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Reviews For: Heathkit SB 230

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

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Review Summary For : Heathkit SB 230
Reviews: 16MSRP: 349.95
Description:
600 Watt Amp with one 8873 Tube ( no Blower ! )
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00164.8
W4KVJ Rating: 2022-06-10
Unbeatable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned this beauty since I built it in 1978. Only used it for a short period until I got access to 230vac power in 1986. Worked beautifully for six years until I had to eliminate my high power antennas. Fired it up again a year ago and it still worked like a charm. Quiet and clean, easy to tune.
If anyone is interested in obtaining mine, I can no longer use an amplifier in my rental housing, so it is available to a new home for the cost of shipping.
KC8HXO Rating: 2022-02-25
Great IF the tube lives! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Another quick note about this little sleeper. Get in, and clip out that resistor network that is in parallel with the tube input. My EESDR 20 watt rig now drives it to over 300 watts out. Input SWR is now about 2:1 . No worries. Still great!
2021 Update: Sold my first, now have another. Just as nice this time around. These are resistor-pad input designs, so are a GREAT match to a modern radio, EXCEPT that keying line.... it will need a buffer. Great amplifier!

My experience with the SB-230 was all positive. Never gave a lick of problem, and ran about 600-700W key down! Neat Convection cooled design eliminated the fan altogether. ONLY reason it is a 4 , is the near impossibility of finding the 8873 tube, should it ever fail. I got scared, and sold mine... I bet it's still running!!!
IK2CNC Rating: 2019-09-09
Good beast Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have it from a while and was destined to be used with Military man pack (typically 20W PeP) and the power out was in the range of 450-500 W PeP. So perfect for this job. When I bought the original amplifier for man pack, I was trying to sell but anybody was willing to take the risk of the rare 8873 Eimac, so I decided to keep in my hands the nice machine and I was lucky to find a 8873 for spare!!

Carlo IK2CNC
ZS6DJD Rating: 2018-01-05
Wow still going strong 6 years later Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi guys I decided to review this linear again. I just had too. The last time my 230 had a developed an intermittent problem with no transmission on some occasions after about 8 years of use. I thought the valve was finished, but after a trip to two doctors the problem was a faulty relay. After that was fixed she worked again. Now six years later she is still going with the original valve. 400 out on all bands 20 to 10 but I only use her sometimes as I have other linears heath kit Sb 200 yaesu 2100 B and NEC cq 301 l kw linear. I also fitted three extractor fans to get rid of heat help cool the linear
VA1DER Rating: 2016-11-12
Beautiful engineering Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This amplifier is a recent acquisition for me - a surprise gift from a friend who wanted me to have the last piece to complete my SB-104A set. While I was shocked and very grateful, I actually had somewhat mixed feelings at first since I already have a (much beloved) Heathkit SB-200. My first real project as an amateur was to refit that with a custom built power board that solidified the HV rail enough to give it a solid 800 watts output. It was going to be a bit of a tough sell to get me to feel for the SB-230 the way I do about me SB-200. But boy did it, and how.

First of all, what a fantastic design. The resistor network on input is a great, elegant design. And that conduction cooled 8873. I had seen pictures of the SB-230 internals before, but opening up mine I was struck by how small that tube really is. How did we let that little gem ever go away? It gives a fantastic, solid-state feel to the whole thing. Lastly, though it's a small thing, I like exciter setting that lets me keep the unit powered up easily switch it out when I don't want the power. The beryllium oxide thermal conductor is much maligned, but in ceramic form it is exceedingly safe. Safe enough that in ceramic form it's not considered hazardous waste. You'd have to crack it, then purposefully grind the two halves together to generate fine dust before it would be toxic.

Second of all, performance. All I have to compare it to is my SB-200, but it compares very well. As mentioned, my SB-200 nets me a 800 watts with its improved power supply board. I was surprised when the SB-230 measured in at a good 900 watts with its original power supply. Linearity is very good as measured on my trapezoid scope. Key down time is less, but I'm not using it for CW so that's not really an issue. The silent running is quit a bit nicer than I had originally thought. Kind of like heated seats - seems like an unnecessary extravagance until the first time you try it.

All in all, I have to say I'm right impressed. I intend to use it until the 8873 gives up and then revert back to my SB-200 until I can refit it with a Russian tube. I have already planned my conversion to use a GS-90B instead of a GI-7B. The GS-90B is designed for linear amplifiers, and is conduction cooled. No way I'm giving up the wonderful solid-state-like fanless operation. Meanwhile, I have the incredible gift of an SB-230 with a working 8873.
YV3EDO Rating: 2013-02-14
Superb! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this piece of collection 2 years ago... I was full of dust. I cleaned up completely.
When power up, It did glow nice red color in meter.
I tuned on 40mts and it put nice 650 Watts with only 90W coming out from my TS-450S.
Pros :
- No blower noise
- Nice design
- Not heavy
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Lack of production of 8873 tube
- BeO is very poinsonous

Highly recomended if you find one with tube working.
K5LXY Rating: 2012-09-14
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought one 2 years ago for $400 and have had a blast with this amp. Has the original tube and if it lasts another 2 years will feel it was money well spent. Love how it won't XMT unless it's warmed up. Love how it requires little tuning, just rotate the dials to band selection and you are just a tweak away from resonance. Love how it produces NO noise. 500 solid watts running on a dedicated 120 VAC circuit has allowed me to bust many pile ups. As a Ham always looking for something better, but for the price I paid and the signal/audio reports I get why bother?
N4JHY Rating: 2012-08-24
COOL 750 WATT AMP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Two years ago I purchased a nice condition SB230 with a known dud output tube with the intent to do a GI7b conversion.
I looked at all the conversion as seen on the web, and went with my own design, taking some from each. The project turned out to be more than I bargained for, but I pressed on and am very happy with the amplifier.
Working with the meter/function switch was a bit of a bear. I actually removed it and pre-harnessed it prior to re-installing it.
I also etched my own circuit boards for the power supply caps and the meter shunts/soft key circuits and sandwiched them to keep things compact.
With 100 watts PEP drive I see 700 watts on 75, 750+ watts on 40,20,and 15, and 600 on 10.
All this with a $20 tube, the GI7b. I usually use 80 watts to drive this amp and see 600 watts PEP out on 75 and 40 where I primarily use this amp.
I run it on 120 VAC, and it runs cool and stable.
I run the SB230 when I don't need power of my Alpha 76PA or heat of my Drake L-4b.
Looks nice too! Made in America, by an American!!
VK4VDX Rating: 2011-08-24
Collectors piece!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This amplifier has got my respect, after all this time, 30+ years and still the original 8873 tube. I did buy the Amplifier from a technician with new caps installed, over 3 years ago with 6 month warranty. This is a Collectors piece but more relayable than some of the newer Amplifiers out there, but remember "you have to use it before you lose it" and even if you just turn the power on.
If you have a SB-230 for sale I would be interested !!!!!
PA3GOS Rating: 2008-04-04
Super amp! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own my SB-230 for over a year now. It came to me by plane in a suitcase which was in the baggage compartment. The tube was not removed.

I am extremely satisfied with it's performance. Did a few mods. Replaced the filter caps, some other ceramic caps, I also replaced the grid-bypass caps by high-voltage ceramic caps.

Doing this I removed the tube as well to clean the gridstrap, no problem at all after 30 years or more. Still the original tube too. A very important safety precaution is a glitch resistor to prevent the tube from damage (limiting current) if an internal arc might occur.

I also changed the ten meter tap on the coil one winding and a half (more induction) now I get close to 800 Watts PEP on all bands. This was measured with an Array Solutions Power Master.

I (unfortunately) don't own one myself but my own meter (also with homemade, not a kit, true PEP monitor) is calibrated with that Array Solutions Power Master too now.

In the future I will convert my SB-230 to a GI7B tube. Already have the parts at hand. I am a bit reluctant to do so because the present tube perfoms very well.

Overall a great looking amplifier performing as it should. It helps me getting good reports and keeps the time I need to bust a pile up short. Usually one call. And no, my antenna is just a tribander at 7 meters over ground. (Time for a tower and an Optibeam....)

If you can get one with a good tube or know how to convert: go for it if you don't need 1500 to 3500 Watts. I thank my good friend for bringing me this gift.