|
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
|
|
Show all reviews of the Tokyo Hy-Power HL2.5FX
|
|
You can write your own review
of the Tokyo Hy-Power HL2.5FX.
|
|
K3OYH
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Mar 26, 2008 19:58
|
Send this review to a friend!
|
|
Excellent legal limit solid state amp
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
TOKYO HY-POWER HL-2.5KFX HF Linear Amplifier Review by K3OYH
After reviewing the QEX Sep/Oct 2006 article “Get 1.5kW from a New RF MOSFET: A Legal Limit HF Linear, Tokyo Style” by Toshiaki Ohsawa, JE1BLI, and Nobuki Wakabayashi, JA1DJW; and announcement from HRO late last year, I figured this was just what I had been looking for that would be a good addition to the shack. With a size of a FT2000 minus 3” in width, it is a very compact unit that does indeed get you to legal limit and tracks the rig’s band changes. I had been using an AL-1500, SG-500 and ALS-500.
Since I was lucky enough to be the first in the country to receive the HL-2.5KFX (SN: 073002) after my purchase in mid September, followed by a long wait with delivery on January 30th, all I can say is the wait was well worth it! It is a nice fit for my FT-2000 & FT1000D and drives to full 1500W SSB PEP or CW output with less than 80W in on all but 10 meters where the output is slightly less. For long duty cycle modes such as RTTY they recommend reducing the drive by 30%.
The amp comes set for 240vac and includes band control cables for the ICOM CI-V, Yaesu and Kenwood RS-232C radios. Using the Yaesu cable with the FT1000D required a jumper between pin 8 & 3 which will be corrected in next production run. I designed a switch and cabling that allows switching the band control lines, ALC and buffered keying lines between the two rigs. I made full use of the ALC feedback to the rigs as it can easily exceed 2kW out if you accidentally drive it with more than 80W. Maximum drive is specified at 100W.
The T/R relays are spec’d at 3ms pick and 5ms release which works well with full break-in and VOX operation although they are a little noisy after using amps with PIN diode switches (that I installed).
It is well protected with many processor controlled sensing and protection functions as well as a variable speed fan control. You can barely hear the fan most of the time when using SSB. The front panel, containing 2 lighted analog meters and LCD status panel, keeps you well informed on operational status. SWR protection is set to trip at 1.8:1– so you need a well matched antenna or a tuner.
The proof-of-the-pudding is on the air operation. I have gotten good SSB audio reports on the bands with no signs of splatter, or output clipping at legal limit when monitored on my wattmeter, oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. Although the amp seems a bit pricy, it is a very well designed and packaged unit that I would recommend to anyone wanting legal limit transceiver functionality.
|
|
Product is in production.
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews
please email your Reviews Manager
|
|
|
