[CQ-Contest] 1st legal limit amplifier

Fri Dec 17 19:41:05 PST 2010

Very interesting discussion, folks... I am currently looking for a new
amplifier and trying to make my choice like:
AL-1200
AL-15000
How about Palstar  Commander HF-2500 or* **QRO HF-2500DX*? Anyone has
experience on those, please?
ACOM's are good amps, but out of my budget right now...

Thank you for any comments.

2010/12/17 EZ Rhino <ezrhino at fastmovers.biz>

> While we're comparing Ameritron's top units, I'm curious if the AL-82 which
> uses a pair of 3-500z's meets with ire or desire with the group?
>
> Chris
> KF7P
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 17, 2010, at 14:52 , Radio K0HB wrote:
>
> I'd second the motion on the Ameritron AL-1200.  It provides full legal
> output with 100W input and is much more forgiving than the AL-1500.  Tunes
> up quick and easily, and after about 15 years of contesting, mine is "good
> as new" and the tube is not showing any age at all.
>
> 73, de Hans, K0HB
> --
> "Just a boy and his radio"
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: w7vo at comcast.net
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 6:33 PM
> To: CQ Contest
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 1st legal limit amplifier
>
> Tim;
>
> I guess the begging question is; "What is your budget, and how serious do
> you want to be?"
>
> I am currently using an Ameritron AL-1500, which is one of the most robust
> amps out there for the price . It has a lot of gain, (45W in for 1500W full
> legal limit) output. At such low drive levels the exciter stays nice and
> cool, and the Ameritron barely gets warm at that level even during long
> runs. I have also an old Amp Supply amp which used to really heat up the
> shack during big contests. Those 3-500Zs put out 150W of heat just in grid
> current.....
>
> The AL-1500 is a very efficient amplifier, but very easy to mis-tune and
> get
> a grid current spike, especially with a guest op or late in a contest when
> your eyes are not open fully. Using the overlays made by Idiom Press that
> give you numbers (0-100 graduations for the Load and Plate controls)
> instead
> of "band segments" does make band changes much quicker. (I keep a chart of
> all SSB and CW settings for each band and at hand). No, I do not work for
> Ameritron or Idiom Press....
>
> That said, I think the AL-1200 would be my pick if I had to buy another amp
> in this class. It is less finicky about input power, (can take 100W) and
> with the 3CX1200A7 tube with much greater grid current capacity is probably
> easier to tune quickly. Others may comment on this, I have no experience
> with it other than what I have read.
>
> Of course, you cannot beat a "two tube" Alpha 77, but for the money ....
>
> I would not recommend the SB-2xx (Especially the SB-200) for any serious
> contesting, although others may argue the point. The power supplies are
> just
> not up to task in stock form. I had a good run of JAs going in the 1982
> IARU
> contest with my newly built SB-220 and after a while you could smell the
> transformer baking. As any good contester would do, I turned the room's AC
> down as low as it would go (about 50 degrees) and kept going....
>
> "Ah, I love the smell of melting varnish in the morning....." You knew you
> had a good run going.
>
> 73;
>
> Mike, W7VO
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maarten van Rossum" <pd2r.maarten at gmail.com>
> To: "Timothy Coker" <n6win73 at gmail.com>
> Cc: "CQ Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>, "SCCC" <sccc at contesting.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 2:39:41 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 1st legal limit amplifier
>
> My vote goes to the Acom 2000a. Great, reliable amplifier that will tune
> automatic and easily deliver US legal power limit.
> It also has a very effective protection circuitry, you would have to try
> very hard to damage this piece of equipment.
>
> Acom website: http://www.hfpower.com/
> Eham reviews: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/39
>
> 73, Maarten
> PD2R
>
>
> 2010/12/16 Timothy Coker <n6win73 at gmail.com>
>
> > Is anyone willing to share with me their experiences with their
> > amplifier that they are using for contesting? My main HP contest
> > interest is the California QSO Party, CQ WW WPX, and ARRL DX. I have a
> > lesser interest in working DX through the week for all time new ones
> > or new band/entities. During contests that I am not serious about I
> > will S&P Assisted using point and click on packet/skimmer spots to
> > hand out the points.
> >
> > My station setup is as follows:
> >
> > FT-2000, SB-220 (usually 800-400w output), Top Ten Automatic band
> > decoder, Array Solutions Sixpack
> >
> > Antennas:
> >
> > F12 C31XR w/separate feed lines, Cushcraft A3WS w/30m, Cushcraft
> > XM240, 80m dipole on top of 54' tower.
> >
> > I imagine having something that is easy to tune for quick band changes
> > will be helpful while contesting. My current SB-220 is easy, but it's
> > narrow and needs retuning as I go throughout the band if I want to be
> > anywhere near my max output.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Tim, N6WIN.
> > _______________________________________________
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> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
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-- 
73's Andrei
EW1AR-NP3D
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