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
>
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