HF Amplifier

[NorthStar]

Who makes the best HF Amplifier on the market today?

 

[Moleculo]

tube or transistor?

 

[NorthStar]

tube

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I would have to say either QRO Technologies or Emtron from Australia if you can find one.Alpha is still in business and has a very good reputation as well.

QRO Technologies - Ray Connin KB8VU - Home Page


Alpha Radio Products


Emtron website - Homepage


For VHF/UHF there is Beko.


http://www.ssbusa.com/bekomos.html :drool:

 

[Moleculo]

I'd look at Commander also.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I keep forgetting that Command Technologies makes HF amps as well as VHF amps.The fact that the have the same or very similar model numbers as QRO Technologies adds to the confusion.


Command Technologies - High Power HF / VHF Linear Amplifiers

 

[W5LZ]

I think I'd take a look at Ameritron. Maybe not the fanciest, but they do very well.
- 'Doc

 

[Master Chief]

Command Technologies and QRO were once the same company. There was a split between the owners and QRO was started.

If I remember the story correctly, the split was over Eimac and Russian tubes and Hipersil transformers......but don't quote me.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Command Technologies and QRO were once the same company. There was a split between the owners and QRO was started.

If I remember the story correctly, the split was over Eimac and Russian tubes and Hipersil transformers......but don't quote me.

That makes perfect sense to me.The product looks similar and even at least one model has the same model number,the HF-2500. Command Tech uses Eimac tubes while QRO uses the Russian tubes so I would have to say that there is some fact in what you say.I always suspected that was the case but had no "inside" info to support it.

 

[Master Chief]

The "story" used to be posted on QRO's website years ago. I'm pretty confident that I'm correct.

 

[NorthStar]

Anyone have any experience with TenTec Amps?

 

[1200RI]

Ameritron makes a nice amp.Had a new Al-1200 for 8 years no problems.Now have a new AL-80B with 1 x 3-500ZG tube.Love this small amp.

 

[n8fgb]

Who makes the best HF Amplifier on the market today?

Alpha

 

[SR385]

Ameritron makes a nice amp.Had a new Al-1200 for 8 years no problems.Now have a new AL-80B with 1 x 3-500ZG tube.Love this small amp.

Picked up an AL-80B myself, bang for the buck, it's a great amp. I get a kW out of it on plain 120 wiring too, which surprised me. It would be much happier on 220 when I get around to it.

 

[W5LZ]

SR385,
Put the thing on 220/240 volts, it does very well. Won't get any more out of it, just makes it easier on the house wiring (if yours is like my house wiring), and operates more efficiently, sort of. The plate voltage really gets 'stiffer'.

If the objective is as much power as legally possible with the least worries, the AL-1200 is really about as good as it gets. That 3CX1200 is a very 'easy going' tube, not as 'touchy' as the 3CX1500 is (grid dissipation).

Ten-Tec makes some nice amplifiers. Nothing particularly outstanding about them (or a lot of the other manufacturers for that matter), and one or two are very nice looking too. Prettier than an old HeathKit or Ameritron or whatever. But that's cosmetics, not anything to do with what it can/will do electrically.

What would I really like to see in a new amplifier? How about just pushing a 'disassembly' button and it just un-folds so you don't have to take half of the @#$ thing apart to reach that one itty-bitty stinking cap to replace it?? I'm holding my breath in anticipation!
- 'Doc