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write your own review of the Alpha 87A.
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AD6W
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 19, 2009 10:03
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13 years, no problems
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Update of my first post many years ago - 87A on the air 13 years now with no problems, original tubes, automatic band change a delight during contests and major dxpeditions, often stays on all night in winter working 80/160.
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W1MH
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 26, 2009 16:19
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Great Amplifier--Nothing Better
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have used two Alpha 87a amplifiers for over 15 years and they have rendered excellent service. I use both of them on my remote stations and leave them, for the most part, 100% unattended. All their functions, control, monitoring and auto tune features are available via remote control. Nothing but praise for the amplifier and the folks at Alpha. I have considered many of the solid state amplifiers but few of them have full remote control software and many will not work at full legal limit. I very much appreciate a robust amplifier like the 87a.
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WG5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 17, 2009 15:16
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This amp rocks!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I am a sucker for quality products. I have owned a number of amps and this one blows them all away. Auto tune, quiet, plenty of power, great support. The 87A has to be one of the best ever built.
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VA6SZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2007 12:08
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Wonderful!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Incredible power with hardly any issues. Mine has been "max-ed" out on a bird watt meter at over 2950 watts pep and 1785 watts key-down. It works and works and works....
The protection circuitry does it's job when things get "dicey" on the antenna side. I have yet to trip the protection circuitry with "excessive" drive from an exciter. (Although the radios that I have used to drive it with are only of the 100 watt class.)
The only issue I had with mine was when it was brand new. The "pads" on the band-switch disc where slightly off for 20 meters. And thus, it would not work on 20 meters. It was shipped back to Colorado and returned to me about 10 days later with the shipping charges covered.
Not one complaint! THE amplifier to buy (if you can afford it).
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G0HWC
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2007 10:04
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Excellent !!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I got my amp 2nd hand as dead. Molly and the Tech guy at Alpha were most helpfull in sorting out the problems. I also orderd the AlphaMax upgrade, took 20 mins to fit and works well. I am well happy with the amp, I think it will out live me!!
By far the BEST amp I have ever had.
Just found a Yahoo user group Alpha87a
Here is the link
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alpha87a/
Paul G0HWC www.g0hwc.com
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VE2DC
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 7, 2007 09:06
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Nice Amp! Update...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Actually a 4.5. Not perfect but very good. replaces my old Ten-Tec Titan. From an RF point of view, it puts out less RF than the TT, but puts out 1.5KW without strain. It is well protected (just as well with a new pair of tubes costing $1300) though *very* occasionally it will fault for no apparent reason... maybe something not-quite-right with my tubes. (Update - turned out to be a loose PL259 on the tower relay box) Transformer hums on 24MHz, and apparently will self-destruct if operated continuously in the "Lo" position. (So why the heck is the switch there!!!) The DAS seems to work very well, but you need to pre-tune on 10 as the stepper is a bit coarse and it can settle on a less than optimum tuning. Overall, I like it and would recommend it.
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N5GE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 30, 2007 12:10
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Excellent High Powered Amplifier
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my Alpha 87A in 1998. During the time I have owned it, I had to ship it back for warranty work one time (A bad Tube). It has performed flawlessly for ten years now and still has the same output with the same amount of drive required when it was new.
The QSK is perfect.
In 1999 I added the Remote control and auto-tune mods to the amp. It is a truly hands off amplifier now. I rarely even touch it except to dust it.
I Owned two Ameritron Amps before acquiring the 87A and although they both performed well, they don't even come close to the Alpha 87A. And after considering the cost of the two Ameritrons, the price of the Alpha 87A was justified. The only amplifier I have owned that came close to the 87A was my Drake L4B which I acquired in the late 70's.
If I ever feel the need to acquire another Amp it will be whichever Alpha is currently the top of the Alpha line. If YOU want the best bang for the buck in HF amplifiers, get an Alpha. You can't go wrong.
Tom, N5GE
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N4KAS
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Rating: 5/5
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May 9, 2007 17:23
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awesome
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Best amp I've ever owned. Had this one for about 7 years, never had a problem. Its so automatic its like having a 1.5kw transceiver. I've had problems with both ameritrons. The Alpha is pricey, but extremely well built.
73
n4kas
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KP4E
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 1, 2006 09:13
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The best amp I have had in 45 years af ham radio.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Last year have been working flawless. The automatic tunning is fantastic! No problems . Use it all the time , almost daily. Recomendations with no regrets.
Power as stated. Drive power less than 30W.
There is no comparison with any other automatic amplifier in the market!
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W4ZW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 21, 2006 20:27
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Simply Superb
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my ALPHA for almost 11 years now and it still works great. Only one trip back to Alpha for a repair in all these years. Quiet, potent, and fool proof. It's simply superb!
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