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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
WA4AYV Rating: 2005-12-08
A good dependable amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I built my sb-201 at leat twenty years ago. Absolutely no problem over the years. Recently I replaced the tubes, new caps from Harbach, now works like new.
K0IYA Rating: 2005-11-05
Parts beside Harbach? Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My new (old) SB200 is in great shape for $285. A previous owner added a standby switch. The ham I bought it from said I might want new tubes, so I have a pair of Taylors coming. The power is down to about 425 watts on 40m and 350 on 20m. A drop of about 50 watts since I got two months ago. I carefully tune (in FM) so I don't think I have did anything wrong. Hope it is just the tubes. I will find out next week. I use a ameritron arb 702 amp interface buffer for my Ts570. I would like to put a new power supply in and fan or atleast have them here if needed, but Harbach is not taking any orders. Does anyone know of someone else that has parts for the amp? Also has anyone noticed the sb200 swr meter show a vast different in standby than operate? (Exciter only). I use the 570's ant tuner to match the amp. I have a Mfj 3kw roller tuner last in line but only use it in bybass for the meters. My beams are flat. It operates fine on 17 meters haven't tried 12m yet. Any suggestions on mods or parts would be appreciated. This is my first adventure with an older Amp.I have the orignal manual dated July 1969.
K6XN Rating: 2004-11-01
OUTSTANDING AMPLIFIER Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have two SB-200 amplifiers. I built my first SB-200 in 1965 and it has performed flawlessly over the years...I still have it and it is still in active use! I have taken it on 9 DX-Peditions over the years including 8P6, VP2M, VP9, KH6, V2A, 9V, DL, F, VK3, and it has been used as a primary and as a back up amplifier in many contests. It still has its original tubes in it and it still puts out 600 watts +/-. Although my primary amplifier these days at my home QTH in Saratoga, California, is an old Alpha 77SX I still use my first SB 200 amplifier in the Sierras at our summer QTH. I bought my second SB-200 six years ago used for $100 with a blown power supply. I replaced the capacitors and diodes etc in the power supply with a replacement from Harbach Electronics and added a soft keying modification and it too works flawlessly and is currently serving as a a backup in Saratoga for my Alpha 77SX. I think these are *great* little amplifiers and currently great price performers!
PA0FRI Rating: 2004-10-14
Improved Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchaded a SB-200 and it is a good value. All quality transmitter parts. The antenna switching relay is 120 VDC and an interface is needed for moderrn rigs. I did not the Harbach mods but my own designed modifications to improve input SWR, parasitic suppressors, raised anode voltage, direct grounding of the grids, positive bias for the filaments/cathode,160 m mod and low voltage switching for modern transceivers. With 226 VAC (in NL 230 VAC) mains and used 572B's the key down output is 850 W on 80, 40, 20 17, 15 m, 750 W on 10 m and 725 W on 12m. This old war horse be good for the next decade!
http://home.planet.nl/~fhvgeerligs
WIRELESS Rating: 2004-09-10
Heathkit exception Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After building many kits by Heathkit, I have to rate HK stuff as total junk except for a few pieces and this amp is an exception. The amp is simple, was designed right to operate for decades and was dirt cheap. Anyone that bought one new and kept it running with new tubes probably got the best deal of all time. The amp puts out a reasonably clean signal, runs cool, and just keeps working.

Anyone that finds one in good shape and can live with 600 watts out, buy it for the cheapest watts you will ever find.
W6TH Rating: 2004-09-10
My First SB 200, Now My Second one Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my first SB 200 back in 1968 and in kit form was $220.00. The amplifier ran exactly 525 watts output. Sold the amplifier in 1998 with the original Cetron 572B tubes. Bought my second SB 200 about 2 1/2 years ago and is performing as well as the first one. 500 watts plus a low angle of radiation is all one needs to crack the pile-ups.

May long live the SB 200.

.: W6TH.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by W6TH on 2002-06-19

My error in reference to the AL800 and the AL800H. The comparison should have been the AL811 Three tubes and the AL811H four tubes.

Sorry about the mistake as just noticed it after all this time.
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Earlier 5-star review posted by W6TH on 2002-03-27

Purchased this on eBAY and lucky to get a good price. Fired amp up and ran input to output power check. I by-passed the pi-networks with my own 300 watt tuner. I was able to get a maximum of 600 + watts output with a drive of 50 watts on 80 meters. On other bands anywhere from 50 to 65 watts gave me full power output. I have been running this on long local qso's for hours at a time with no breakdown. Comparing this amp to the American AL 800 and the AL 800 H, the Heathkit SB 200 produces more power output and a longer lasting vacuum tubes. It will also tune the WARC bands by by-passing the input pi-net networks. I have run this amp with 110 Vac and 220 Vac and with equal camparison as to tuning and drive/output. Although Ameritron has good amplifiers, I decided to go for the lower price workhorse, the Heathkit SB 200
N3GOO Rating: 2004-08-03
Great Starter Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased one from the estate of a club member. Still get 500W on the original tubes. Nice first amplifier, will tune WARC bands and there is a plethora of tech information, mods and support available on the web. Also, it's really nice to work on a piece of electronics where you can actually see the parts, and even fix them if you want!
572B tubes readily available for less than $100 a pair, too.
Recommend you install the Harbach mods - soft start and replace the filter caps, plus the bigger fan and definitely the soft keying mod (the sb200 keys by taking approx 150VDC to ground, which is not compatible with modern exciters).
Overall a nice piece of equipment.
K7DUG Rating: 2004-02-16
Tough & Reliable 500 Watts Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This amplifier gets two thumbs up from me! Sometimes you need a little more signal and this amp fits the bill. The 572b tubes are very rugged and can withstand a fair amount of abuse. Slightly less output on 10 meters can be expected. The price can not be beat at around 300 USD. The Harbach mods are worth the extra money. This amp runs well on 110v but will do better on 220v. I run mine on 110v and have no problems. The lights do not dim much at all in the shack! The SB-200 is very easy to use and makes a great first amp. It will tune up on 17 and 12 also. You can work on this baby also which is rare in todays world of electronics.
PE2KW Rating: 2004-02-14
Excellent for its price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Used the SB 200 for about 2 years and for its price it's a solid rock which drives you trough DXing. Had about 500 Watts out for each bands with the original tubes.
KC8HXO Rating: 2003-07-17
Just a WORKHORSE!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
THE WORKHORSE of HF amplifiers, if there ever was one! I only sold mine because I found a deal on it's big brother!