[Amps] Alpha 87A ownerS

Tue Jul 10 12:32:45 PDT 2012

I consider balance to be beneficial.

I  do provide constructive criticism where I consider it due.  You
shouldn't need to dig too deep to find evidence of my having done so.

If I can help with further detail and facts concerning my experience with
the 87A, just let me know.

Some folks I have encountered seem able to break everything they get their
hands on.

We all have experiences; some better than others.

My Alpha 87A ranks among the very best ham radio equipment I have ever
purchased.  It is certainly the best amp.

Bob, 5B4AGN

On 10 July 2012 19:07, Charles Harpole <k4vud at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> I love it when a detailed and factual critique of a radio device emerges
> and defenders of the baby come out of the woodwork.
>
> "Oh, I ran mine in water under frozen ice at 3KW for 43 years continuous,
> and before that my cat slept on the vent holes and it ran perfectly all
> that time, etc etc etc."
>
> Some people are lucky, that is all, and believe me, we know not every
> single unit becomes faulty, but many do and it behooves us to report it to
> help someone somewhere, perhaps.  73
>
> Charles Harpole
> k4vud at hotmail.com
>
>
> ________________________________
> > Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:05:53 +0000
> > Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A owner
> > From: bob at 5b4agn.net
> > To: k4vud at hotmail.com
> >
> > On the other hand, I have owned and abused my 87A for more than 18
> > years now. Aside from a couple of small problems easily corrected in
> > the shack, it has been a rock solid investment. When I have called
> > upon Alpha for support they have always been A1.
> >
> > I have been wondering why folks would trade an 87A for a 9500.
> >
> > Bob, 5B4AGN
> >
> > On 10 July 2012 01:16, Charles Harpole
> > <k4vud at hotmail.com<mailto:k4vud at 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... THAT IS, 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 at hotmail.com<mailto:k4vud at hotmail.com>
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------
> > > From: wa3gin at comcast.net<mailto:wa3gin at comcast.net>
> > > To: wworldwidedx at comcast.net<mailto:wworldwidedx at comcast.net>;
> > amps at contesting.com<mailto:amps at 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 at comcast.net<mailto:wworldwidedx at comcast.net>>
> > > To: <amps at contesting.com<mailto:amps at 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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