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Reviews For: Beko HLV-1000 amplifier

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - 6M/VHF/UHF+

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Review Summary For : Beko HLV-1000 amplifier
Reviews: 16MSRP: £2100
Description:
2m LDMOS 1000w amplifier with integral mains power supply
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.beko-elektronik.de/index.php?do=hlv1000
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.5164.9
W7UV Rating: 2015-09-27
Solid High Quality Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered my amp through Gerry at SSB. There currently is about a 5 week backlog in Germany from when you order your amp. It is definitely worth waiting for! The Shipping from Germany was via DHL, the packaging was excellent, and from my front door to 1kW of 2 M RF took about 20 minutes (your mileage may vary). The quality of the construction is excellent, and it is a fine looking addition to the shack. About the only improvement that could be made to the unit would be an ALC output to protect overdrive. That being said, the amp has EXCELLENT protection from overdrive, High Temperature and VSWR. It is very fast acting. I went from a local 2 M SSB group to a Meteor Scatter Sked without remembering to drop the drive... The amp immediately shut down the second the first syllable came out of my mouth... I immediately knew what happened when the overdrive lamp lit. Drive for full output is factory configurable on order. I drive mine with a IC-9100 so I elected for 25 Watts. My understanding that any level from 20 to 50 watts can be selected.

This is my first purchase from Gerry at SSB Electronic USA and it won't be my last. Gerry is super on returning emails, is honest with delivery date promises and overall provides a degree of customer service nearly impossible to find these days. Gerry is a lot like me, I want the best stuff in my shack, and I'm willing to pay a little more to get it. The HLV-1000 does carry a decent sized price tag, but there are other less refined commercial amps with price savings of only a couple hundred dollars.

Having been an active ham for over 40 years I know quality when I see it, and this is it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
WA3JWP Rating: 2015-08-24
Great Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my HLV-1000 from Gerry at SSB Electronic USA about 3 weeks ago. He is the factory authorized sales and service center for Beko Amplifiers in the US.
Like other reviewers, I am totally impressed with this amplifier.

The amplifier is light weight (22 Lbs.) and is a solid piece of German Engineering. Press the power button and you are instantly on the air. Unlike some other amplifiers on the market, the power supply is built in.

I took it out of the box, wired up a 220 VAC plug to the AC line cord that was provided, connected the PTT line (requires a ground on transmit) to my transceiver, attached my coax lines and a half hour later I was on the air.

Another nice feature is the built in sequencer. A front panel preamp switch will provide a sequenced voltage on the coax for mast mounted preamps or a sequenced 13.8 VDC is also available on the back of the amplifier for preamps that can’t take voltage via the coax. In addition, a second sequence step is also provided to key other equipment.

Gerry told me that Beko will introduce 2 kW+ SSB/CW/WSJT rated mast mounted preamplifiers for 2 and 70 cm’s at the end of Sept. 2015 that can be powered via the coax from their amplifiers or by a separate 13.8 VDC feed. Beko and SSB Electronic USA both provide outstanding support and are the way to go!

KB7ME Rating: 2015-08-13
222 Mhz Version. Power Plus Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have the 222 Mhz version, purchased from Array Solutions. Have owned it approx 2 years. Use it regularly for WSJT meteor scatter and long distance tropo. Had trouble at first interfacing the amp with
my Yaesu FT-736r. Problem solved using the amp's Aux jack and a foot switch, amp has performed flawlessly since, at outputs to 1kw.

This unit is lightweight and the PS built in. Makes it nice for portable operation. The communication and support from Array Solutions and
the factory has been top notch.
9A2YO Rating: 2015-07-11
High power reliable amplifier Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Last year during July contest our old Dressler amplifier died in spite of additional cooling so we (9A0V contest team) feared 36C and high air humidity this year when used our new BEKO for the first time under such conditions. Amplifier performed full power 24 hours and no extra heating was noticed.
Great amplifier !
W8BYA Rating: 2015-06-24
This SSPA Gets an A+ in my book ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I realize I have only owned my Beko for a short period but I must say, for those trying to decide on a high-power, high-quality SSPA to purchase, the Beko is the way to go.

I have been using mine for many 2-3 hour periods for FSK441 (MS) and JT65 EME work and the PA has performed flawlessly ! Even at full power the exhaust fan air temp is JUST noticeably warmer than the ambient temperature in the shack....most impressive.

I run mine off 220 VAC and the total time from delivery time to on-the-air was about 45 minutes. The manual is a little thin and I would have liked to have seen a schematic (just in case years down the road I need to service this on my own), but other than that I give Bernie and this SSPA the highest marks possible !

Buy one and you will not regret it IMO.
G4TRA Rating: 2014-09-18
German engineered power house Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After using BNOS SS amplifiers for years, this 1000 watt state of the art LDMOS amplifier produces the UK max legal output easily. Instant start, no lethal voltages and a choice of input powers makes this amp a natural choice for MS and EME. With my limited antenna (11 element Tonna) MS QSOs can take a little longer and at 400 watt output and 100% duty cycle with FSK441 I can bring up the over temperature cut out some times. However the inbuilt LNA sequencer is very useful for managing the mast head pre-amps and this amp is capable of over 1000 watts output in a very linear fashion. Do watch the input signal though, over driving the exciter can result in the amplifier tripping out on change over from transmit to receive. I am told it will protect itself with up to 150 watts of overdrive if you are stupid enough to try it.
It's quite a big amp, dictated by the large internal SMPSU, but this is offset by its low weight: 10Kg