|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
You can
write your own review of the Ameritron ALS-500M.
|
WD0FIA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 8, 2012 12:35
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
No complaints!
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I must have gotten lucky, I own two with no problems. My first one has over 2 years of daily use in our 2005 Cavalier. My commute is 84 miles, so it gets a few hours every week. I purchased it in February 2010 from Associated Radio for $739.
Plan on purchasing the ARB-704 $59.95 option which is a plug and play relay box and the needed cable for about $18, as you can not hard key a amp safely without a buffer relay.
I found that driving amp around 30-35 watts mobile is all that is needed to get almost 350 watts of output power . You can drive it to 55-60 watts but the difference in extra output is not there and the amp overdrive protection circuit will kick in .
I ordered a 2nd amp in July 2011, and have never had an issue with it either. I bought it for our Coachman motorhome, but I actually use it as a base for times I need it as NCS on USAF MARS.
|
|
WR0F
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 1, 2012 18:37
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
ALS 500M working perfectly now...
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Ok we got our ALS500M back from the factory and now it has worked perfectly for 1 month. They did find the issue inside the amplifier on the 2nd repair attempt.Relay inside amp was not making connection.
If you own a Icom 706 or 7000 plan on also purchasing the ARB-704I2 $59.95 option which is a plug and play relay box with the needed cable included as you can not hard key radio to amp without a buffer relay safely. Other radios might need the ARB-704 with seperate cable for your brand of radio. We did not have to use the included dc cord with our IC 7000's as the radio provided the voltage.
We found that driving amp around 30-35 watts mobile is all that is needed to get nice solid output power . You can drive it to 55-60 watts but the difference in extra output is not there and the amp overdrive protection circuit will kick in .
We did end up ordering that 2nd amp even with the issues we had for our 2nd car .
I might add that Ameritron would not extend my warranty from date of purchase to when I actually got a working model 50 days later as it was DOA from the beginning and a extra $40.00 in shipping cost .They wanted me to buy an extended warranty .
|
|
WR0F
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Dec 22, 2011 18:00
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Amp repaired ???
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Well we just got back our ALS-500M from Ameritron on 12-19-2011 .We purchased it new in Mid November 2011 and it was DOA with radio receiver being attenuated with amp in line on 3 known good setups.
I have not even tried to transmit yet.
Well after waiting 3+ weeks in repair it arrived and it still has the same exact issues. We have again shipped it back down on Dec 21st 2011 .We are now out $40.00 in shipping and the saga continues on a new amplifer .
I have now asked for a New Amplifier but I doubt that will happen .
|
|
WR0F
|
Rating: 1/5
|
Nov 20, 2011 11:14
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Bad right out of box
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
Well we ordered a ALS-500M with remote and received it on 11-17-2011 .
When the amplifier was put inline with my 2 mobile setups the amp shows High SWRs and attenuates the receive signals with it on or off. IC 7000 High Sierra 1800
Quality control issues all though inside it looks like it is nicely built I was hoping to have this installed before winter hits .
Hopefully it will not take long to get it back as we are sending it back to ameritron on 11/21/2011
I was planning on buying a 2nd one next spring but now I will wait to see how customer service solves the problem.
|
|
KH6TA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 30, 2011 00:44
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Solid amp, easy to use!
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
Bought this one (was used for 6 months) on "flea bay" w/10m installed. Fits in my setup well and has worked flawlessly since I first hooked it up. Used to have an 811H and just hated retuning all the time, but this one with an LDG AT-200 (just bought 600W model) runs at 250PEP with 15-20W drive from the IC-7600 on 10-80m. As with any amp, keep your ALC where it should be, and don't over drive it and you'll have no worries.
With my WA2NAN G5RV and 200-250W out, if I hear 'em, I can work 'em, Need proof? Check my QRZ logbook.
I love this little amp!
|
|
KB2OUA
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Dec 17, 2010 12:41
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
great performer ifused appropriately
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
Hi from KB2OUA I have had my als 500m for 3 years and have had no problems with it at all. I did tho get it brand new and right out of the box, it pulled 100 amps of current and gave me a whopping 2 watts out. I was devistated, BUT Mike at Ameritron took care of me and replaced a few parts and said to me "you will be satisfied with your amp " and when I got it back ...perfect I do a lot of longwinded key downs on ssb, do am, rtty, cw and the digis. no problems and when using a stiff power supply and as a base amplifier it is great no need for a big amp the first 600 watts does the trick.As for mobile if wired correctly and not skimped on connections and use a good antenna the 500m will work very nice. ssb at 15.6 volts driving by my ten tec corsair 2 at 55 watts into the dummy load (heath k can) using my ten tec 238b metering I see 700 750 pep on 40 75 . I would buy another one for a spare in a heartbeat. Thanks Mike and crew aat Ameritron! KB2OUA
|
|
K6RJP
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 28, 2010 10:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Good Bang for your Buck
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
I have two of these units, one is operated fixed/portable and one is used mobile. These are both built in 2010 so I assume they have all the factory fixes installed. Both units have the 10 meter board installed.
So far they have worked perfect, output is slightly over 500 watts on both. When running psk or rtty you have to use an external fan for anything exceeding 100 watts, run mine at 200 watts rtty w/fan. In the SSB mode, which is what this amp was really designed for, it runs as specified and does not need any extra cooling. There are better units out there but they cost more, sometimes a lot more. If you are looking for a basic 500 watt SSB amp this will work fine and the no tune feature is great in contests and mobile.
|
|
K4REB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jul 19, 2009 10:54
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
GREAT AMP
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have own this amp for close to 2 years,only problem I have had with it mobile is that it has to much power for my Tarheel Model 75 Screwdriver antenna.I have never had any problems what so ever with it.
I have used it on SSB, PSK, CW, and RTTY.
Used it at 400+ watts continuously for hours during contests at my base station.
I can't count the times it has saved me from my mistakes while switching bands during contests.
If you follow the instructions in the manual this amp should perform at 400+ watts 160-10 meters.
|
|
W3RXO
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Apr 13, 2009 20:07
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Worthless!!!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I bought mine last week, and waited a day and a half to open up the box it came in. When I did take it out of the box, as I was opening the protective plastic bag around it, I could hear something rattling around in the amplifier. As I opened up the bag, a small, galvanized screw fell out, yet something was still rattling inside the amplifier. I tilted the amplifier, and gently moved it around some, until another identical screw fell out. Something still sounded loose inside, so I wrapped it back up, called AES (the retailer) and told them what happened, and they told me to send it back for a refund. I was not going to chance trying to open it up and put the screws where they belonged. If their QC is that bad, I never want another piece of Ameritron equipment again. Next stop, an SGC Smart Cube. At least their reputation is far better than Ameritron.
|
|
ON7NW
|
Rating: 0/5
|
Jul 12, 2008 11:24
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Flawlessy ???
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
It's the most worstless linear ever met.
After one year the Amp blows his 4 transistors up,why after one year fine working ?
The repair time was 10 months,yes then months and cost me $300 !!!
After the repair and 4 qso's later again the load-fault comes on,coax on combiner board melted.Repaired by myself but again melted.
I have used this amp 1 year in RTTY contest.
This linear doesn't work in RTTY or DIGI-modes.
I repeat: THIS AMP WORKS NOT IN RTTY or DIGI-MODE!!! Also found several splashes of soldering and flux on all print boards.I send this amp not back for second repair it will costs me $1800 total.$1200 amp+$300 repair+next another $300 repair !!!When I can't repair it by myself and advisements of Ameritron I will dump the Amp to the scrapyard with a sledgehammer on the Amp.
The amp is ideal for CB 11m-band and 5niners,where it's belong.No one tells me the amp cannot be used in rtty/digi mode,not even in the brochure or manual,NOT a word of RTTY !
I have two HLA300V who works 2 and 3 years in ALL-modes and contest.One costs me 1/3 of the ALS500,and yes it's Italian and only 300Watts, BUT IT WORKS ALL THE TIME,and have automatic bandswitching.ALS-500 cu at the scrapyard in Hell !!!
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
