[Amps] AL-82 opinions

[David Cole]

Hi,

Having owned an SB-220, and an AL-82, I would take the 82 any day...  

Here is why:

Good Points:

1.  Solid as a rock

2.  Full output on all bands, RTTY contesting

3.  Will do 10 Meters

4.  Easy to tune

5.  So far-- good on tubes

Bad Points:

1.  You should run it on 220, (Not really that bad, all decent 
    amps should be)

2.  The band switch is a bit light...  If you move it while 
    transmitting, you replace it.  I did not do this on a 220  
    so I don't know how the 220 would react, probably the same 
    way.

3.  Heavy as heck

4.  Noisy, but it moves a LOT of air across the tubes.

5.  Replacement of the band switch is a real pain in the rear...

Overall feelings towards the amp:
Very simple to use, easy tune up, solid as a rock.  I have used it in
Contest RTTY, and all it does is get warm...  Runs fine...  Beyond the
bandwidth switch issue, (which I caused), it has had zero issues for the
past 5 years of RTTY contesting.  It runs WAY cooler than a Heath 220
does in an RTTY contest.  Better air flow, the 82 used a pair of
chimneys, while the 220 I had did not have any.

I would buy it again over a Heath  any time, any day....

-- 
Thanks and 73's,
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On Wed, 2013-11-06 at 16:11 -0500, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote: 
> I'm pondering purchase of a (probably used) AL-82.  My current amplifier 
> is an SB-220, which I use like an active antenna tuner, and which 
> delivers 950-1300 watts 10-80 meters.. Where my K3 will fold back at 
> just over 2:1 SWR, the SB-220 cheerfully drives an 80M array tuned for 
> the CW end, up into 3800-3900.  Even though the reported SWR is over 
> 3:1, so long as the loading control can find an output peak, I just go.
> 
> My principal reason for going to the AL-82 would be to get 160M, but I 
> don't want to do it if I would be trading my SB-220 for a touchy 
> monster.  A couple of questions:
> 
> Is the power supply adequate for 1500W CW in contest service?
> Is the output circuit reasonably forgiving, compared to my SB-220?
> Any other significant concerns, aside from the brute weight?
> 
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
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