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Reviews For: RFPower HVLA700M

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - HF & HF+6M

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Review Summary For : RFPower HVLA700M
Reviews: 13MSRP: 2,000
Description:
Solid state HF and 50 MHz linear amplifier running 600 Watt Power Output.
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25134.7
IZ3KVD Rating: 2012-01-17
Highly recommended Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is my second RFPOWER amplifier. I am driving it with a IC765PRO, 50 watts input gives more 600 watts output on 20 meter.
I did not observe any rf-noise attributable to the switch-mode power supply unit.
It is very simple to use,well protected,well designed and cooled.
I think it is very well made for the price.
All electrical cables inside are specific for high temperature and chemical plants applications !!!
Finally,a five year warranty is impressive.
Highly recommended.
73 de Giorgio
IK4AKC Rating: 2011-12-31
GREAT AMPS !!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
50 watts input give me over 600 watts.On 10 meter,over 550 watts.

It is very accurate in terms of ALC operating parameter.

All protection circuits works very well.

The fan is quiet when operating and the amps cooling system works great.

RFpower service is excellent in my experience,always willing to help and answer to all my questions.

GREAT AMPS !!!!

73
PA1HR Rating: 2011-12-24
Never again! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought 2 (two) of those linear amplifiers; one for myself and one for a good hamradio friend.

First the positive things about this linear amplifier:

- The look of the frontpanel is very nice
- The output is within the specs (650W)
- The IMD-3 is within the specs (-30dB)

Then the negatives:

- It took almost one month between paying and receiving the HVLA700M linears amplifiers.

- The operating manual does not have schematics nor it has some figures or photos to explain the text. I find it difficult to read. I think that RFPower has translated the Italian text into the English language with Google Translate or such. For example: "do not absolutely operate on the switch", or: "to turn off the amplifier is sufficient to operate again on the switch placed on the back". (...)

- The ON/OFF switch is situated at the rear panel of the linear amplifier; IMHO this is very clumsy.

- The two wires between the output of the switched power supply and the PA-board IMHO are too thin. Calculate: 650W output is about 1300W input, devided by 56 Volt is 23 Ampère. I would not use AWG14 (which is used in this linear amplifier), but AWG10 wire. Running 23 Ampère through AWG14 could get warm/hot and melt...

- Wires for grounding should be green/yellow and not black like in this linear amplifier.

- The noise of the TX/RX-relay is very present. I do a lot of full-QSK CW and the noise of the TX/RX-relay I find most annoying!

- The noise of the ventilator(s) IMHO is really terrible! And not only this is MHO, but it also is the opinion of others. Why no quiet fan?

- The speed of the ventilator is very high, even if you don't operate the linear amplifer but just switching it on. Why no fan control?

- I told this to RFPower and I asked for a correct solution to decrease the noise of the ventilator(s), for both the linear amplifiers which I bought and paid for. He answered that the problem does not exist and that my request is a 'lament'. We were shocked by this reaction! I asked him to *help* us and he replied ok, but we have to pay 400 Euro (about 525 USD) per linear amplifier, plus shipping to and from Italy. Paying about 1300 USD to replace (or modify) the fan of two linear amplifiers...??? He kept on saying that the problem does not exist and I was the first with a 'lament'.

- How much faith can we have in the five years guarantee of RFPower? We are very afraid; not much.

We felt very poorly treated, in a very arrogant way, without any respect and if we are some stupid fools. The least thing to do, is to help customers who bought 2 (two) of those HVLA700 having a problem and spent more than 3,500 USD.

Sorry to say, but it is our advise to stay far away from this linear amplifier, unless you have bad ears and like it to be mistreated. This is the way how we feel about it. Never again!