crank handle
which allows you to tune the facilitates coarse adjustments.
17 M 12 12 334 SWR to the lowest ratio possible
15 M 10 10 339 for the selected transmission The range of the meter
frequency. (300W/3000W) is selected by a
12 M 0.7 0.7 350
push button switch located on
10 M 0.5 0.5 355 The AT1500CV also features a the front panel.
precision steatite ceramic core
3. Set your transmitter/amplifier to a Selecting COAX 1 DIRECT, COAX 2 roller inductor with a silver
low power output. If your transmitter DIRECT or BYPASS bypasses the tun- plated roller and roller shaft.
has a TUNE position, select that posi- ing selection.
tion.

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6 Specifications Front Panel Description 11

Front Panel Indicators and Controls

Metering Dual movement cross needle power and frequency 1 2 3

compensated coupler

Controls

Input Tuning Variable capacitor 315 pF 4.5 kV 6:1 Vernier Drive

Antenna Tuning Variable capacitor 315 pF 4.5 kV 6:1 Vernier Drive
Inductance 26 µH roller inductor 12 ga. wire wound on steatite
ceramic core, silver plated shaft/wheel
Antenna Selector Switch 6 position: Coax 1 tuned and tuner bypass
Coax 2 tuned and tuner bypass
Bypass and balanced antenna
Switch wafers are ceramic (3kV rated)
Power Range Switch 2 position 300 W /3000 W

Rear Panel Connectors

Coax 1 SO239 connector

Coax 2 SO239 connector
Bypass SO239 connector 7 6 5 4
RF INPUT SO239 connector
Balanced Line Dual High Voltage Nylon66TM terminal post 7. DIRECT-TUNED MODE SWITCH
1. POWER/SWR METER Dual
End –Fed Wire Dual High Voltage Nylon66TM terminal post Six-position rotary switch selects an output
needle meter displays FORWARD and
12 VDC Input Adaptor for meter light 2.1 mm con. (center positive) coaxial connector.
REFLECTED power in watts. SWR is meas-
ured where the two needles intersect on a. DIRECT BYPASS selects BYPASS COAX con-
Other nector bypassing the impedance matching circuit
the red scale.
but providing SWR, FORWARD and REFLECTED
2. LAMP A two position button selects
Frequency Coverage 1.8 — 30 MHz power meter readings.
whether the meter is illuminated. b. DIRECT COAX 1 selects COAX 1 connector
Power Maximum 1500 W PEP SSB, 1200 W single tone continuous
3. RANGE Two-position switch selects the bypassing the tuner matching circuit but providing
Impedance Range 20 to 1500 Ω 160 m to 10 m (assuming resistive
range of FORWARD and REFLECTED SWR, FORWARD and REFLECTED meter read-
load) Reduce power for lower Z range
power displayed on the power meter. ings.
Balanced Output 4:1 Ruthroff voltage type balun c. DIRECT COAX 2 selects COAX 2 connector
When the RANGE button is out, the FOR-
Dimensions 4.5”H x 12.6”W x 12”D (incl. terminals) bypassing the tuner matching circuit but providing
WARD meter scale reads 300 watts full
Weight 10 lbs. SWR, FORWARD and REFLECTED meter read-
scale and the REFLECTED meter scale
Materials Chassis and top cover is 11 ga. (.090) aluminum ings.
reads 60 watts full scale. When the RANGE d. TUNED COAX 1 selects COAX 1 connector
that has been chem.-film treated in gold color. Front
button is in the FORWARD meter scale through the impedance matching T circuit.
Panel powder coated and epoxy screened.
reads 3000 watts full scale and the RE- e. TUNED COAX 2 selects COAX 2 connector
FLECTED meter scale reads 600 watts full through the impedance matching T circuit.
scale. f. TUNED WIRE/BAL selects the END FED WIRE
4. INDUCTOR 26 µH continuously vari- connector through the impedance matching cir-
cuit. For balanced antennas, the end fed wire
able ceramic roller inductor driven by a antenna post must be connected to the balanced
crank handle. Coupled to the crank handle line post using a copper jumper strap.
is a gear-driven precision mechanical
counter.
5. OUTPUT Continuously adjustable
output capacitor.
6. INPUT Continuously adjustable input
capacitor.

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10 Installation cont’d. Installation 7

END FED WIRE post connector Unpacking Connect coax cable(s) from
for output to a single-wire antenna
Carefully remove the AT1500CV your antenna to COAX 1 or
COAX 2 coaxial connector for
(do not connect to BALANCED output to Antenna Two.
from the shipping carton and COAX 2 connectors on the rear
OUTPUT). Ground post must be
connected to a good RF ground. COAX 1 coaxial connector for inspect it for signs of damage. If panel. These connectors are
output to Antenna One. any damage is apparent, notify either direct from the transmitter
BALANCED OUTPUT two the transportation carrier or or through the tuned circuit de-
nylon High Voltage post RF INPUT coaxial con- dealer immediately. We recom- pending on the setting of the
connectors for output to RF nector for input from mend keeping the packing DIRECT/TUNED mode switch
balanced wire fed antennas. transmitter or amplifier. carton for moving, storing or on the front panel.
Place copper strap jumper
reshipping the tuner to us for For a balanced feed antenna
between lower post and
END FED WIRE post to use repair if required. connect a balanced feed line to
balanced output. Location the upper white Nylon66TM BAL-
ANCED OUTPUT post (back
Select a location for the panel) and connect a jumper to
AT1500CV that allows the con- the lower white Nylon66TM BAL-
nectors to be free from any pos- ANCED OUTPUT post.
sible contact during operation
If using a single wire antenna,

WARNING: Balanced antennas will produce high

RF voltages at the output post connectors. RF
burns may result if touched during transmission.

and with unrestricted air flow for connect it to the lower post with
cooling. out installing a jumper.
Installation Procedures
Connect a dummy load to the
GROUND post/wing nut
Connect a coax cable from your BYPASS connector using a
type ground connector. 12 VDC INPUT (2.1 mm plug) for transmitter to the RF INPUT coax cable. This lets you select
supplied 12VDC ac adapter at connector on the rear panel. the dummy load from the
500mA to power the meter lamp Keep the cable as short as pos- DIRECT/TUNED mode switch.
BYPASS coaxial connector for and fan. Note: there is a ferrite sible. If you use a linear ampli- Any antenna that does not re-
output to dummy load or third TOROIDAL core on the end of the fier, connect your transmitter to quire the use of an antenna
coax output. Bypasses tuner, but adapter connector to minimize the
the linear amplifier input and the tuner may be connected to the
meter circuits are on if AC adap- ingress of RF into the active circuits
tor is connected to jack located in the tuner. linear amplifier output to the BYPASS connector, if desired.
on rear panel. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE AT1500CV. Do not use more
than 1200 watts average
(single tone) through the
tuner.
FIGURE 1 REAR PANEL CONNECTORS

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8 AT1500CV Schematic AT1500CV Schematic 9

315pf 315pf

26uH

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