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write your own review of the Ameritron AL-1500.
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W6RS
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2007 09:40
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A Robust Amp.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Bought used on Ebay, but in superlative condition. Have been using it for a couple of weeks and it seems very happy at 1500 watts out without breaking a sweat. I have to agree with another reviewer that, if there is any downside, is that it is a NOISY beast.
Other than that, an outstanding value.
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KD8EXD
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 16, 2007 11:15
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Excellent Amplifier!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I recently purchased an Ameritron AL 1500 amp a really like it. It tunes easily and with 20 watts xciter drive I get 1000 watts out on AL 1500. It will do 2000 watts ut easily too, if that is what you really need. Easy to do the 10 meter mod, just a matter of cutting a green wire. Have had an Alpha 76A amp too, but lightening toasted that one. Cooling fan is a little louder than the Alph 76a amp, ut with headphone/mic on, I don't hear it at all. I get sensational reports from other hams on the receiving end. They say it is like talking to me sitting right beside in the same room. Hard to purchase one right now. Seems Ameritron only manufactures them in lots, and only every few months do they become available to dealers and thus hams.
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N7TM
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 22, 2007 21:53
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Has worked for 12 years
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my AL-1500 for over 12 years. It has worked perfectly the whole time and I haven't had a single problem. My only complaint is the three minute warm up time required by the 8877. When chasing DX, those three minutes seem like thirty.
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N2EIK
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 18, 2007 15:24
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wow!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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WOW! What more can I say! This amp cranks! 50 watts input and it loafs along at full legal limit. I can easily tune (into a dummy load) 2500 + watts. I think I would cut off my right arm before parting with this amp!
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K4GVT
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 11, 2007 19:17
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Potentially lethal
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Despite the fact the amplifier works well and that I have no complaints only praise regarding its performance, I have to share my experience and safety concerns with you.
I purchased this amplifier used. After receiving the amplifier with the 3CX1500, transformer, and the main unit separately and well packaged. I began assembly with a short inspection, after which I installed the tube, transformer.
While hot testing, I noticed severe arching coming from the HV power supply area. Loose screws were the root cause of the arching. I found that during shipping the screws on the bottom side of the unit that secure the standoffs for the capacitor filter board had become loose. Tightening the screws resolved the arching issue. However, this is an indication of a very serious even potentially lethal problem.
Consider this, the return path from the filter board uses the standoffs to complete the electrical connection to ground. Consequently, if the screws on the bottom side loosen, the high voltage, that’s 3plus KV can exist on the loosened screw heads at the bottom outside of the cabinet. These can be easily touched from the left side bottom of the amplifier. Additionally the return path, as it exists, has several mechanical connections it counts on for electrical connectivity, this adds series resistance to the supply return line.
The remedy for this is to add independent ground return lines from the filter board to the chassis ground and securing the new lines with screws and star washers independent of any other assemblies.
73,
George, K4GVT
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JUNKMAN
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 19, 2007 00:06
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Great Amp
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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As with all the other Ameritron amps I've owned in the past this one is great. Works as advertised and makes alot of power with very little drive power. Contrary to popular belief the fan in mine is not loud at all. I'm running the pulse rated 3CPX1500A7 tube instead of the regular 3CX1500A7 and the amp runs very cool and draws almost no grid current at legal limit. I've owned Alphas,Commanders,ect. and I'd just soon run this one as any of them. In my opinion it's alot of amplifier for less than $3k. N4DEK
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NN9S
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Rating: 4/5
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Jan 18, 2007 07:26
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GOOD PRODUCT
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my AL-1500 used from a local ham friend who I can trust. It is a older unit dating back into 1996. It could be from what I have been reading that some of the newer Ameritron Amps are lacking. I also in the past have owned a AL-1200 and still have a nice AL80-B which I also bought used here local. It has also been 100% and is one of the later AL-80b. The reason I am writing this review is not so much to go over the features of the amps but to point out that all Ameritron Amps are not junk as SOME reviews would have you to believe. In addition just yesterday a ham in our group purchased a mint used AL-1200 from Ham Station and has given it glowing reviews so far. The only reason I give them a rating of (4) is I don't feel they are great. But IMHO they are good for the money and the market they were targeted for. As far as fan noise goes gentlemen it takes air and lots of it to cool a full legal limit amp. My AL-1500 is not a problem for me and no worse than many $4K+ amps I have been around concerning blower noise. I hope this information helps anyone interested in purchasing a Al-1500 or other Ameritron Amp.
Doug NN9S
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A9KW
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2007 07:04
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GOING STRONG AFTER 4 YEARS
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Bought mine 4 years ago ,Not one problem so far.
Quiet compared to my henry console.Great amp
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VR2AJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 18, 2007 00:10
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Price to product ratio
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my AL-1500 for 2 years ago, price at USD2,974.- from a local ham shop in Hong Kong, it works well so far, I'm not a rich man, so still using it.
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WB9JOX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 17, 2007 22:42
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great amp
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Had my AL1500 5 years and works just fine.Some times one can get a lemon it happens.But hey for the price it rocks.Also have Alpha 99.If one can afford Alpha 8100, why would they buy Ameritron ??
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