AL80B VS AL811HD

[WB4YAL]

I am getting ready to buy a new amplifier and I wanted to get some opinions/advice from some hams here. I am planning to spend around $1300 and in this price range I have identified the AL 80B and the Al 811HD as possible purchases. I would like to know from users here, " how you would rate each one and which you would recommend." I have only 120 volts to power an amp but the service can handle 20 amps. With this in mind, what would YOU recommend.

Thank you, WB4YAL John.

[WB3BEL]

No brainer...

The AL80B is a way better amp.  More reliable tube, easier to tune.

[N3JBH]

No brainer...

The AL80B is a way better amp.  More reliable tube, easier to tune.

I agree 100% Even though i have a 811H amp... I rather now have the AL80B amp 

[KG6YV]

I used an AL80 amplifier on 120VAC lines and it worked fine. 
I wouldn't hesitate to buy one over an amplifier with 4 ea 811A's.  Four 811's have a total of 240W plate dissipation, the AL80B has 500W plate dissipation.  You can't hurt a 3-500Z but you can certainly over drive or otherwise get into trouble with 4 811's.  The Al80B will run all day/night at 700-800W output. 

This contest isn't even close to me...

Greg

[WB2WIK]

I think the 80B is a better deal also.

It also includes a built-in front-panel PEP watt/SWR meter the 811HD doesn't have, and that alone is worth about $150.  Bigger power supply, too.  And still "desktop" and "quiet."

[WB4YAL]

Well Guys, I thank you for your comments.  I am going to look for an AL80B at the Orlando Hamfest Saturday.

[N4OI]

Well Guys, I thank you for your comments.  I am going to look for an AL80B at the Orlando Hamfest Saturday.

If you are into CW at all, I suggest the AL-80BQ -- with the QSK option installed.  It makes very quiet power without all the relay clacking....  You can add the QSK-5PC card kit  later, but the installation will be challenging if you are not an experienced builder.   

Regardless -- get the AL-80B(Q)!

73 ES GOD BLESS U ES URS DE KEN N4OI 

[N3QE]

I got a used AL-811H for $400 and am very very happy with the value. Several thousand contest QSO's (recent 160 contests, also the RTTY RU contest) on it just in the past two months. I also operated N3A special event station using it, and also some new DXCC's on both low and high bands.

If I had $1350 in the budget I would've gone with a 3-500Z amp, for sure. I also get to use (at various contest stations) setups with 8877 and other ceramic tube amps at substantially higher street prices. Unlike some others I can't really justify that. Hmm... I thought all hams were notorious for being cheapskates :-)

Others tell you that QSK is important, and I agree, so I do an end-run around the extra cost of a QSK-capable amp, by using a separate receive antenna on 160 (which I would want to do anyway even if I was barefoot). Again, cheapskate.

Shortly after I got the AL-811H and was in a few 160 contests, a local big gun noticed my activities and DX I was working in the tests, and gave me an unsolicited comment that I am now a "second tier" contest station on the bands. Wow, $400 bought my way into the second tier. Not bad, when I know that several of the "first tier" multi-multi stations in the area have what must be $100K worth of equipment.