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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
N9FG Rating: 2002-12-26
Great Amp! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is a great amp. Full output is achieved with only 35 watts drive! I've used it on 160
thru 10 without any problem.

This amp is pretty unforgiving. I had the SO-239 antenna connector 'melt-down' on my homebrew
tuner and the amp didn't even flinch!

Highly recommended!
W4PIG Rating: 2002-08-12
GREAT AMP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I HAVE RUN THEM ALL THE AL 1500 RUNS GREAT LOW INPUT POWER GIVES YOU LEGAL LIMIT PLUS. GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
KX2T Rating: 2002-07-13
Great Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had the use of one of these amps for a few months this year and I must say after owning two alpha 78's, a late serial # 77DX, 91B, AL1200, MLA 2500, SB220's, Amp Supply LK500ZA, L75,SB1000, HB 8877 amp that this is one of the best value's in a real power house amp! Legal limit with 50 watts, its grid protected for ham radio dummies, has a solid supply, good cooling, easy to tune and change bands plus the current production amps are built so you can service it and find the parts for it not like the Alpa 77dx which you almost have to re design the Bias board if it fails. The only con is the price of the tube but if you know amps and know how to tune and op em you will have total fun and its robust enough for contesting, a real keeper.
W4ACW Rating: 2002-05-03
Nice priced amplifier... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've had the AL-1500 a month and it seams to work just fine.Costumer service was great and answered all my questions quickly.Runs cool and loafs at the legal limit with 50 watts drive.Fan noise isn't bad.I did lower the tap to the #2 setting.Their are 4 speeds and it comes from the factory on the #3 setting.Best bargain out there.I would buy another AL-1500 without question.
N2TX Rating: 2002-02-21
Great Value a KEEPER Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Great value that works extremely well. Was going to buy another upscale amplifier but when I observed the equipment contribution they made to WTC emergency I had to consider Ameritron. So I bought two of them. Being a previous owner of an AL-1200 (Which I still wish I kept) the refinements to the cabinet are real nice. These amps will NEVER leave my qth.Thanks Ameritron...
WD5BJQ Rating: 2002-02-09
Satisfied Owner ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My Ameritron AL-1500 was purchased used about 2 years ago. Looking at the notes from the previous owner in the owners manual, it was purchased in 1995, so it has been in service for a long time. I am the second owner. I am still running the orignal 8877 tube, and it has 1500 watts output with 50 watts drive.

I did find someone selling 8877 pulls from medical equipment, and picked up a spare tube for $200.00. The tube checked find, so it is stored for such a time that I need it.

Amplifer is easy to tune, and every now and then I have a relay that get's stuck where when I turn off the power switch, the unit still has voltage showing on the meter. Ameritron tells me that I need to replace a relay and something else in the unit, but it does not happen enough for me to send it back for repair. My work around for this problem is to shut off my circut breaker in my house panel, and turn it back on later, it looks like it resets the problem.

I see on the Ameritron website they have some new bias modifications that are available for this amp and the AL-1200. They do not plan to make this a standard change, but for 40.00 bucks you can install the board yourself.

Just one other comment I have seen a few of these amplifers on ebay with 2 8877's where they have been modified. The sellers advertise 4000 watts ++

I discussed this with a technician at Ameritron and they stated they would not work on the amplifer with this modification because it is illegal. From a technical perspective they said the band switch and other components would not handle this type of output if someone runs this kind of power.

Ebay buyers beware of these modified amplifers !
CT1EEB Rating: 2002-01-05
some problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I read all optimistic comments about the AL-1500 amp., I got one for 3 years now but about a year ago it started developing a problem, everytime I'm TXing and get back to reception, the reception stregth of the sinal in the radio fades dramatically (no, its not the radio).
I find the open air TR Relay in the Linear a bad option, I have installed a new Relay along with a fast QSK board, but problem still remains.
I have also tryed to clean the relay contacts and resolder everything going from the chassis PL connectors to the relay, it looks a bit better now but still have problems in reception.
Any of you had this problem with yours AL-1500 ?
Any suggestions to ct1eeb@mail.telepac.pt

73 José CT1EEB
N8SHZ Rating: 2001-04-27
Great! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I am using the AL-1500Q with built in QSK. Tunes and operates like a dream. Cool and I mean real cool running. Easy 1500 watts and just a bit above idle. I have had other amps, but nothing compares with this one. Qsk works perfectly and I love the ability to hear the other guy in a pileup. Protection circuit excellent.
W8FAX Rating: 2000-11-26
Works fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the amp on the air about 2 months or so. Works very good. Added the parasitic suppressors supplied by Rich Measures, AG6K. This made the tuning much smoother. Ameritron should consider adding this, and possibly a heavier bandswitch. Blower noise is not overly loud, and certainly less than some others I have heard/owned.Amp is very heavy otherwise and well worth the cash......Al/W8FAX
K2WO Rating: 2000-10-04
GREAT Amp! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The AL-1500 is a GREAT amplifier and in my opinion, the best buy in the market today. It is built like a tank and just loafs at 1500 Watts output. The protective circuitry is great....it really works well and protects this fantastic tube.

Get one, you won't be disappointed.