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Reviews For: Mizuho PL-21S

Category: QRP Accessories

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Review Summary For : Mizuho PL-21S
Reviews: 1MSRP:
Description:
10W linear amplifier for the MX-21S 15m SSB/CW handheld
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.qsl.net/ku4qd/mizuho
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
KU4QD Rating: 2002-11-12
A little extra punch for the 15 meter HT -- very nice Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The PL-21S is a small monoband brick amplifier made to match the Mizuho MX-21S 15 meter 2W SSB/CW handheld transceiver. The amp runs on 12V DC and provides the 9V DC necessary for powering the HT, so it eliminates the need for Mizuho's little 9V power supply or DC-DC converter. The power switch has three positions: HIGH (amplifier on), OFF (powered down), or THRU (no amplification, but power provided to the HT). The input is a pigtail on the front of the unit with a BNC connector on the end that attaches directly to the antenna connector on the HT. Output is a standard SO-239 connector on the back.

The little amp is compact, quiet, and a pleasure to operate. Mine delivers a true 10W with 2W input from my MX-21S. The little bit of extra punch can sometimes be the difference between having a QSO or not getting through. I plan on buying a PR-3S, which is a mobile mount for a combination of the handheld, amp, and CW-2S sidetone/QSK unit which turns the combination into a complete, compact 15m QRP station.

These amps are fairly rare and are very expensive (way overpriced, IMHO) new, but they turn up once in a while on the used market at a decent price. If you see one and have an MX-21S, it makes a nice addition to the shack.