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Reviews For: Ameritron ALS-500-RC

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron ALS-500-RC
Reviews: 1MSRP: $49.95
Description:
The Ameritron ALS-500RC is a remote control head for the
Ameritron ALS-500M amplifier with serial number 13049 and
above. (For ALS-500M units with a serial number below 13049,
you can purchase the ARF-500K remote kit to modify your ALS-
500M to use the ALS-500RC) The ALS-500RC allows the
amplifier to be located away from the operating station and
still have access of the amplifiers front panel controls.
The ALS-500RC operates the amplifiers power switch and
frequency select switch. The ALS-500RC has LEDs to indicate
power, transmit and overload. It also has a current meter.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=ALS-500RC
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0014
AA1IK Rating: 2015-08-29
Update on my last review to 'Good' Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The ALS 500 RC is back in operation again. Apparently it is very sensitive to SWR. When the SWR is elevated, just a bit, the Amp will cut out. Shutting the ALS 500 RC off for a couple of seconds and then turning it back on resets the amp.

I noticed that the SWR changes a little bit while driving through town, not so much on a rural highway.

In order to get the lowest SWR possible for the given driving condition I use CW mode to send a steady signal out with the Amp off via the ALS RC. After the reflected power is noted as 'rock bottom', no needle movement at all on the SWR meter, I then turn the amp on and switch to SSB mode on the radio.

Adjusting the antenna ever so slightly, if the SWR is elevated after the amp is turned on insures the SWR is at 'Rock Bottom'! Sometimes it changes just a little, the difference between using 100 watts from the radio to tune the antenna and reading the SWR with the amp at 500 watts.

I called Ameritron for a fix. They said to adjust the pot on the PCB in the rear of the amp clockwise to reduce the SWR sensitivity. They said that using the RC unit increases SWR sensitivity of the amp.

I have not adjusted it yet, but pay very close attention to 'rock bottom' SWR with no needle movement in reflected power. If the AMP shuts down due to temporary elevated SWR, I'll adjust the pot as Ameritron suggested.

This has not been a problem since I'm paying very close attention to the SWR.