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Re: [Amps] Ameritron Service

To: "Jim Reid" <reidj021@hawaii.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Ameritron Service
From: "Dave Weiss" <davidhweiss@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:44:19 -0500
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
*Hi Jim:

I have two Ameritron amps, an AL80B and an AL1200.  Both were purchased
new.

I have found service response from Ameritron both responsive and complete.
Mike is the service manager there and I have grown a relationship with him.
I have had one problem with each amp and it was the T/R relay in both
cases.  Mike stepped me through the fix in both cases.  One was contact
alignment and the other was a defective relay which he sent to me and I
replaced myself.

My only issue has been getting through to them on the phone.  It does take
some patience.

I think that at the end of the day they will fix whatever the problems are
and get the amp back in working order. I would expect a long wait time on
equipment sent to them.  New or used, you cannot beat the bang for the buck
with Ameritron.

Best 73

Dave K3FT
*
On Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 12:34 AM, Jim Reid <reidj021@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

> Aloha,
>
> Been many years since I was on this list. Have sold my
> big Henry 3CX3000A7 amp and just about everything else
> since. But recently picked up a couple of rig items via eBay:
> an FT-1000MP ( which was listed as a "plain"
> FT-1000,  and was priced as such)  and an Ameritron
> AL-572 smaller linear.
>
> But,  the Al-572 was DOA!  That is,  the tubes lit up fine,
> no pops or bangs,  and with a bit of drive,  the grid
> current came up just a ways, 30-40 mA or so with the
> ALC varying quite a bit when trying to set it at 8v or
> so, all per the manual tune-up instructions.  But,
> absolutely no plate cuuent nor output RF at all.
> HV shiwed 2800 volts.  Tubes within are marked
> 572B and Made in China .
>
> Called to Ameritron service and was givien a short list
> of things to check.  Did so,  all negative;  so sent the
> unit back to them via UPS.  They received it today,
> per the UPS tracking info.
>
> Now,  how is their service time wise,  completeness,
> etc.?  This amp also came with both the QSK5 circuit
> installed and a grid current limiting board/circuit as
> well.  I think I should ask them to insure  both of those
> features are also working.  Henry's service was excellent,
> before they went out of the HF tube amp business for
> amateurs
>
> Per the serial number,  the factory has advised me the
> AL-572 was built in January of 2000.
>
> Any hints at all,  or should I just sit back and see what
> happens next.  The folks from whom I bougth the unit
> say they will "make good",  whatever that will come
> to mean.  I notified them immediately of the situation.
> They assured me they had thouroughly checked the
> unit before listing, so maybe something came loose
> in shiipping to me out here.
>
> 73,  Jim W6KPI
> (Was both AH6NB and KH7M when on the list before;
> was able to claim back as a vanity call my original
> 1950 issued Class B call....more meaningful to me
> now 58 years continuously licensed!)
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