[CQ-Contest] Ameritron AL-811 for Contesting, OK or not?

[David Pruett]

Paul,

We took an AL-811H (the four-tube model) to the Bahamas as one rig of a 
multi-two station for ARRL DX CW.  We hammered it on 80/20/10 with no 
problems for 48 hours.

Now, we did not run it at it's absolute maximum ratings; more like 500-600W 
as I recall.  At those levels the case temp stayed reasonable with typical 
Caribbean temperatures (80 deg F, even in February) and the tubes we not 
flogged excessively.

73,

Dave/K8CC

At 07:07 PM 5/30/2006, Paul Roche wrote:
>I am exploring options for a cheap amp for CW contesting, choices are new
>AL-811 with 572 tubes (about 700 watts out) or an old SB-220 that I have to
>re-tube and provide the "standard mods" to (about 1 KW out).
>
>Can an AL-811 handle contesting, say for 6 hour stretches at a time? (Family
>reasons prevent more than this). I must stay CHEAP, and the AL-81 DOES cover
>160, but I want a reliable amp for my first one.
>
>Ideas?
>
>Paul K3STX
>
>
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