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Reviews For: Yaesu FL-110 160-10m Linear Amplifier

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

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Review Summary For : Yaesu FL-110 160-10m Linear Amplifier
Reviews: 5MSRP: free in cornflake pkts
Description:
Solid state 160-10m All Mode Linear Power Amplifier
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0054.8
VK4HF Rating: 2020-09-21
Very robust Brick Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I came by this one back in the late seventies and it had been fizzed by a CB truckie. So dead finals and no RF sensing and I suspect he hooked it up to 24 volts in his truck. It now has the RF sensing and sports a pair of 2sc-2290's. 15 watts for 150 watts out and 5 watts in for 100 watts out. Even after a half hour of long overs on 150 watts it is barely warm. Also great for a power boost for a 5 watt QRP rig. Very versatile little brick with great build quality.
PA0FRI Rating: 2017-09-09
Rock solid Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my used FL-110 decades ago as spare, tested once for good operation and then no longer used it. That changed when a FLEX-1500 came into my possession. Because this SDR transceiver delivers only about 5 W output, the PA appeared to be suited as amplifier. The FL-110 is a tough and solid constructed amplifier with effective protection against wrong input and output SWR. Modification for 5 W input, a faster TX/RX relay and a redrawn readable schematic are published on my website.
DK3QN Rating: 2003-07-16
good and solid, some limitations Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This little amp can easily be put into service for all HF bands including WARC. Just switch the LPF (Low Pass Filter) to the next higher band. I.e. for 10Mc operation switch it to 14Mc (20 meters), for 18 Mc operation to 21 Mc (15 meters) and so on.

If you drive it hard you can run it up to 150 watts of output or more. But I would *not* recommend pushing it that hard. The signal quality (IMD) will deteriorate plus the transistors will run near the 'danger zone', especially if you use a compressor/processor or use CW mode. BTW, upgrading from 100 to 150 watts output makes close to no difference in signal strength!

There are 2 issues which keep me away from rating it a 5/5:

1. it has got an open frame switch-over relay which is pretty slow. So you get these famous 'truncated first element' sound when operating CW. Not only when using RF-VOX (a 'no-no' for CW) but also when using PTT (PTT contact is available at the DC connector interface). This problem can be compensated if your TRX has got a provision for delaying the RF sent-out (like FT-897).

2. Mechanically, the internal construction is a little 'complex'. If you need to service or want to modify the FL-110, it takes your time to get to the area of the amp you want to touch.

Otherwise, if you are in a need to add 10 db to your 10 watt rig and you can find one at a reasonable price plus good working condition, don't hesitate.

73, Klaus, DK3QN
K3ICH Rating: 2002-04-27
When QRP won't quite do Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is THE perfect amp to use with your QRP field set-up when you need a tad more oomph. Since the T/R switching is RF sensed, it is transparent unless enabled, then your FT-817 or MFJ will enjoy about a 12 dB power boost. It will put out well over it's rated 100 watts and is useable down to a watt or so drive. The internal manually switched band pass filters keep the spurious emissions with-in today's specs. It's unfortunate that this amp can no longer be manufactured because of the FCC's ban on chicken-band amps, but, all of these are grand fathered in because they were made before the ban went into effect. They typically demand a premium price, and are not all that readily available, but you see one every now and then in the swap listings.
N2CKH Rating: 2001-03-19
Heavy Duty Amp ! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The Yaesu FL-110, is a pre-WARC band days, solid state 15w in max, 100w plus out linear amplifier perfect for use with 10w class QRP radios. This amp originated for the Yaesu FT-7 and FT-310
the best I can determine. The unit draws 17A and full output at 13.8v D.C.

The FL-110 covers 160-10m and actually has a front panel mounted band switch. The unit is RF sensed and can be driven with as little as 1w. The unit can optionally be hardwired for relay
contact to ground or DC+ voltage keying.

I have found out that there is an input attenuator that when removed will allow 5w drive to full output. In addition it will work into a 3:1 VSWR with reduced output without destroying the PA devices, a pair of SRF1427 power transistors in a push-pull broad band negative feedback 1.5 thru 30 Mhz design

I use this tank of a brick amp with my FT-817 and yes it does work ont the WARC bands with a slight decrease in output power due to the filtering in the unit.

For photos, inside and out, user manual and schematics visit my website.