Good Morning Gentlemen!
I picked-up a New Ameritron AL-8-A about 6 weeks ago, and found it pretty
easy to Tune
And Operate.
I'm getting about 800W's out of it without breaking a sweat!
I've been getting Great Reports on my signal, using my G5-RV up only about
20 feet.
Although a bit more expensive than some of the other Amps available, I
wanted an Amp
With a Good Operating History and Reputation, which I Definitely Got.
I've already Recommended this Workhorse to a friend in Minnesota who hopes
to get an Amp
Sometime in the next few Months.
One thing I Did check on Before getting the AL-80A, was How much a
"Replacement Tube"
Would cost If/When I needed to replace it. Ameritron told me that a New
Tube was around $125
Which I Find to be Very Reasonable!
I've barely had the Amp long enough to "Break it In" but Know that it will
"Be There" for me for
Many Years to Come!
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 08:06 Joe Giacobello, K2XX via Amps <
amps@contesting.com> wrote:
> Hear! Hear! I owned two of these at one time. They are a pleasure to
>
> maintain because all leads are labelled and shown in the schematic. The
>
> RF deck is only 14 lbs. and can be located remotely from the PSU.
>
> Easily puts out 1.5 KW with 40-50W drive. The best bargain on the used
>
> market at $1.4-1.8K.
>
>
>
> 73, Joe
>
> K2XX
>
>
>
> > Jim Brown <mailto:jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
>
> > Friday, December 16, 2016 2:03 AM
>
> > The Ten Tec Titan is getting a bit long in the tooth, but it's a good
>
> > design, built with good components, and except for special stuff like
>
> > band switches and the power transformer, almost everything in it is
>
> > easy to find replacements for. It's not automatic anything, but it's
>
> > happy working into almost any antenna that isn't broken and the signal
>
> > it puts out is as clean as what you drive it with.
>
> >
>
> > The little Elecraft KPA500 is very nice, also clean, but it needs to
>
> > see a matched load, and it's heavy. I like it for portable setups,
>
> > like county expeditions for state QSO parties.
>
> >
>
> > The ACOM 1010 is easy enough to tune, but it isn't as clean as I would
>
> > like. I sold the one I had.
>
> >
>
> > 73, Jim K9YC
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > Amps mailing list
>
> > Amps@contesting.com
>
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > BJ <mailto:fxb1982@hotmail.com>
>
> > Thursday, December 15, 2016 11:22 PM
>
> > >From a casual SSB op who owns/has owned the following:
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > High power:
>
> >
>
> > Definitely the AL-1500. Best lots of bang for the buck, easy to
>
> > operate and forgiving.
>
> >
>
> > ALS-1300. Troublesome at first but after the growing pains were taken
>
> > care of this amplifier worked as advertised. I believe the 1306 is
>
> > much like it +6.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Lower power:
>
> >
>
> > Ameritron AL-80B. Old school glass tube. Best bang for the buck KW
>
> > amp. I had one and shouldn't have sold it. I still have its older
>
> > brother the A model. Still running strong with a 1990 Eimac 3-500.
>
> > I'll keep it until no longer economically viable.
>
> >
>
> > Acom 600s. No nonsense continuous all mode 600 watt amplifier. So easy
>
> > to use it's boring. Built like a Cadillac. Looking forward to the Acom
>
> > 1200s some day.
>
> >
>
> > Again, this is from a casual SBB operator's point of view.
>
> >
>
> > Have owned a bunch of others that are no longer on the market today.
>
> >
>
> > 73, k0cwo
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > Amps mailing list
>
> > Amps@contesting.com
>
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Charles H <mailto:k4vud@hotmail.com>
>
> > Thursday, December 15, 2016 8:10 PM
>
> > An Idiosyncratic opinion
>
> >
>
> > The choice a ham makes in getting an amplifier is as unique as the ham
>
> > and needs and tastes make differences. Here is what I would say to any
>
> > ham who asked, "What amplifiers on the market should I consider":
>
> >
>
> > "2 KW"-- meaning above 1.5w usually:
>
> >
>
> > -Ameritron AL-1500F...$3400 w. imported 7788, best tube for
>
> > availability. Buy three amps for 3 bands and spend $10,200 and save
>
> > Dishtronic money even then. All manual tune, old-school and a bargain.
>
> >
>
> > -OM and ACOM, dont know nuttin. Op should study.
>
> >
>
> > -SPE Expert...$5046 FOB Rome, feature rich w. SWR+watt meter (antenna
>
> > tuner, mine will tune 3.9 down to abt 2.1 and go), six auto switched
>
> > outputs, two inputs (with SO2R that I dont understand, dont use) built
>
> > in and real antenna tuner that you tune once for band segments and not
>
> > agn unless changing antennas (fast retune for ants swinging in the
>
> > wind). Meter reads 2200w and auto cut back to about 800 on high heat
>
> > CAD, continuous amateur duty like RTTY, reads temperature, fast auto
>
> > accept of AC line voltage changes, hook to computer and never touch
>
> > its front panel.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Note, SPE offers a "combiner" device to hook up two SPE amps and get
>
> > double output.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Dishtronix 2400L 1/A, $10850... using factory internet info only.
>
> > Appears a new beast on the block, my subjective reactions. Suggests
>
> > that if ur SWR is high, just turn it up to compensate for lost power
>
> > (wow), no antenna tuner (I need one, ant swings in wind, changes as
>
> > rotated, etc.), limited outputs.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Yaesu Quadra, 1 KW rating, do not push it. Matches Yaesu and has
>
> > built in ant tuner and two inputs, multiple outputs. SS but has been
>
> > around a long time. Check evaluations for notes about potential line
>
> > voltage problem.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -ICOM IC-PW1, 1KW rating. Evaluations very mixed and over a long time
>
> > which make me doubtful.
>
> >
>
> > -ICOM IC-4KL, used. 1.5 KW, extensively automatic, ant tuner built in.
>
> > Old model few reviews.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Avoid Alpha 9500 due to slow band change re-tuning, good tube. Mine
>
> > went very sour three times, long story. Some units change ant outputs
>
> > by itself, defying ur programming.
>
> >
>
> > -Avoid Alpha 87a, used, for slow band changes and as it ages, little
>
> > plugs and sockets inside get tarnish and stop working, quirky fault
>
> > detection system.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Lower power
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -SPE Expert Model 1.3K-FA, $3400, light weight, ant tuner, 4 outputs,
>
> > 2 inputs, the GoTo amp for DXpeditions. Some say it will do 1.5 but
>
> > rated at ICAS 1.3 KW. Price without built in tuner is $2460. All FOB
> Rome.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Elecraft KPA500, 500 watts, underpowered but small and matches K3,
>
> > external antenna tuner, now outclassed by 1.3K-FA for portable ops.
>
> > Amp with ext. tuner $3000. FOB factory.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -ICOM IC-2KL, 500watts used. Highly sought amp. for small size w.
>
> > separate p.s. and IC-500 matching automatic antenna tuner. Package of
>
> > three boxes give flexibility in portable op. Old and thus beware of
>
> > failures. (I had three complete sets for DXpedition use, sold.)
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -SPE Expert 1K-FA, $2800 FOB Rome, 1 KW but very mixed reviews, some
>
> > negative may be result from running amp at over power. Caution.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > -Ameritron has a large choice for SS automatic or manual, as well as
>
> > tube-type amps, some oldie-but-goodies widely used around the world.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Add your favorite.
>
> >
>
> > 73, Charly
>
> >
>
> > _______________________________________________
>
> > 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
>
> --
Take Care, God Bless you and your Family! -73- Bill
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