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Reviews For: Acom 1200S

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

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Review Summary For : Acom 1200S
Reviews: 32MSRP: 3,749.99
Description:
ACOM 1200S Solid State HF + 6 Meter Amplifiers cover the amateur bands from 1.8 through 54MHz. They provide 1000W output power (PEP or continuous carrier) with less than 50W of drive. Their operating parameters are shown on a multi-function high-resolution color display.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.acom-bg.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
35324.2
K8HSY Rating: 2018-04-15
The Best Amp I've Ever Owned! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Here is my set-up: Kenwood TS-590sg drives the ACOM 1200s; only 30 watts drive from the 590sg is needed to get full output from the amp on all bands. I also use a Palstar HF-Auto automatic antenna tuner which keeps the SWR low to the amplifier. I use a W5GI Mystery Antenna on 80/75 throu 10 meters. The amp has performed perfectly for me with not even a hint of any problems. It is extremely solid, and very well built. I always place the ACOM 1200s in standby when I tune-up the TS-590sg and always tune using only 5 or 10 watts. The HF-Auto tunes for minimum SWR automatically, and when it is finished tuning, I switch the amp into operate. The amp tracks my transceiver whenever I switch bands. I have owned several amps over my 61 years of being a ham, including an Alpha, and without any doubt, this ACOM 1200s is the best amp I have ever owned and operated. I might add that I am also totally blind and rely entirely on my ears to tell me what my gear is doing. My TS-590sg talks and beeps every function and menu setting; the ACOM gives me CW feedback, and the Palstar tuner is fully automatic. I had sighted assistance when I first set-up my amp to make sure I followed the suggested procedure and that all of the meter readings were within the parameters shown in the manual. Once it was set-up and checked out, it has performed flawlessly. I would rate this amp a 10 out of 5 if I could!
WV4M Rating: 2018-03-27
Too early to tell - may still have a few bugs to work out Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is an update from my initial review. To begin with, here are some pros and cons I have from my perspective:

Pros:

- Overall nice look and feel to the amplifier with good menus and displays.
- Only requires the hookup of a relay line and input and output coax as a minimum; auto senses band change. Works with CAT for more control.
- Voltage input is auto sensing and does not require changing taps or switches.
- Cooling fan is not excessively noisy.
- Has many protect features that put the linear into standby and tell you what went wrong on the display (but maybe too sensitive in my opinion)
- Fairly light weight for a 1KW class linear.
- Two year warranty.

Cons:

- Protect circuity trips too early and excessively. I have trouble running the linear at 1KW without the linear tripping out even with low SWR. I now run no more than 950 watts to prevent this from happening.
- I noticed a very small clearance between some components and the case. In once case only about 2-3mm of clearance. This issue caused me to return the linear to the dealer initially for their opinion and testing. I initially thought there could be a short circuit between the components and the case.
- Only one antenna output.
- No QSK
- Power seems to sag a bit, about 25-50 watts dropoff under load after a few seconds to minute.
- No built in antenna tuner.

Overall first impression: I was less than happy with the linear in general. I had always heard good reports about Acom linears, but unfortunately I did not have this experience. I am hoping my 3700 dollar investment works out in the long run.