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write your own review of the Commander HF-2500.
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NJ3A
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 2, 2007 12:52
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Awesome Amp 10-160
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is the second amplifier I've purchased this year. The first being an excellent Heathkit HL-2200 that uses 2x 3-500Z tubes. This amp on the other hand used 2x 3CX800A7s (sorry no glow here)..only raw power when and where you need it. Using the original manual and tuning settings I got with this amp proved to be the easiest way to go. Even though my amp is soon to have it's 10th birthday...it still performs as new according to the power output on my Palstar AT4K Tuner and manual settings found in the original owners manual tune up sheet. It's got a great fan, runs cool and is not a amp for the weak of muscle...it's heavy due to it's hypersil transformer.
Audio reports are excellent. I'm only driving this amp with at most 55W out of my Icom 756 ProII and it routinely loafs along at around 1500 booming watts with about 35W drive as tuned by the numbers in the manual. Grid current is the key to longevity with these 3CX800A7s and as long as you follow the guidlines in the manual...they'll last as long as you will...and then some. Sure they're expensive to replace...but if you don't abuse them, they'll be around for a long long time. The use of a high power tuner like the Palstar AT4K or AT5K is clearly a need with this amp if you're using wires on the lower bands. My KT36XA exhibits excellent SWR (<1.5:1) on 10-15-20 meters, so I didn't really need it, however...I do on occasion (daily)...tune and use 40-80-160 meters...all with the HF-2500. My G5RV wire antenna is only 4-5' off the ground, mainly used for local NVIS contacts, but I've got the DX contacts to show you what can be done with a excellent amp and tuner combo.
Overall...my HL-2200 is sitting on the side watching all the action that this Commander HF-2500 is getting involved in...
If you can find one...get it...
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KC4CP
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 24, 2007 18:14
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GREAT!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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In my opinion, the HF-2500 is not the best looking amp ever made ... but when it comes to performance, it is unsurpassed. This thing is rock solid! Easily does legal limit ++. It is much quieter than my AL-1500. And I literally can't hear the relay! No more "clunk" when the relay kicks in.
NO, it is not cheap ... but it is well worth the money. As others have said, it should last a life time.
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KF8RX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 10, 2007 12:47
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Best Bang for the Buck!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Pat Stein is the Man!
If you buy any other amp you are spending too much or getting too little.
I've had mine for over two years. Being the inquisitive type, I called Pat with a few questions. He makes me feel that "appliance operators" are as welcome as the experts. He never rushed me off the phone even though he's quite busy.
This is my fourth and last amp. I should have bought this one first! I could have saved mucho dinero.
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KA0G
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 25, 2006 10:23
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Rugged and Powerful!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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After not having an amp since I last used an old L4-B years ago, all I can say is WOW! One needs to be very careful to avoid exceding legal power. This amp features the Eimac (not the el-cheapo Rusky variant) 3CPX800 - nor the lower voltage rated 3CX800. If you look carefully at the 3CX800 specs, you will notice that the 3CX is only rated at 2250 volts - something lost on most manufacturers. The 3CPX800 is rated at 3+ KV and is a more expensive tube. Despite my being clumsy with tuning this amp at first, and an antenna that changed SWR, the amp is fully protected. This is a no frills very rugged amp that should last until my estate sells it. I mean the amp and tubes both. And I am talking of 20 more years. Highly recommended. I cannot think of a finer amp.
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N9TGR
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2006 19:49
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workhorse
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Time owned: months
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I have been running the 2500 for about four years and it has proved to be a real workhorse,no issues or problems of any kind,I also own a henry and an alpha but havent turned them on in years.
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NT4I
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 19, 2006 18:57
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The Standard by which all others are judged!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I own several of these beauties and it as good as it gets. Well built - second to none quality, tunes smooth, easily makes legal output power, reasonably quiet, SOLID American made, runs cool. I could go on and on but why bother as you got the message. Pat Stein is knowledgeable, very easy to work with and always available when I called, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE! And he delivered the amplifier as promised. Why buy brand X Y & Z when you can have the best for less. To bad I can't rate it higher than a 5!
Thanks and catch you down the wire, Vince NT4I.
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G0UIH
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Rating: 5/5
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May 10, 2006 04:40
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Top Class Equipment
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Having owned a TL922 for quite a few years, I decided the time had come for a change of HF Amp.
Also the 3-500's were passed their best.
I'd looked over the winter period on Eham.net at the reviews from users of many models and manufacturers.
My new criteria was an amp that was rugged,reliable and dependable - and
that would last many years.
After carefull consideration the choice was made to go for the Commander HF-2500 from
Command Technologies in Ohio USA. Following my initial correspondences with Pat N8BRA,the
unit was ordered and duly delivered by International Airfreight (DHL).
Two boxes were included in the delivery, 1 for the transformer and one for the Amp.
Everything had arrived complete, with no damage (always a nice start!)
The first thing to notice is what a superb job of packing Pat had done, with triple packed
containers and spacers.
Following unpacking I duly went through the very well lay'd out instruction manual.
I noticed that the 3 wires forming the AC power cable were Black,White and Green.
As a UK customer this threw me for a second as we're used to Brown, Blue and Green.
After a little homework online, the conversion was the Black "Live", White was "Neutral"
and the Green was "Earth"
I unscrewed both top and bottom covers in order to locate where the transformer was going to sit.
(Nice touch using "Allen" screw head cover bolts and synthetic spacers to prevent case damage.)
The transformer is fairly heavy, so took a little care when placing it into position, but
this was completed without any problems and the unit duly bolted into its housing area
with 4 heavy duty bolts, vibration washers and nuts.
Next was to slot the new 3CX800A7 tubes into position. Lining them up proved a little
on the fiddly side as the tube covers the socket wholly when positioning.
I did not want to bend any of the pins, but after a few attempts is was apparent when the pins
were ready to slot in. I then placed the anode chokes in position and tighted them up.
What is very noticeable about this amp is the superb build quality and layout of the internals.
Everything looked first class and was nicely assembled.
After replacing both covers I was ready for the first "Power Up".When switching on, both front panel lamps burst into life and the unit seemed ok.
First impression was how quiet it was. My old TL922 was much noisier than this.
After a 3 minute warm up period the green "Ready" LED was showing, so time to fire up
and see what happened. At first the unit seem to trip out quite easily.
So a quick email to Pat at CT confirmed that the error was on my side.This type of amp requires you
to retune after any change of output power from your radio.(I'd tuned at 1500w then reduced the radio drive from 40w to 15w- this did not work) - So with 40w of drive and a re-tune the unit was much happier and output was approaching 1500w.Pat was very quick in responding to my query and
communications/dealings were 1st class.
Well, after 1 weeks' use the amp is litterally ticking over. In the UK we're limited to 400w (hi!) so with a 10w drive from my radio the Commander just ticks along all day and the panel meters bearly move.
This should last for years - which is why I bought it.
Have I made the correct purchase? - well so far, without doubt, the right decision.
Only time will tell, will post an update in the future.
Vry 73 Steve G0UIH/VK2IAY/3D2FI
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N5JFJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 28, 2006 03:08
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"AWESOME"
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've used every kind of Amp ever made, from Alpha, Henry and on down the line. My Commander HF2500 is absolutely the finest Amp I have ever had the "PLEASURE" to operate. And you know HONESTLY these days when everything out there is about PROFIT, of Sales? It is very satisfying to own a product that has the "QUALITY" of the HEAVY DUTY COMPONENTS built into it as the Commander Amplifier Line. How simple does it get? You can spend years searching...Or Get a Commander and later...Will it to your Heirs (HI HI) God Bless you and 73's DE N5JFJ
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N1RWD
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2005 19:04
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The New and inprove Commander
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Hi there the name here is Robert after selling my first Commander HF 2500 amp. I just like alot of hams ended up regretting i sold the amp in the first place and felt bad after that. I was in the hunt for another one but was not succesfull getting my hands on a good use one. So i ended up buying a NEW one from Pat Commander Technologies and was very happy i made that choice. Let me start by saying is that Pat was always friendly each time i called him up with a question or to check up on how far the amp needed to go and he was always avilable to speak with me about it each time. Now that is trust service comunication
and where can you find this latly. After receiving
my New Commander amp boy was i happy and started to put the ceramic metal triodes and the Hypersil
power transformer. Now here are some of the details changes and inprovements i notice.
1- The EIMAC PULSE RATED 3CPX800A7 are use in the COMMANDER 2500 Not the old 3cx800a7.
2-The fan blower has two speed now high and low
my first Commander just had one speed.
3-The grid current meter on the front panel is now 0-200 not like the old Commander 0-100.
4-Facing the amp in front of you on the right hand side where the transformer is at the factory
air pot holes are no longer drilled there.
5-Knobs have been change to a bigger black with silver chrome in front of the amp select band,tune
load and VP-IP switchs.
6-The transmit and power LCD lights are cystal clear now but turn green when ready and red when you are keyed up.
7- The numbers 2500 in the front panel are black now instead of RED.
8- It is more easyer to tune up then my old Commander amp wothout flicking the tune and load grid.
9- 2750 on my plate voltage meter not the standerd
2600v.
10- Still built like a tank excellent craftman- ship quality parts Puts out 2500 watts on my bird meter and 3000 watts on PEP.
The Commander amp is back and with the NEW MAGNUM 2500 soon to come watch out it might just blow your socks off.
Please check the new website from COMMAND TECHNOLGIES it is looking nice and it was about time thank you much Pat you are the champ of the amps and i love my New Commander 2500 73's.
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N4JBK
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 22, 2004 21:44
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Tough as they get
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is the 2500hp version, it was delivered as promised. The amp went together easily and is built like a tank. This thing idles at 1500 watts and will put 3500 watts into my coaxial dynamics meter anytime I ask it to. The relay and the fan are a little loud ( I dont know why a kilovac or jennings relay isnt an option). I like the amp so well I bought its six meter brother to keep it company.
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