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| Reviews Summary for Astron SS-25M |
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Reviews: 16
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Average rating: 3.5/5
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MSRP: $131.60
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Description: 25 Amp Switching Power Supply
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://
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KI6JPE
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Rating: 3/5
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Apr 10, 2011 08:14
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Small & Light / some noise from the fan on HF
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have this power supply in my shack. Being an apartment-dwelling ham I have limited space to construct my shack, so all the radio gear is on my desk in close proxmimity.
First the plusses, mainly because I've used another power supply manufacturer before (tripplite) and been very dissatisfied with rf hash from it etc. I've always, almost exclusively (save for the one other brand previously mentioned), gone with Astron.
It's small - doesn't take up much space and in my shack that's critical. Powers my gear very well. I've never felt the case become overly warm. Great performer.
Cons:
Fan noise part A. The fan on the back is so noisy that I'm probably going to retrofit it with a quieter fan, if I can find one. I'm not concerned about voiding warranty.
Fan noise part B. While some say the PS doesn't throw off any RF noise on HF - this is true while it's sitting there without the fan running, however when the fan is on (as it periodically cycles) I have heard noise on 80M that I've determined is coming from the fan itself. Looking to see if I can shield it.
If I can't resolve the noise issues (A & B) I will be replacing it with a non-switching Astron 30 or 35 amp PS and then selling the SS-25M - lightly used.
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W8MPX
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 26, 2011 19:09
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no plobem but noisy
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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IF YOU ARE USING THIS UNIT IN YOUR SHACK FOR 2 METERS OR HF AND YOU HAVE A ANTENNA IN THE SHACK IT GOING TO SHUT OFF, IF YOUR ANTENNA DOES NOT HAVE A GROUND IT GOING TO SHUT OFF YOUR RADIO IS GOING TO GET HOT. YOU NEED TO PUT THE ANTENNA LIKE 10 FEET OR MORE AND A GOOD GROUND I READ SOME REVIEW SAYING ABOUT A ANTENNA IN THE SHACK BIG MISTAKE. OK I RUN A KENWOOD V271 60 WATTS 24/7 NO PROBLEM, MY DON'T TURN OFF SOME RF AND THE FAN IS NOISY. I GOING TO SELL IT AND BUY A ASTRON VS-70M. SO WORKS GOOD BUT NOISY
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N4ZAW
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 3, 2009 11:29
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Like a rock!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I work this tiny supply hard -- TOO HARD! So I recently decided to replace it with an MFJ-4245mv... What a mistake that was!! The MFJ is junk in comparison. This little jewel keeps me running while I'm pushing it's current limit to the redline. Read my review regarding the MFJ supply. I do need a bigger supply -- but you can bet yer bippy it will be another Astron!
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KF9OK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 6, 2009 11:41
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Just works, year after year...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well I haven't used this on an HF rig, as my HF has a built in power supply, but it's sitting about 6" from the HF rig providing power for the 2m/440 radio, scanner, VHF commercial rig, and whatever else happens to be hooked up at the time. And it's worked reliably for 7-10 years, I can't even remember when I got it. During that time it ran for almost a year as a battery charger/maintainer hooked up to several auto and tractor batteries.
My only complaint is the noise from the fan, which will turn on at intervals even with an extremely low load on the supply. For a time my "shack" was in my bedroom area and the fan turning on at night was annoying even though it wasn't especially loud.
I couldn't detect any RF noise from the unit in the HF bands, which I tested extensively after I got it due to concerns over switching power supplies.
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W8AAZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 19, 2009 19:05
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addendum
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I just realised they were talking the M version which has the meters. Mine is blank faced, no meters as I guess I was a cheapskate. Not required but I suppose they would be nice to have.
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W8AAZ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 19, 2009 19:02
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No problem, long use
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I think I got this when I got my TT Jupiter, so it has been around since 2000-01? in my shack. Ran the Jup. fine with no complaints. Sets there and does it's thing. Fan will come on occasionally, either in TX or RX mode, almost like regardless of load or something. Last year I bought the TT OMNI VII. They suggested that the Astron would not be enough to run the VII and I was fearing that I would have to plunk down Big $$$ for a new supply. But the Astron runs the VII no problems, just sets there quietly and does nothing to draw attention except when the little fan kicks on for a few min. I consider the fan noise a fair tradeoff for the small size and weight. Does not have to go on the floor or out of the way. Not a really loud fan or anything and just runs a few minutes. Big deal.
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KD5TVF
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Rating: 2/5
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Sep 27, 2008 02:52
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Not reliable
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have the same RFI problems with the Astron SS-25 as others have posted.
First, it was on 20m. I had the radio stacked on top of the power supply to save space on my desk.
I could TX on 80, 40, 10, and 2 meters without problems. Go to 20 and it would start buzzing and my FT-857 would shut down.
I rearranged my cables, and now the problem is on 2m.
My other power supply (from a different manufacturer), when connected in the same exact configuration (cables) works flawlessly.
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K3ICH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2008 05:27
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No problems with several units
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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While I admit, there may be a problem with RFI, I have never experienced it with any of a half dozen various Astron switchers I use ranging from their little SS-18 up to the SS-30M's. When powering my PRO III, the fan comes on for a minute or so about every 4 - 5 minutes and I have never had any switcher interference in the receiver. I have had the SS-18 shut down from over current (my fault), but the others work fine powering any 100 watt rig I've used them with. By the way, the only difference I can see between the SS-25 and the SS-30 is the bigger fan and slightly taller case so, if size is important, and you do more listening than transmitting, the SS-25 will work fine.
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WB4TJH
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Rating: 3/5
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Jul 26, 2008 17:12
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Needs to be RF proofed
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have the 20 amp switching supply without the meters. It works well in the shack, but recently I used it for portable HF operation near an antenna. On 40 meters, I had no trouble, but when I tried to use it on 20 meters, it shut down each time I keyed the mike, obviously getting RF into it. I plan to add some ferrite beads on the AC input leads and on the DC output leads. I hope that will cure the problem. But I think Astron needs to do some serious trouble shooting on this power supply and eliminate the RF problems.
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N4SJW
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Rating: 0/5
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Jul 26, 2008 16:30
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Shuts down on TX
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Same problem as below, occassionally the PS shuts down when TX on 2M even on lowest power setting. I have a mag mount antenna on the other side of a metal cabinet. This is a base station for a hospital - simply not acceptible.
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