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Reviews For: Heathkit SB-200

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

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Review Summary For : Heathkit SB-200
Reviews: 83MSRP: Original Price $400
Description:
HF Amp using two 572B's, 80 - 10 meters
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
14834.9
4S7NS Rating: 2012-05-25
A GRAN OLD LADY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been using a SB 200 AMPLIFIER WITH THE HARBACH MODIFICATIONS REVAMPED AND IT IS A GEM.20M IS SO EASY ON THE LONG PATH TO THE EAST COAST FROM SRILANKA BEAMING OVER VK ZL ANTARTICA AND UP ALONG THE GREY LINE OFTEN, 57 REPORTS FROM THE EASTERN STATES USING 400 WATTS INTO A CUSHCRAFT, REPORTS SAY CRYSTAL CLEAR AUDIO. ITS SO EASY TO TUNE THE SB200 IS AMONG THE FINEST I ITS CLASS
K3IT Rating: 2012-03-11
worth three times its price Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm very happy to add a few more dBs after making about 6k QSOs on a bare rig. There is a lot of information about this amp and replacement parts are easy to find. Mine had a few "worn-out" (lower capacitance) silver mica caps. This is a common issue, easily fixed.

here are some skimmer reports with sb-200 (17) and a bare rig (15). Notice the change in "perceived" dBs (the true gain is less than 10dB, probably 7 or so)

V51YJ K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 8 dB 28 wpm 0336z 11 Mar
V51YJ K3IT 7017.0 CQ [LoTW] 15 dB 30 wpm 0328z 11 Mar

S50ARX K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 9 dB 31 wpm 0336z 11 Mar
S50ARX K3IT 7017.0 CQ [LoTW] 20 dB 30 wpm 0327z 11 Mar
S50ARX K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 9 dB 30 wpm 0326z 11 Mar

EI6IZ K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 3 dB 27 wpm 0336z 11 Mar
EI6IZ K3IT 7017.0 CQ [LoTW] 11 dB 30 wpm 0328z 11 Mar

EA4TX K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 10 dB 30 wpm 0336z 11 Mar
EA4TX K3IT 7017.0 CQ [LoTW] 18 dB 30 wpm 0327z 11 Mar
EA4TX K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 13 dB 30 wpm 0326z 11 Mar

N7TR K3IT 7015.4 CQ [LoTW] 8 dB 28 wpm 0334z 11 Mar
N7TR K3IT 7017.0 CQ [LoTW] 18 dB 30 wpm 0327z 11 Mar
ZS6DJD Rating: 2012-02-27
Fine old lady works well. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

A fine old Lady. The best they ever made. A linear amplifier is just supposed to increase your signal and dose not really affect your modulation.But after working lots of stations on the H.F. bands I came to the conclusion that those using a S.B.200 had the sweetest modulation I ever heard with any linear, so after my S.B. 230 had problems with the valve I bought a S.B. 200 which became available.Amp works great very well tunes quit easy. So now I have my 400 watts again. what more can I say. dose not really do Warc bands.
VA3OL Rating: 2011-11-11
great bargain Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought an SB-200 about 5 months ago and I provide one warning to new comers to Ham Radio and a solid endorsement for an updated SB-200. This amp is easy to tune up and will give near full output with 50 watts input and is still happy with 100 watts input with slightly higher output. I run it with 50 watts in and about 500 watts out.

The warning is: make sure it has the Harbach mod's. Modern rigs will not be happy keying it in stock form. My unit came with all of the Harbach mods so I did pay more then I see them going for on Ebay. But I have an updated unit and the price was still half the cost of a new 600 watt amplifier. I see many people have added a standby switch to the front panel. I am not sure why they would do that since it is 'instant' on and ready to go without listening to the fan when it is not on line.
W4WEA Rating: 2011-09-20
Rugged amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The SB-200 ... the amp I cut my teeth on learning on what NOT to do with an amp. Took that abuse and still going strong. Around 600W out with one original and one RF parts tube. If this is the range your looking for, and its in good shape you just about can not go wrong with this amp.
KC9MEU Rating: 2011-08-08
OUTSTANDING!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
When it comes to the "New" vs. "Old" with much of the Ham equipment this Amp holds it's own. I obtained one before I even had my license and didn't really know that much about them. I held on to it for several years until I got my ticket and then read up on them. After replacing the caps and putting in the soft start kit and replacing the green front plate with the black faced one and painting the body black also, I now have a beautiful workhorse Amp that easily puts out 600 watts. Heathkit along with the other manufacturers of the 60's made equipment that I doubt will ever be surpassed even as technology advances.
WW8X Rating: 2011-05-15
Great Classic Amplifier Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I love my SB-200. I bought it used at a hamfest and it came with a new Harbach Power Supply upgrade kit ready to be installed. It still has the original 572B finals and puts out 650 watts of RF with about 80 Watts drive. If you're looking to increase your output signal without spending a fortune...get an SB-200 if you're lucky to find one in nice condition. I get 15 to 20+ db signal reports all the time and constantly told what a great sounding signal I have. Parts and modifications are available from Harbach if needed, which is a plus if some problem ever does arise.
LA2RRA Rating: 2011-04-11
Realy impress me Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Had this nice pa for 3 weeks nw and it works very well.
Tuning warc bans also with help from my int.tuner in my K3.(50w input apx 400w output)
Also 300w with 40w input on 5mhz band but have not tested with qso here...may not be good for output tank??
Pushing max 600w with hard drive 60w..i stay on 50w drive 500 out and sb-200 likes thath :-)

I realy look for one more.Pls tell me if you will sell me .

73 de Lars M LA2RRA
KE7SZC Rating: 2011-03-09
simplicity at it's finest! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This amplifier is simple in design, easily repaired, parts are not hard to find (thus far), I have the Harbach soft-key in mine, it's the only mod to date, I will consider the soft-start in time.

I have enjoyed this amplifier, and plan on having it for years to come, it's built to last, and very easy and intuitive to operate...
K6LO Rating: 2010-11-19
It's Green. It's Reliable. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received my SB-200 some 12 years ago as a "thank you" hand me down from the original builder. He ran it mobile in his various motor homes since the mid 60's. Same tubes. Same paper caps. In the last dozen years I have used it on 80 and 40 CW with my FT-102. Used a few times weekly. Five hundred out. Same tubes. Same paper caps. It's green. It's reliable. Somehow without all the whoop-dee-doo of step start, parasitic mystery oil, and any of "must do or she'll blow" circuit mods now scattering the internet, Heath managed to make a nice little value amp that is still running fine 40 plus years later on the original parts. If you find a nice one, buy it, treat it nice, and just leave the damned thing alone.