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Reviews For: Ameritron AL-1500

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron AL-1500
Reviews: 75MSRP: 2845
Description:
3CX1500/8877 Tube Type Linear Amplifier
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/products.php?prodid=AL-1500
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25754.8
K4GVT Rating: 2007-03-11
Potentially lethal Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Despite the fact the amplifier works well and that I have no complaints only praise regarding its performance, I have to share my experience and safety concerns with you.

I purchased this amplifier used. After receiving the amplifier with the 3CX1500, transformer, and the main unit separately and well packaged. I began assembly with a short inspection, after which I installed the tube, transformer.

While hot testing, I noticed severe arching coming from the HV power supply area. Loose screws were the root cause of the arching. I found that during shipping the screws on the bottom side of the unit that secure the standoffs for the capacitor filter board had become loose. Tightening the screws resolved the arching issue. However, this is an indication of a very serious even potentially lethal problem.

Consider this, the return path from the filter board uses the standoffs to complete the electrical connection to ground. Consequently, if the screws on the bottom side loosen, the high voltage, that’s 3plus KV can exist on the loosened screw heads at the bottom outside of the cabinet. These can be easily touched from the left side bottom of the amplifier. Additionally the return path, as it exists, has several mechanical connections it counts on for electrical connectivity, this adds series resistance to the supply return line.

The remedy for this is to add independent ground return lines from the filter board to the chassis ground and securing the new lines with screws and star washers independent of any other assemblies.

73,
George, K4GVT

K9CRT Rating: 2007-01-18
GOOD PRODUCT Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my AL-1500 used from a local ham friend who I can trust. It is a older unit dating back into 1996. It could be from what I have been reading that some of the newer Ameritron Amps are lacking. I also in the past have owned a AL-1200 and still have a nice AL80-B which I also bought used here local. It has also been 100% and is one of the later AL-80b. The reason I am writing this review is not so much to go over the features of the amps but to point out that all Ameritron Amps are not junk as SOME reviews would have you to believe. In addition just yesterday a ham in our group purchased a mint used AL-1200 from Ham Station and has given it glowing reviews so far. The only reason I give them a rating of (4) is I don't feel they are great. But IMHO they are good for the money and the market they were targeted for. As far as fan noise goes gentlemen it takes air and lots of it to cool a full legal limit amp. My AL-1500 is not a problem for me and no worse than many $4K+ amps I have been around concerning blower noise. I hope this information helps anyone interested in purchasing a Al-1500 or other Ameritron Amp.

Doug NN9S
A9KW Rating: 2007-01-18
GOING STRONG AFTER 4 YEARS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought mine 4 years ago ,Not one problem so far.
Quiet compared to my henry console.Great amp
VR2AJ Rating: 2007-01-18
Price to product ratio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my AL-1500 for 2 years ago, price at USD2,974.- from a local ham shop in Hong Kong, it works well so far, I'm not a rich man, so still using it.
WB9JOX Rating: 2007-01-17
great amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had my AL1500 5 years and works just fine.Some times one can get a lemon it happens.But hey for the price it rocks.Also have Alpha 99.If one can afford Alpha 8100, why would they buy Ameritron ??
K8JH Rating: 2007-01-17
Poor Workmanship - Noisy Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This amp was a disaster. I bought one of these brand new from a dealer for $2700. Out of the box I noticed a defective/damaged circuit board. A length of foil had lifted off a PC board so one lead of a capacitor was floating in mid air.

The amp did function OK, but as I started investigating the rest of the construction, a simple visual survey quickly found 5 more signs of sloppy workmanship. I found a couple of questionably soldered connections, wires nearly shorting due their installation, and wires surface-soldered (no terminal used, just slapped on the PC foil) to circuit boards. Some of the above are poor engineering practice, the rest are just a lack of craftsmanship. In places it looked like the work I did when I built a Heathkit at the age of 15.

Besides losing all confidence in the amp, its design, construction and likely longevity, the fan was excessively noisy. In addition to that noise, the case emitted various annoying buzzes and vibrations.

This is one of the worst pieces of commercial amateur radio construction I have ever seen. The components appear cheap, soldering is inconsistent and subpar, and the engineering design is sloppy. This unit was built to sell at a cheap price.

I immediately returned the amp to the dealer for a full refund and bought an Alpha 8100.

VE2JKA Rating: 2006-10-18
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hello everyone, I’ve owned this amp for 5 years now. I am completely satisfied with the performance of this amplifier it’s worked flawlessly through out the whole time. I used it to the max for long periods of time with out any problems at all power stays stable at all time. Regular use is with an input of 30 to 50 Watts driven by my ts-870 and I get legal limit and more…..The maximum I have pushed this amp is full drive at 100 Watts and I got a reading of 2.8KW on my p-3000 digital watt meter not sure whether this meter is 100% accurate but never the less that’s what it indicated on numerous occasions.

I do not work much CW so I can't really comment much on that...

This amp is a winner in my book best bang for your dollar no frills just lots of power and trouble free.

I have taken some pictures inside and out of the amp if you care to see them they are located here… http://ve2jka.com/gallery/ameritron
W6GF Rating: 2006-09-18
The AMP for poor band openings Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a multi-position shack. I have 8 linears in my set up. Price is not the question for me, it is value. The AL-1500 is pure value. You do not have to spend the extra money for a "fancy brand". What I like most about this linear is that it beats the manufacture's specs. It is very easy to tune. It puts out the legal limit with 50 watts of drive. The power meter is very accurate, a bonus. I will leave with one more thought, if you get one do let the devil tempt you. It will run much more than the legal limit.
N4MWY Rating: 2006-07-17
does an excellent job Time Owned: N.A.
For 1500 watts out, the AL 1500 usually requires about 60 or 70 watts drive.

The 3cx1500 has high gain and is tolerant of errors-it is an outstanding tube.
W8QW Rating: 2006-04-18
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Have owned the amp for only a short period but on 40 cw it's been dynamite.

Does anyone have a cure for the fan which seems to be a bit noisy?