[Amps] Alpha 87A ownerS

Carl km1h at jeremy.mv.com
Tue Jul 10 12:41:03 PDT 2012 

Ive found that the more expensive a product the less technically qualified 
the owner. Of course there are always exceptions.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Henderson" <bob at 5b4agn.net>
To: "Charles Harpole" <k4vud at hotmail.com>
Cc: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:32 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A ownerS


>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
>> > > >
>> > > > _______________________________________________
>> > > > Amps mailing list
>> > > > Amps at contesting.com<mailto:Amps at contesting.com>
>> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > Amps mailing list
>> > > Amps at contesting.com<mailto:Amps at contesting.com>
>> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Amps mailing list
>> > Amps at contesting.com<mailto:Amps at contesting.com>
>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> >
>> >
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2437/5123 - Release Date: 07/10/12
>

More information about the Amps mailing list