[Amps] Good amp to buy

[Roger]

I think every one has a favorite, but there's a big difference between 
the most power for the money, the best fit and finish for the money, or 
the best which may or may not be available here in the states.

Before addressing the Ameritron, my favorites are  Tokyo Hy-Power solid 
state amps,  HL-1.5Kfx (1Kw out plus 800 on six) , the 2.5-Kfx (legal 
limit HF), the Palstar (purchased the Commander line) using 1, 2, or 3 
3CPX800s.( HF, 6-meters, and 2-meters), and the Emtron amps using either 
a single or pair of FU728B's but will take the 4CX-1500B with a tap 
change on the filament transformer. (They did use the big Russian 
Tetrodes), and of course the  Alpha series with Alpha having been bought 
out by RF Concepts.

The Japanese equipment has had by far the best fit and finish for a long 
time, but I have to admit the Palstar and Emtron lines look pretty good 
with Palstar's redesign of the Commander amps a good step up in 
appearance. Too bad they don't have a legal limit version of their 
Commander II which only uses a single 3CPX-800. They are doing an 
extensive redesign on it according to their web page, so who knows.

Ameritron builds a wide range of amps through a wide range of prices.
The "AL-1200" Bill mentioned is a good, rugged, if plain looking amp at 
a reasonable price as is the AL-1500.  (Bearing in mind that reasonable 
is a relative concept)  The AL-1200 has what is probably the most rugged 
tube in or near amateur power limits you can find. The grid in the 
3CX-1200 could almost be used as a dummy load for most transceivers, but 
it is a tad pricey, costing more than a number of entry level amps with 
tubes.

OTOH none of the amps above are cheap. Quality and power comes at a 
price with there being a major difference in price between the Ameritron 
amps at the bottom of the price range and the Alpha at the top while 
staying within reasonable power limits. I'm not disparaging the AL-1200 
and AL-1500. I think they are very good amps as are many of their lower 
priced amps if they are used within their design limitations.  IOW don't 
try to get the legal limit out of 4 811As or a single 3-500Z.

A number of companies make some really rugged amps, both stateside and 
"abroad" but due to some antiquated FCC rules brought on by the CB crowd 
they are generally not available to us.  I want an amp that will run key 
down, any mode, at the legal limit 24 X 7.  That means it should have 
"room to spare", and/or some elaborate protection circuitry.

73

Roger (K8RI)


bill price wrote:
> ask the group about a ameritron al-1200 for the money                    2nd ask the group what they think about the eimac al-1200 tube
>  
>   
>> Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:29:31 -0500
>> From: n8de at thepoint.net
>> To: cstaylorod at yahoo.com
>> CC: amps at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Good amp to buy
>>
>> My personal opinion :
>>
>> Acom 1000
>> OM Power 3500A
>>
>> I can't afford either and the OM Power amps are NOT currently 
>> available in USA.
>> 73
>> Don
>> N8DE
>>
>> Quoting Craig Taylor <cstaylorod at yahoo.com>:
>>
>>     
>>> What do you recommend as a good HIGH power amp?
>>>
>>> Tnx for your reply.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Craig/W9OD
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>>
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