As Scotty once said ..."the more you complicate the plumbing, the easier it is
to clog up the toilet"... .
I never could understand the need for all this complication.
Especially since today
you can buy a SSPA that really is an ..."appliance"... .
73, Dick, W1KSZ
On Mon, Jul 9, 2012 at 6:16 PM, Charles Harpole <k4vud@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > Amps@contesting.com
>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>
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