[CQ-Contest] Need advice re amps/setups for contesting

[James Thresher]

Hi Tim,

If money was no object and all I could buy was a state of the art Amp & Tuner combination then I wouldn't look any further than the following two bits of kit 

http://www.palstar.com/at-auto.php - Reviews http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/5479
http://www.hfpower.com/ACOM2000A.htm - Reviews http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/39

IMHO the ACOM2000 is the best HF amplifier available today (the images on the ACOM site appear to be broken at the moment)

Just remember that if you can't hear them, you can't work them. So I would strongly suggest you look at your antenna's first, even if the improvements are only small given your restrictions.

73 James 2E0YOM

M0XXT UK Scout Contest Team
http://www.m0xxt.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Timothy.Urban at wc.ey.com
Sent: 28 October 2009 12:11 PM
To: cq-contest Cq-contest
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Need advice re amps/setups for contesting


Need Advice: I am running a modern 100W transceiver (equipped w autotuner)
to a 25' high G5RV.

For contests the 100W to a mediocre antenna often produces frustrating
"little gun" experiences, especially on ssb contests.

I know antenna upgrades would be best but can't significantly improve my
ant situation due to HOA ordinances.

I have several conventional tube amps (eg Heathkit, Kenwood) and heavy duty
ant tuners (eg TT) used for noncontesting, but for hunt + pounce operation
all the constant retuning of amps/ant tuners etc is inefficient. This is
complicated by fact that when changing bands, the manual ant tuners don't
produce perfectly repeatable swr on preset knob settings.  Also, old amps
won't QSK properly w the transceiver on CW.

So, starting w a 100W transceiver and a G5RV, if you're willing to invest
in new equipment, what is the state of the art in amps/tuners for
seamlessly getting multiband legal power out for both ssb and qsk cw?

Thx in advance for any ideas,

Tim
N5IIT

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