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Reviews For: Ameritron AL-82

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron AL-82
Reviews: 49MSRP: 3500. USD MSRP
Description:
1.5 KW Output Linear Amplifier w/ 2 3-500 Tubes on 240V for US
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=AL-82
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00494.8
W4DZO Rating: 2005-02-20
Very Solid Amp!!!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have always liked most of the ameritron amps and have run several different ameritron amps,I think ameritron products are priced fairly and you still get quit a bit of quailty with the ameritron product,I also run a al-1200 ameriton and the al-82 was just as impressive as the al-1200.I read a couple of reviews that the amp needed 130 watts of drive to acheive legal limit,that is not so with my al-82,at 130 watts drive my al-82 with the 3-500z amprex tubes will be 2kw out on bird 43.The al-82 is very easy to tune,heavy built transformer,3700 volt peterdahl.If you are picking between the al-1200 and the al-82,I belive I would go with the al-82,only because the 3-500z are reasonable to replace,you can get the rf parts 3-500z for about $139.00 each,which the 3cx1200a7 runs $800.00.
K3MD Rating: 2004-05-03
Instant on, Full-power Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had my AL-82 for 3 years. It runs a little better on RF Parts 3-500ZG's than on the original Eimac's. Will put out 1800W no problem, nicely with a little cooler tubes in the CW setting (higher bias voltage). Requires only 100W drive, as advertised. I like it better than the Commander HF-2500, Alpha 87A, and Ten-Tec Titain, all of which failed in contest service. The 87A was always shutting itself off. The plates of the 3-500ZG's run a little red, but not orange like the original 3-500Z's in my old SB-220.
Instant on, that is the best for a type-A individual! You are not going to miss that DX waiting for your filaments to warm up!
Yes, the blower is noisy, but speed is adjustable if you read the manual.
W4PIG Rating: 2004-02-19
GREAT AMP!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
THIS AMP WILL DO LEGAL LIMIT ALL DAY LONG WITH NO PROBLEM. I HAD A ALPHA 99 THAT AMP GAVE ME SO MUCH TVI PROBLEMS IT WAS UNREAL!!!!! FOR THE PRICE THE AMERTRION IS AS GOOD AS THE ALPHA NO PROBLEMS WITH TVI WITH THIS AMP. THIS IS MY OPINION THE ALPHA 99 IS A OVER PRICED AMP AND HAS NOTHING ON THE AL-82.
KT5T Rating: 2003-05-11
I was looking for a reasonability priced amp using the 3-500z t Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The amp. puts out 1800 watts without any problem. Amperex 3-500zg tubes are used. The people at Ameritron were very helpful. I got a super deal from my dealer on the amp. I think that this is the best amp. for the money that Ameritron makes. I picked up the amp. at the factory since I live within driving distance. The factory installed the tubes and transformer while I waited and I was able to bench test my amp. before I purchased it.
W2LEW Rating: 2003-01-19
I Love My Big Black Box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought mine slightly used. It arrived with a pair Amprex of 3-500ZG tubes. I could not believe the size of this monster. Yeah the blower is noisy but not excessivly so. It tunes up quickly and has power to spare. The front panel has that 40s look of a real radio instead of that glitzy look with lights and colored bargraphs. The 3-500s are cheap enough to be able to afford to keep a set spares around. I hope Ameritron keeps this one, it's too good to die. Long Live the Big Black Box
AA4XR Rating: 2003-01-04
Solid amp! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Probably the best box from Ameritron. I used the AL-82 for a number of years in all modes, including RTTY, and never had a problem. The price of replacing the 2 3-500z's is quite reasonable as well in todays market.
A very solid amp and a great buy on the used market.
KC2KU Rating: 2002-12-11
Great Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the AL-82 for about 6 years and works extremely well. With 90 watts drive, I can drive it over 1900 watts on 40 and 80. Into a dummy load of course! 10, 15 and 20 meters are all in excess of 1500 watts.
Easy to tune and a pleasure to use.
K9RT Rating: 2000-10-30
Great for the pileups!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I purchased my AL82 used and it was 6 years old. I liked it so much I bought a second unit that was 10 years old.
Both will do legal limit plus on 160 thru 40 meters with less than 70 watts drive. The higher bands need 80-90 watts to get the job done, but you can get there with a good pair of tubes.
The comment on the fan noise: the speed can be adjusted. I set mine on medium slow and it is not objectionable now. Just change one wire on the terminal strip.
Same chassis and super hypersil transformer used in the AL1200/AL1500 amps, but a lot more reasonably priced.
A real winner in my opinion
K4TBN Rating: 2000-10-05
Great value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this amp for seven years. It sat in storage for three years and the finals suffered from disuse. When I fired it up, a bad 3-500 took out the RF board. Ameritron was great getting the board replaced quickly and at low cost. I replaced the 3-500's and had to remove about 329,084,248,209 tiny screws to get the cabinet off. The AL82 takes about 130 watts drive to get a full 1500 out. The fan is a bit noisy, but not overly so.