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| Reviews Summary for Mirage-2516G or 5016G |
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Reviews: 9
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Average rating: 1.0/5
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MSRP: $299
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Description: 2 mtr VHF amplifier
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More info: http://
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You can
write your own review of the Mirage-2516G or 5016G.
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NT4I
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Rating: 0/5
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Feb 6, 2007 14:29
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MFJ JUNK!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought one brand new and DOA out of the box. I got my money back and will not look back. I will go for a Tokyo Hi-Power.
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NL7XH
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Rating: 1/5
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Feb 6, 2007 14:14
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Poor quality
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used about 8 Mirage amps in our repeater network. EVERYONE of them has problems. Most frustrating is self keying. After the amp drive is removed the darn amp keeps on transmitting. I now use a 70 relay keyed with PTT to insure power is removed from the amp when the drive is off.
Every amp seems to need more power than the specifications show.
I hope I never need another Mirage amp.
NL7XH
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AK9S
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Rating: 2/5
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Dec 29, 2002 12:04
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A little better...
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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After owning a 2516G, which died after several months of use, I decided to purchase a newer model, the 2518.
The same premature tripping problem as before. Rated at 25 watts drive but trips at 8 watts with my radio. Manual says something about some radios having large spikes beyond nominal power when initially keyed. Mirage engineer mentioned a fix by adding an electrolytic capacitor to the amp. Works like a champ for now - wonder if those spikes will kill the amp in the long run? Why doesn't Mirage make an amp that can handle typical 2-meter radios? Disappointing power output on SSB - consumer is not told of low power on SSB until the manual is read. Advertisement claims otherwise...bait 'n switch?
The soldering job on this amp is quite good, as the 2518 uses micro-components. After three months use, the preamp LED went out. Amp performs well, but I'm still disappointed that it didn't do 150-160 watts out-of-the-box without modification. This will be my last experience with Mirage.
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AK9S
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Rating: 2/5
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Jul 2, 2002 14:07
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Disappointing...
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Bought a new B-2516-G last year and it would only take 18 watts drive before the fault protection would trip. This was at an 1.2 SWR. I guess my watt meter was 30% off!?! Amazing how the same meter registered 25 watts when my radio (5/25/50 watts) setting was placed at mid-power.
Opening the unit revealed a terrible soldering job. It looked like someone's first crack at a soldering project. This speaks for itself, as does the fault protection prematurely tripping.
I would not recommend running full-power on this amplifier, as you may be asking for trouble.
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PA5LS
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Rating: 2/5
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Apr 8, 2002 07:16
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Still working
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Its a good year since I wrote my PE1OBG review of my B25165-G experiences.
The third one still works, mostly with abt 130 Watts out on FM. I had to replace an inductor near the output connector once, but that was all.
I strongly reccomend coming to a firm understanding with your dealer on how to act when it breaks down!
73' Leo.
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AC5PS
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 26, 2002 11:12
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Not happy
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This amp was a 2518, I could only drive it with 11 watts max on FM getting 90 watts out. Any more drive would trip a fault. Also I dicovered the manual said that it would only do 110 watts SSB and that is what it did with 25 watts drive. Funny, they don't mention any about that in there adds, that was my last Mirage.
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W6CQA
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Rating: 0/5
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Jun 22, 2001 16:38
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Junk!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Purchased new 2516G shortly after MFJ took them over. Amp. arrived DOA. Removed the bottom cover to find the large red wire (main 13.8 line) "floating", a futile attempt at solding to the circuit board. I repaired it myself. Very poor soldering throughout but amp. did seem to work ok after my resoldering. Sold that one and purchased another 2516G (stupid me), about a year ago. This one worked for a few days but output started falling off. After it got down to about 75 watts, I decided it too, was another reject. Hadn't even filled out the warranty card and sold it for salvage. I've owned the brown faced ones, built by the original Mirage/KLM company and they were good working quality units. I will not own another Mirage amp.
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PE1OBG
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Rating: 0/5
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Apr 24, 2001 14:42
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only the third worked !
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I bought a new B2516G some months ago. After 2 minutes Tx there was a loud bang and no output. The "perl" caps in the feedbackcircuit and the coil in the biascircuit had blown to pieces. My dealer replaced it for anotherone with a serial# one up. This had a no-output currentdraw of 7 amps, turned out the biascircuit had a "cold" solderjoint. Again my dealer got me a new one, this time with quite another serial#. It's ok at the time of writing (touch wood...). I'll buy at this dealer again, but no Mirage!
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K1HC
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Rating: 0/5
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Feb 8, 2001 06:38
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poor product support
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The second Mirage amp I own just failed (2516G) after 6 months in use. The other (5016G) failed last year and I waited 8 weeks for repair, the amp came back with mildew from sitting in a damp area the whole time. This one is under warranty still, but I'm sure I'll get the same service. It starts with them "rubber clocking" the delivery time. Fedex confirms delivery as 1/22, Mirage wrote to say it was received a week later, 1/29! When you call, they will not commit to a turnaround time. Both amps were not over driven or operated into a high SWR.
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