Need Amp Recommendation

[Brian G]

Recommendation for a decent base amp that will do 500-800 watts for 10/11 meters?

 

[Greg T]

"Decent" is a subjective term. You can get them for $500 or $5000. You need to define what you expect from it

 

[nomadradio]

And how much drive power you plan to use.

73

 

[Brian G]

"Decent" is a subjective term. You can get them for $500 or $5000. You need to define what you expect from it

Looking for something I can use as a base amp on 10/11 meters perhaps something newer/solid state that won't have issues like this old amp I have now with things like impedance problems. I don't need anything top of the line and like I said 500-800 watts. Would prefer something I can plug in but most of what I see I will need to get a power supply for which makes it much more pricey....

 

[Greg T]

Looking for something I can use as a base amp on 10/11 meters perhaps something newer/solid state that won't have issues like this old amp I have now with things like impedance problems. I don't need anything top of the line and like I said 500-800 watts. Would prefer something I can plug in but most of what I see I will need to get a power supply for which makes it much more pricey....

No, you're going to pay for that power supply one way or another. Whether inside or external, you'll pay for it. I've been thru a lot of amps, tube and solid state. Dollar for dollar the texas Star DX-500 is the most cost effective. They do require removing the crap fuses and doing the pwoer wire upgrade, but they perform very well. I've got two megawatt 50s stacked together, and driving this am conservatively at 25 to 30 watts she putts out between 550 to 650 watts pep. If I push it a little I can get to 800, but what is the point? BTW, you're going to get about 50 posts calling me nuts. But I know how to run equipment. Been radioing since 1964

 

[w9cll]

AL-811h! Spend the money and get a decent amp.

 

[Brian G]

No, you're going to pay for that power supply one way or another. Whether inside or external, you'll pay for it. I've been thru a lot of amps, tube and solid state. Dollar for dollar the texas Star DX-500 is the most cost effective. They do require removing the crap fuses and doing the pwoer wire upgrade, but they perform very well. I've got two megawatt 50s stacked together, and driving this am conservatively at 25 to 30 watts she putts out between 550 to 650 watts pep. If I push it a little I can get to 800, but what is the point? BTW, you're going to get about 50 posts calling me nuts. But I know how to run equipment. Been radioing since 1964

How do I get that to run on 11 meters too? Says 28 mhz is low end of band. How big power supply does it need?

 

[Brian G]

AL-811h! Spend the money and get a decent amp.

That says you need at least 65 watts in to get specfied output. My radio will only dead key 15 watts max and PEP is about 60. So not sure what I would get out of it based on that.

 

[w9cll]

That says you need at least 65 watts in to get specfied output. My radio will only dead key 15 watts max and PEP is about 60. So not sure what I would get out of it based on that.

You would get a couple hundred out but thats not the reason to get it. The reason is its a clean properly designed amp not made in someomes basement.

 

[Brian G]

You would get a couple hundred out but thats not the reason to get it. The reason is its a clean properly designed amp not made in someomes basement.

I totally get that, But $1200 for a couple hundred watts is a bit steep I think. I wouldn't mind if I could get the higher numbers out of it. I know where I can get a really nice used one for about $850 but still....

 

[w9cll]

I totally get that, But $1200 for a couple hundred watts is a bit steep I think. I wouldn't mind if I could get the higher numbers out of it. I know where I can get a really nice used one for about $850 but still....

Its not about the watts its about a clean signal.

 

[Brian G]

Its not about the watts its about a clean signal.

how do you get that to work on 10/11? IT says it needs to be modified.

 

[codeman]

Even with a basement built amp that puts out 800 watts with a built in power supply you are looking at 800 bucks. Then who knows how long it will last. So far so good for me.

I have a couple transistor amps and they seem to work good. Even my little rm Italy 203 does a good job, I just don't overdrive any of them. I run these mobile or off of a megawatt power supply.

Last summer I bought a used al80, with about 70 watts I can get 450-500 watts if I can remember correctly and even the local ham guys says it sounds and looks clean on their fancy radios.

I driven the amp with more drive into it but I don't think 700 watts will get me heard any better then 500.

 

[The20poundhammer]

An AL 80 or 811 or sb 200 something else along those lines are the way to go IMO. You can find those on QTH usually fairly reasonable.

 

[Brian G]

Even with a basement built amp that puts out 800 watts with a built in power supply you are looking at 800 bucks. Then who knows how long it will last. So far so good for me.

I have a couple transistor amps and they seem to work good. Even my little rm Italy 203 does a good job, I just don't overdrive any of them. I run these mobile or off of a megawatt power supply.

Last summer I bought a used al80, with about 70 watts I can get 450-500 watts if I can remember correctly and even the local ham guys says it sounds and looks clean on their fancy radios.

I driven the amp with more drive into it but I don't think 700 watts will get me heard any better then 500.

So Texas Star 500V or Ameritron?