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Reviews For: TenTec Hercules II

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

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Review Summary For : TenTec Hercules II
Reviews: 33MSRP: 1395.00
Description:
Full QSK, 500W solid-state amplifier
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tentec.com/Amateur.htm
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00334.9
G7EIT Rating: 2004-04-23
A great amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have only had one for about 2 months but have done many hours work since. I can get about full power out at test but it will run cool at 300watts. I do get very good reports with it and I find it to be very stable.

A+ for the chunk of kit
KM1B Rating: 2004-03-03
Dynamic Trio - Too Easy!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have used this amplifier for about six months so far. It worked very well with no sweat at all. The fan is much quieter than other amps. This is my first solid-state amplifier and no-tune makes everything too easy. Full QSK is great, too.
Combined with Omni VI Plus and 253 auto tuner in an original Ten-Tec cabinet, it is like having a communication console capable to put honest 500W of output.
W1ZOO Rating: 2003-05-27
GREAT AMP ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used a Hercules II for many years now. Since 1963, I have used Heathkits, Amp Supply, Collins and other amps. While many were excellent amplifiers, I have yet to find one as easy to use and reliable as the Herc. It is conservatively rated at 500 watts output and performs daily without a complaint ! It has my vote as a winner !
W7IS Rating: 2003-02-11
collectors item Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned the Hercules II amp for several years. I bought it used from a ham who smoked. And never could get the smoke smell out of it no matter how well I cleaned it. But thats not the bad part. I used the amp on full break-in cw with antennas that were close to 1 to 1 swr. And I always took precaution to be sure it had a proper ant and low swr. After it blew the output transistors the 3rd time, it found a new owner. Its expensive to have ten tec replace the finals, very expensive.
When it was working properly it was great. But it broke the bank for me. I replace it with an Alpha 89.. the best amp ever made.
KD7EFQ Rating: 2002-10-06
Happiness is TenTec Herc II Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a used export model that is still 9+
condition, running it on a couple of heavy deep cycle 12v batteries and a charger. A Fantastic HF
amp. As an apt dweller, 500w is safely all I can
run and I get an honest/reliable 500w out. I wish
Ten Tec still made the remote cable for hooking
up my OMNI 6+ for remote bandswitching. If anyone
reading this has one to sell, Contact KD7EFQ@aol.
com. LOVE MY USA MADE TEN TEC'S!! Ten Tec should
bring it back!!! (No charger hum at all!)
VE6NU Rating: 2002-10-06
Great amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Proud owner of the Hercules II for many years. It is modern high tech simplicity solid state tech. You can switch this baby from 160 to 10 meters in a snap. Whisper quiet ssb operation. Even in key down, she keeps her cool, and you get your 500 watts no problem.
I am using the model 9420 power supply from Ten-Tec. 220v.
N8MIS Rating: 2002-03-23
Excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have revisted the Ten Tec Herc II. I forgot how nice and quite this amp is. I am currently using with my Icom 746. Too bad Ten Tec droped the line from production. I have made another Icom - Ten Tec II Logic Interface for myself. Allows the Herc II to auto band track the Icom line of rigs. I will if the interest is great build up a few others. You can email for information.
W6THW Rating: 2002-03-07
Great Solid State Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Hercules 11 runs 500 watts output with about
50 watts drive. I have been using it for about
1 month. Checked the output with a bird 43 watt meter and it puts out a good 500 watts all band
160 through 10 it takes a little more drive on
10 meters about 10 more watts. It will cover all
freq. 1.8 to 30 . The QSK useing a vacumn
relay is silent and i hardly know the fan is running. (very Quite) I love the no tune i hardly have to change the drive when changing bands. I have been useing a Corsair 11 to drive it but
it is a older model and will not switch the
Hercules 11 but from the book it looks like i
can make up a cable to do it. Need the Omni
to make everything compatable. You can still
get the final transistors for about $200 (4 of them)I cant think of any better amp in the 500
watt catagory . I read below on the power connector being cheap, havent had a bit of trouble with mine.
Mike
w6thw
VE1NN Rating: 2001-04-28
A great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased mine used, complete with it's TT9420 100 amp power supply. I drive it with an Icom 756. A dream to use, and very clean, no TVI problems even on the TV in the shack. Probably the "least sweat" way to push 500 watts into your antenna. I can't imagine replacing it. I do use an MFJ-986 roller inductor Differential-T Tuner, mostly on 40 and 80 to get rid of the 1.6:1 SWR...I know it's not neaded, but I have to have something to adjust!

I would like to hook up the automatic bandswitching with my IC-756, if anybody has a circuit for it?

David
ve1nn@rac.ca
W6LAR Rating: 2000-02-14
Herc II a fine performer in moble operations. Time Owned: unknown months.
After deciding to put together a moble station using a 706 MK II I wanted to also include some sort of amplifier. A few friends in the trucking industry were doing the same and had tried out a number of different units. So when one friend decided to sell one of his two Hercules II amps I could not pass it up. Its been a very good decision. My 706 and Herc are mounted remotely in an 87 Suburban. I have the remote heads for both on the center console and a remote wattmeter out of the Hercules. Power was run directly form the battery using #4 cable thru a 100 amp DC breaker at the battery end. The Antenna is a Bandhopper screwdriver. I usually run just the 706 by itself but fire up the Hercules if the conditions warrant. Just turn on the remote and select the band. Bingo, your out of the noise level on the other end. Would not trade it for anything.