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Reviews For: Astron RS-35M

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Astron RS-35M
Reviews: 174MSRP: 169.95
Description:
Astron 35 amp (ICS), 25 amp (continuous) linear regulated power supply.
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.astroncorp.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001744.6
K4KKJ Rating: 2005-12-21
TOP SHELF ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My RS-35M has been going since 1990 . It runs everything in the shack, 2 meter and HF rigs . If you are into body building you can also use it for weight lifting. It is heavy, built to last. What can I say, simply the best PS out there. You wont go wrong with this one !

73's

K4KKJ
KA1PK Rating: 2005-10-13
Only a FOOL would own anything else Time Owned: more than 12 months.
What can I say? I purchased my Astron RS-35M power supply in 1984. I have shut it off maybe a dozen times over the last 21 years of continuous use. The unit has powered all the 12 volt equipment in my shack flawlessly. My belief is NEVER shut off the power supply... it stresses the equipment (and supply too) less if there is no "in rush" current. So, I just power off the 12 volt gear individually and not by shutting off the supply.

My current station has a West Mountain Radio RigRunner Anderson Power Pole breakout box connected to the Astron, and a Powergate unit that can switch all the 12 volt stuff over to battery backup in the event of a power failure. It's the HOT SETUP!!!

Bottom line... anyone is s FOOL if they don't use an Astron non-switching power supply.
AB4QL Rating: 2005-08-19
What more could you ask! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
OK, so I had a problem when I first turned it on
19 years ago. There was a vibration hum of the
front panel against the top case. I grabbed a
business card and folded it and eased it into the
gap. Presto! noise gone.
This has been an excellent boat anchor. Very
clean power for the radios and I use it also as a
12V source for my many chargers. I highly recomend it.
The business card is still there!
AB4QL
K7PEH Rating: 2005-08-14
One Solid Power Supply Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had my Astron RS-35M for about 9 months now. I bought it in anticipation of needing yet another power supply for an upcoming purchase of a new transceiver (I eventually bought an Icom 706).

My current main rig, an Icom 756 (non-Pro) had a side-by-side Icom PS-125 power supply. It looked nice there on the shelf next to the 756 with the same look and feel.

But, after having the RS-35M in service for awhile I realized how much superior the Astron was over the Icom supply. The Icom fan came on time and time again and sometimes without the supply even being warm. Also, this PS-125 is underpowered for the 100 watt transmitter it is associated with. It is rated at 20 amps which seems OK but its full duty cycle rating is probably closer to 14 to 15 amps.

In contrast, the RS-35M hardly even gets warm even when I go on a harangue about someting for 5 or 6 minutes. This is one very nice supply and Astron has my future dollars for any other power supply I may be buying. In fact, I think I will be buying another RS-35M real soon.

Note: The RS-35M is a linear power supply, it is not a switching power supply. This means that it is heavy and not as efficient as a switcher but it sure is nice to have something heavy and solid and RF quiet sitting on your desk.

For all you guys looking to buy Icom's PS-125 to match your Icom rigs, if you don't care too much for look and feel, give the RS-35M a look.
W4TME Rating: 2005-08-09
Like an ol' Timex Time Owned: more than 12 months.
There are certain things in life that are so ubiquitous that you just take them for granted. Such as flipping the light switch and the lights come on. Picking up a telephone and hearing a dial tone. Turning on the water faucet and having water come out of it and the sun rising in the East.

The Astron RS-35M has become one of those things that falls squarely in the aforementioned category. I leave it on all the time and never have a single thought if I have 13.8 VDC in the shack. It is always there. Like an old Timex, it keeps on ticking (with a ever so slight transformer hum to let me know its on) HI HI

-Tim
WA6GON Rating: 2005-06-24
Quit after 25 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My RS35M just quit after about 25 years. It just stopped working one morning. Have not opened it up yet. Astron has no support info on their website which means I have to dive in and diagnose the problem. The on off switch feels like jelly. It doesn;t hold in the on position.
KD5LDW Rating: 2005-03-28
EXCELLENT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I know nothing is perfect, however with that being said this ASTRON is as GOOD as It gets for a power supply ! The Eveready Rabbit does not have anything on this ASTRON ! IT KEEPS GOING & GOING . It is a little over weight 27 lbs but worth it!
W0DKM Rating: 2005-01-29
4 years old, Perfect. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
4 years, 12 hours, 7 days a week. Never a glitch.

OK, maybe not 7 days a week. But at least, 2.
W3ADC Rating: 2005-01-24
Great Unit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got rid of all the switching power supplies in the shack too much noise. Very low hum when I hold my ear close to it, quieter than my computer, with plenty of power good job Astron.
KE4IZA Rating: 2004-11-24
Power To Spare Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

I picked up this power supply today and I like it. Very well made. Makes a very low hum but I can ignore that. I do get the famous bang when first power on but this is simply the two case halfs hitting together. No malfunction. I simply leave it on.