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Reviews For: Alpha 87A

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 87A
Reviews: 98MSRP: 6500 + shipping
Description:
The Ultimate Linear Amplifier
Product is not in production
More Info: https://www.alpharfsystems.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00984.8
VK5CP Rating: 2010-07-13
It just WORKS! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My Alpha 87A has been in the shack (actually the room next door) now for a little under 2 years.

The tuning requirements say it all - just turn it on! Yes its expensive but quality is cheaper in the long term - and the various protection cicuits look after my investment.

The feature I like the best is the ability to turn the amp on remotely, swithch from standby to operate and get full feedback (including metering) using the RS232 com port (and a Lantronix controller so I don't need a PC).

73 de Chris VK5CP
KC1MR Rating: 2010-05-02
Love it Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This is my first ALPHA and I should of bought one long , long ago .

1500 watts key down - auto tune -- can be hooked up to a PC fer
remote operation -- great looks --55 lb transformer .

I read with disblief April CQ when the 87A was compaired to a
cheaply made and low performance al-1200 ; then it hit me
must be an APRIL FOOL JOKE ! Opening the covers will tell the
story!

If U buy an ALPHA new or used I'm sure U will love it.

73 Ray KC1MR
K8RA Rating: 2010-01-31
Great amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my 87A for a number of years. It is a great product. It runs smoothly with all my different radios and (cross my fingers) has been maintenance free. I read many comments on the PIN Diodes but so far I have had no problems. The Alpha Max tuning algorithm that fine tunes the amp works perfectly. I have never manually tuned this amp because there has never been a reason to. I would have to get the manual out. I would recommend this amplifier without reservation.
W0EWM Rating: 2010-01-30
Solid Amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been operating the Alpha 87A for about 4 years. It is reasonably easy to use and makes the legal limit on all bands with moderate drive. It occasionally "faults" - for different causes - but certainly not to the extent of being an issue. I have had it back to the factory twice for RF pin switching diodes in the TR circuit. I operate all bands and all - CW/SSB/Digital - modes, using 6 different transmit antennas. Sometimes it is difficult to be sure if the Alpha will be able to handle the SWR on some part of the band - on wire antennas that sometimes changes with the weather conditions. I wish there was a vacuum relay option to replace the pin diodes. I have had several amplifiers and this is the best I have used. I would not hesitate to recommend it to people that are looking for an "auto-tune" amplifier.
W1MH Rating: 2009-08-26
Great Amplifier--Nothing Better Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used two Alpha 87a amplifiers for over 15 years and they have rendered excellent service. I use both of them on my remote stations and leave them, for the most part, 100% unattended. All their functions, control, monitoring and auto tune features are available via remote control. Nothing but praise for the amplifier and the folks at Alpha. I have considered many of the solid state amplifiers but few of them have full remote control software and many will not work at full legal limit. I very much appreciate a robust amplifier like the 87a.
WG5J Rating: 2009-02-17
This amp rocks! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am a sucker for quality products. I have owned a number of amps and this one blows them all away. Auto tune, quiet, plenty of power, great support. The 87A has to be one of the best ever built.
VA6SZ Rating: 2007-12-19
Wonderful! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Incredible power with hardly any issues. Mine has been "max-ed" out on a bird watt meter at over 2950 watts pep and 1785 watts key-down. It works and works and works....
The protection circuitry does it's job when things get "dicey" on the antenna side. I have yet to trip the protection circuitry with "excessive" drive from an exciter. (Although the radios that I have used to drive it with are only of the 100 watt class.)
The only issue I had with mine was when it was brand new. The "pads" on the band-switch disc where slightly off for 20 meters. And thus, it would not work on 20 meters. It was shipped back to Colorado and returned to me about 10 days later with the shipping charges covered.
Not one complaint! THE amplifier to buy (if you can afford it).
G0HWC Rating: 2007-12-19
Excellent !!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got my amp 2nd hand as dead. Molly and the Tech guy at Alpha were most helpfull in sorting out the problems. I also orderd the AlphaMax upgrade, took 20 mins to fit and works well. I am well happy with the amp, I think it will out live me!!
By far the BEST amp I have ever had.

Just found a Yahoo user group Alpha87a
Here is the link
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alpha87a/

Paul G0HWC www.g0hwc.com
N4KAS Rating: 2007-05-09
awesome Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Best amp I've ever owned. Had this one for about 7 years, never had a problem. Its so automatic its like having a 1.5kw transceiver. I've had problems with both ameritrons. The Alpha is pricey, but extremely well built.
73
n4kas
KP4E Rating: 2006-11-01
The best amp I have had in 45 years af ham radio. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Last year have been working flawless. The automatic tunning is fantastic! No problems . Use it all the time , almost daily. Recomendations with no regrets.
Power as stated. Drive power less than 30W.
There is no comparison with any other automatic amplifier in the market!