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write your own review of the ICOM 2K.
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6Y5TR
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Rating: 5/5
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May 10, 2009 15:51
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VERY GOOD 500 WATTS
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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THIS IS A GREAT AMPLIFIER A SOLID PERFORMER IT WILL DO 500 WATTS ALL DAY LONG, ALWAYS CONNECT THE ALC LINE WHEN OPPERATING AS THIS WILL ENABLE THE PROCTION OF THE AMPLIFIER. I USED IT WITH A ICOM 775DX2 AND A YAESU FT 2000 WITH VERY GOOD RESULT. MY IC 2KL WILL DO 500 WATTS WITH 40 WATTS OF DRIVE ON ALL BAND MESURED WITH A BIRD 43, I NEVER DRIVE IT ABOVE 500 WATT. ICOM SHOULD START MAKING THESE AMPLIFIER AGAIN . 6Y5TR
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I2BGQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 15, 2008 02:23
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A real work horse
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have got one on the used market with the AT500 autotuner. It's the complementary tool for my Icom Pro III in dxing, a real plus in my shak.
I am very satisfied with my IC2KL in particular when I use it with my new SteppIR 3 elements antenna. I guess they will work together for many yars. So long.
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W9JH
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 12, 2008 08:36
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Still a Great Amp – Bang for the Buck!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I had a 2KL back in the 80’s shortly after they came out and regretfully sold it and the matching AT-500 about 10 years later. I now have another 2KL and it works great! Basically hands-free operation since it follows the Icom transceiver from band-to-band while easily providing 500-600 watts at reduced drive levels. I run mine off 120V with no problem.
I would rather run this power level vs. going to a full 1KW amp for only 3db gain and the additional cost and hassles involved regarding the need for 220V and potential TVI complaints. JMHO
If you want a smooth operating setup you won’t be disappointed with a 2KL & AT-500 combo. Or if you have resonant antennas just the 2KL will do the trick.
Jack
W9JH
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KC4EO
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 14, 2008 09:28
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Great
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After much thought about purchasing an amplifier for my Icom IC-746PRO, I decided to get something that would auto change and not have to be tuned for easy band switching. I found a like new IC-2KL amplifier and AT-500 tuner that had just been gone though by Burghardt Radio. I wanted something that was 120 volt supply and produce at least 500 watts of output, so this seemed to be the answer. The amp puts out about 550 watts with 70 watts drive on the radio. I have been very pleased with this equipment and would highly recommend this setup. If you have an IC-2KL, check out W2ENY website for cables that are no longer available and will make your connections to ICOM radios very simple
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N6BIZ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 5, 2007 21:24
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SLICK
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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picked the 2 kl and the at 500 real slick operation between the two SILENT operation push a button on the pro 2 a couple of blinks of the eyes and your set to go i hear these pieces are indestrutible and i bet u they are
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WH6OR
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 26, 2007 16:21
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Simply great
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I own two of these. One wired for 220; the other, for 110. Frankly, I can't detect much difference between the two output wise. Great signal reports are the norm while in use, with about a 1.5-2 S unit gain reported compared to barefoot. The units are very sensitive to ALC adjustment, and power out, of course, will vary with that setup. These things are bullet proof, coupled with the at500 antenna tuner, band switching and tuneup occur in seconds. A previous reviewer rhetorically questioned why Icom quit making these...I do too. I use it with a rather inefficient multi-band inverted-V ( at only 40' center point) on 10 thru 80 and never have a tune up issue. I drive it with an Icom 775DSP at about 45w. and see anywhere from 500-750w. output, depending on which band I'm on. Although you can use it with other brand rigs, you won't take advantage of the auto band switch function...to me, that's the beauty of it - and why you might consider something else with brands other than Icom. I also have an SGC Smartcube, Amp Supply 500ZA and QRO 2500dx (latter two legal limit)...and I use the IC-2KL more often than the other three put together. Enough said, I'll stop right there.
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KG2CQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 15, 2007 22:16
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Can't say enough
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This amplifier is unreal. It works great and I so far have never had a problem with it. I have the amp and matching power supply along with the AT-500. The IC-2KL was one of my best buys for this hobby. I run around 250 and everyone hears me. I don't even need to run 500 or 600watts. Great amp that is all I can say. Mark KG2CQ
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OE1SOW
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 29, 2006 08:38
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Great !
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Everything is said here at the reviews...
I enjoy using this solid state PA incl. tuner !
Have had a YAESU FL-2100Z but this tuning and tuning,...was getting boring !
Now it is stress-free ! hi...
I'm only missing an antenna switch...
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VA3UP
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2006 04:35
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Clean signal, dead reliable, and easy to use.
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Time owned: months
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I recently found one on the used market after a long search. Although it has a serial # around 1000, which I think is relatively old, it works to perfection with crisp 600 to 700 watt signals on all bands including 10m. My force 12 and wire dipoles are resonant on all bands so no tuner needed. Switching from band to band is automatic on my Pro so all I have to do is turn it on.
The fan is noisy if you put it on the desk near the mike. I put it on the floor beside the desk and that really solves the problem. Too bad thiy didn't put a 2 speed fan in originally, one to run silently all the time. You do get quite a few minutes of tx time before the fan kicks in but on a ragchew it runs all the time.
Why was this discontinued? Mine is probably over 15 years old and still perfect. I can't go back to tubes now.
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ZS5J
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 2, 2005 10:57
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Bring it back Icom
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Since the day I first got my licence in 1985 as a youngster, I wanted to own an Ic-2KL and IC-AT500 pair. But in those days I had just finished school and 2 years draft in the army, so I didn't have enough money to afford it. All I could afford at the time was a new IC-751 transceiver, and figured I would save up and buy the amp later. After 6 or 7 years of working and paying for a new car and house, I was finally in a position to afford one - but they had stopped production. So since 1993 I have been searching high and low for a pair in good condition. They were harder to find on the used market than hens teeth. Then last year I located one 600 miles from here. I left right away, anxious that someone else would beat me to it, and drove back right through the night.
I set it up at home using it with a TS-2000, an Icom IC-746, a Kenwood TS-850SAT, a Kenwood TS-870S, and a Yaesu FT-1000MKV field. It worked like a charm on all 5 radio's. I have 2 other HF amps here, the Kenwood TL-922 and Ameritron ALS-500. But they are now collecting dust. I use the IC-2KL and AT-500 as my primary amp and tuner with the TS-2000. As others have said, the only quirk is the noisy fan, but I plan on using an external fan, on low speed, to suck the heat out.
I will not sell this amp/tuner, never. I would like to add the Icom PW-1 to the shack, however.
I cannot understand why Icom stopped production of this gem - it would sell like hotcakes, even in todays market - 25 years after it was first introduced !!!!! It was wayyyy ahead of it's time when it first came out. Ps. I get 550 - 700 watts out on all bands. 16 reviews so far, and everyone gives it a "5", that figures.
73 John ZS5J
Richards Bay, South Africa
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