Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Heathkit SB-200

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
N7SGM Rating: 2010-10-05
Great 1st AMP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is my very 1st HF AMP. I bought it from a gentleman who sold it for a club he was in. I had it shipped to me across the country with the tubes packaged separately. No issues from shipping.
I installed the Harbach Soft-Key and Soft-Start mods. These are two great mods and the service Jeff provides at Harbach is second to none! I still to need to replace the power supply card/components that Jeff offers.
I also researched many of the SB-200 mods online. From this research I performed the mods suggested by Robert Norgards, KL7FM and The Mule's SB-200 mods. I also replaced many of the resistors and capacitors due to their age.
This amp simply works great. I would not hesitate to buy another one. I also like the fact that it works on 80, 40, 20, 15,and 10 meters. In fact it will also work on 17 and 12 meters as well.
I use the amp with a Kenwood TS-450SAT with no more than 50-70 watts of drive. The antenna is a ground mounted Hustler 6-BTV with 20 radials, which when properly tuned, does not require the use of my onboard tuner.
The amp's output is about 400-650 watts depending on the band I am using.
I believe this amp deserves a solid 5/5 rating.

73
Bob
KC0SDV Rating: 2010-09-22
Great amp....works like new after not being used for 15+ years Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Got the SB 200 from the son of an SK in an estate sale. He was the original owner and his son said he remembers his dad spending hours in the shack building it and using it for a few years before becoming ill. The amp sat unused for at least 15 years.

I asked 2 Elmers to look over it....they found nothing wrong with it and both were very impressed with how clean it is and the quality of the work. Even though the original tubes seemed OK we replaced the 572B tubes with new ones and it now puts out about 600 watts on 40 meters and about 500 on 10 meters. Have not used it on 20 meters as I don't have a tuner that will handle the power and the 5BTV antenna needs tuning on the 20 meter section.

I consider myself lucky to have found this great old piece of equipment still in excellent shape.

Future mods include the Harbach kits, as I am currently using a homemade switch to key the relay before transmitting.

73

Cliff
kc0sdv
N1MIW Rating: 2010-06-29
A great amplifier to own! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If you're looking for your first amp, the Heathkit SB-200 would be a fine choice. It's easy to work on if needed since it was a kit design, it won't take up much desktop space, and operating it is pretty straight-forward. Expect around 600 watts output with 70 watts input when using the newer Chinese/Taylor tubes, but if you can find a set of NOS Cetron 572B/T160L's (what the amp was designed to use), you could squeeze another 100 watts out with the same 70 watt drive. I tried the Cetron's with the full 100 watts from my FT-847 and saw 875 watts! 100 watts drive is not recommended for the amp for fear of burning something up in the input circuit, but proves to me that the quality of the Cetrons are FAR superior to "modern" tubes. I will actually drive my amp with about 50 watts - and make the contact.

If you're looking to buy, don't forget to ask about what the meter reads when the multi-function switch is set to HV - it should be around 2400 Volts (yes, this amp will kill!). If it reads low, the caps in the PS will need to be upgraded and/or some metering resistors are out of tolerance and need to go. But at least you know the main power transformer is functioning. Upgrade kits can be found on the web which would be recommended due to most components being 30+ years old now. Anyone can upgrade this amp due to its simplicity - just use common sense around the HV.

Would I buy another? YOU BET! In fact, I did - it was a hacked CB conversion I got for cheap. I plan on putting it on 6 meters. As far as price goes, if it's been completely rebuilt with a new PS and protection circuits installed, today's market is about $400 - $450. If it's completely original, I wouldn't pay more than $325. Upgrades could cost over $100, and for another ~$200 more you can get the SB-220 which can give you close to legal limit!
WA7OHK Rating: 2010-04-05
Inexpensive Workhorse! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Picked this amp up from a friend a couple of months ago. Everything is stock, including the original Centron tubes. I am driving the SB-200 with a Yaesu FT-950, and using an Ampkeyer for the relay. The amp will consistently run 500 watts PEP with about 60 watts of input power. It will easily peak at 700 to 800 watts with 100 watts of input, and the amp seems to be barely chugging along, well within the max grid current parameters. I am also tuning it with an Autek WM-1 SWR\wattmeter, and I can generally hit resonance in a couple of seconds. 10 meters is a little sensitive, however. I will eventually consider the many Harbach mods, but right now; if it ain't broke, I am not going to fix it. Nothing but excellent signal reports with this beast, and no harmonics!
9V1JP Rating: 2009-11-23
What an Amp! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought mine used from eBay. Put in all Harbach mods (power supply, softstart and softkey), a black front panel and spray painted the chasis black. Also painted all screws black. Apart from the metering selector switch (some function such as grid, power/reflected power and HV does not work at the moment) it works perfectly. Eversince I powered up the black beast, I have been able to increase my DX contact with minimal effort, pumping it to the MFJ 12 foot telescopic whip with MFJ1644 whip tuner with virtual ground (burnt a few components in the process and uprated them!). Am in the process of designing a better switching method using simple selector switch and relays for the metering circuit.
The amplifier now sits very nicely with my ICOM IC756ProIII and SP23 comm speaker. This combination makes me a very happy Ham.
KC8WH Rating: 2009-09-17
The only amp I've ever owned Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got mine in 1982 (used) and just replaced the tubes for the second time. Never had a problem with this amp. I've paired it with my Drake TR-4, Drake T4X, Kenwood TS 530S and now my Icom IC-718. I've worked the world with this amp. If I can't make the contact with this amp then I don't need to make the contact. I think about upgrading from time to time but talk myself out of it. It puts out enough power, is easy to tune and is reliable. What more could I want?
N2NXZ Rating: 2009-09-14
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I spotted my SB200 peaking over the top of a dumpster.Took it home where it sat for 5 or 6 years.Now a general class license holder,decided to fire it up after cleaning it up inside and out.Works great and getting great reports.The amp has all of the original components.Not bad for a FREE amp!
Jim,N2NXZ
KG4KZG Rating: 2009-09-07
Bullet Proof Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked it up in 1977 and it sat in a closet until 2000 when it saw its first use by me. Has worked great and trouble free. There was a problem with the contact on 10 meter bandswitch.
Changed out the contact and replaced the cap across the 10 meter input coil with the correct value. It was a slightly hacked CB'ers amp.
For nine years its been dependable, just replaced the 4.7 meg metering string now it reads the HV. Just a super amp and a real work horse.
EI5GJB Rating: 2009-08-14
a gift Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
this amp was given to me by my uncle tim EI3GN a few months ago. and is working fb. i put in new capacitors new wiring all carbon composit resistors and a new fan from harbach which is just excellent it runs very cool now. the output
power is about 600w which is more than enough for me, audio reports are very clean with this amp. its here to stay and it is part of the shack
now. there is nothing owed on it but the generosity my uncle showed when he passed it on to me. thanks tim and very 73s to all god bless.
WB4TJH Rating: 2009-06-23
Great as it always was Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just picked up a mint SB201 from the estate of a silent key, and after a thorough check out, I am happy to say it's working like a champ. I had one of these amps (SB200) about 30 or more years ago, and I always kicked myself for letting it go years ago. I have had several other amps over the years, but this is the first HF amp I have had in the past 10 years. My SB201 is a solid 9 on a scale of 1-10, both cosmetically and electrically, and loafs along at 500 watts output. I just don't think that for a basic 600 watt HF amplifier, it can't be beat. I'm also a fan of the Amertron 811A amps, and that or the SB200 series is a good investment. That first 500 to 600 watts out makes a HUGE difference on the receive end. It gets your signal over the noise levels, and with the bands in such poor shape these days, you need all the help you can get. I am now able to chat with my friends thru the S9+ QRN on 75 and 40 meters. I still love my QRP CW, but for general, any time of day ragchewing, let's face it: sometimes you need a little power.