I own an 87a that is of the 1990 vintage but has been back to the factory
twice, as late as 2004, and had the upgrades when they did not cost that
much... not cheap, but not in that range. At one time, I owned two of these
delicate babies at the same time and had the same problems with both.
Problem most important is the PIN diode system, or the dreaded Fault 9. I have
had replaced all my PIN diodes twice, the latter time including a little part
which is supposed to protect them. Today, I have frequent Fault 9
nevertheless.
Next problem is the corrosion of all the little plugs/sockets everywhere inside
the case. Dont ask me how tightly fitted similar metal to metal connections
can corrode enough to give problems, but IT DOES. One 87a owner told me he
services all these plugs twice a year, and believe me, wrestling this heavy
thing around and getting to all the plugs is not a fun afternoon and evening.
Finally, with AlphaMax installed, the amp senses everything like the tip of
your, er, finger and Faults off for the slightest deviation in SWR or it seems
a thousand other things that slightly change inside, maybe even line voltage
dips.
Oh, yes, avoid running more than 100 watts thru them; rumor has it that 200
watts--even when turned off--breaks (or bends) something inside. Dont ask me;
I am an appliance op.
If shipping would not kill me, I would already have dumped mine onto Alpha and
be running a 9500 right now.
What I do not understand is how Alpha can please the customers of their traded
in 87a that are coming in and being sold, too. Maybe the factory has a magic
overhaul, but that has to be costly. Alpha is smart to get as many 87a out of
the field as possible because, as they have aged, their complaint level must
have skyrocketed and word of mouth on Alpha thus suffers, too.
I have always been treated fairly by Alpha old or new owners. They do not make
Yugos and thus their costs are very high for their Porsche amps. My advice,
gained from expensive and bitter experience, is dump your 87a to the factory
trade in offer or sell yours to someone you dont like... or to a very good
technically minded person.
Charles Harpole
k4vud@hotmail.com
----------------------------------------
> From: wa3gin@comcast.net
> To: wworldwidedx@comcast.net; amps@contesting.com
> Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2012 20:02:03 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A
>
> Sounds about right. The older units need significant modifications to bring
> them up to current. I can't remember for sure but diode switching circuit
> and parts that are no longer available make it pretty expensive to upgrade
> the old units. Its not a scam...there is no reason to scam you... ALPHA's
> 87A trade-in program has been a massive success, so much so that they
> apparently extended the offer and are selling many many new amps. I don't
> think they are trying to rip you off... I've had a few Alphas and these are
> great amps but like anything high end technology, car, plane, boat... they
> are expensive to own! If I were you I'd trade up... even if the 87A is new
> old stock..focus on the 'old' aspect. If something does fry... you'll end
> up with a big bill. If it was me I'd spend a few bucks more and get a brand
> new amp.
>
> Good Luck
>
> 73,
> Dave
> wa3gin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kurtis Burton" <wworldwidedx@comcast.net>
> To: <amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 7:38 PM
> Subject: [Amps] Alpha 87A
>
>
> > Let me get your thoughts on something. I called Alpha to get the sequence
> > code to unlock the 10 meter band and the gentleman got on the line and he
> > knew about anAlpha 87A that I got the other day by an earlier conversation
> > and that it was basically a New Old Stock amplifier and he told me and
> > really urged me to send the amp to them (Alpha) and let them do all the
> > upgrades. Now here is were it gets interesting, I asked him,
> >
> > "Well okay, if I do decide to send the amp...can you give me a ball park
> > cost on what it would be to update?" He said, "No we can't, you just have
> > to get it here and let Brad (87A expert) go through it. I insisted that I
> > may consider sending it but I would really like to have a figure to budget
> > the cost. While on the phone he talked to the "expert" in the back (I
> > could hear them in the background talking) and he came back on the phone
> > with a $3,000.00 dollar figure. I was shocked! I then asked? "Can you
> > send me an itemized list of upgrades you'll be performing on the New Old
> > Stock Alpha 87A?" Answer: "No, if your amp really is that age (1991)
> > and has never been back to us and according to our files we have no
> > records of it ever coming back then it will need a lot of upgrades to get
> > it to the Alpha recommended standards". Then the gentleman suggest that I
> > may just consider selling the 87A and get my money back and if I were
> > really considering spending $3,000.00 for upgrades,
> > then I needed to consider buying the new Alpha 9500, etc.
> >
> > According to this gentleman at Alpha, without the upgrades this New Old
> > Stock, never used Alpha 87A is a time bomb waiting to give me major
> > problems. I missing something here?
> >
> > Jon
> > W4LWY
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Amps mailing list
> > Amps@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
_______________________________________________
Amps mailing list
Amps@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
|