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Reviews For: Ameritron AL-811

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron AL-811
Reviews: 151MSRP: 650
Description:
Uses three tough 811A transmitting tubes
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/products.php?prodid=AL-811
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001514.5
VE3GID Rating: 2003-03-27
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
great amp.. switches a little cheap but it's a real workhorse..

have had fl2100b before but much happier with the ameritron.
fan a little loud but that's telling you it's working
K2TA Rating: 2002-11-26
Excellent Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought used for $500 a month a go. Mint condition in factory box. Puts out 500-600 Watts. Sits nicely on top of my Ten-Tec Omni-V. No vent holes on top means lots of stuff can be piled on top of it. Unit could use neutralizing circuit. If you go to 10 meters, no drive, in operate mode and swing the plate cap to the right all the way you can put the thing into oscillation. But with drive and properly tuned...no problem. I like that it covers 160 meters. I personally DON't like the vernier tuning. I use stickum notes to mark where my preset tuning positions are for each band and I am used to a single quick twist of the plate cap to jump from band to band. Vernier requires many twists...I will probably be installing 572B's in for RTTY and while I'm in there see if I can over-ride the vernier mechanism. Small amp, plain old 110VAC power. Light weight so I can take it on trips etc. Great amp for the money. Would probably buy the 811H for the 4 tubes if I was given the opportunity.
KB5NJD Rating: 2002-11-22
Problems with my brand new AL811 Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought an AL811 several months ago. I have used other amps before and found that the amp was very very easy to operate.

Within the last 2 weeks, I started having a problem where after 30 seconds, the grid meter would idle at about 50 mA. If I switched the HV to IP, the IP meter would spike negative and stay there. I immediately suspected the tubes, but after following the Ameritron techs suggestion of removing the tubes and turning the unit on, the problem remained. I then suspected the metering circuit, but rather than do any additional testing, I packed it up and sent it in for Warranty service.

The tech called just the other day and said that they couldnt duplicate the problem and that they were going to touch up some of the solder joints and send it back. He and I discussed how many times I would have to send it back before Ameritron would be willing to send another one out. He didnt have an answer for me. Obviously there is a bad solder joint and I am only hoping that the joints that he touched up were the correct joins. I guess the trip was just bumpy enough. Hopefully the trip back wont shake something loose.

I like ameritron and the simplicity of the amp. I just hope that there were not too many that made it out of production with problems like this. I have other equipment on the bench that has periodic problems with solder joints. Hopefully this trend wont get much worse, but I am sure it will.
W7RJR Rating: 2002-10-26
Perfect for me (almost) Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned my AL811 for almost 5 years. It is ruggedly constructed. It generally delivers between 500 and 600 watts output for less than 100 watts input. The use of easily obtained, inexpensive 811 tubes is a real plus. I recently changed out the finals (after 5 years), because there was a short in one of them that caused a diode on the meter board to blow out. This resulted in a high idling plate current reading. The fix was easy and I found the Tech support from Ameritron to be good. The relay does not draw a lot of current and works well with my IC756Pro. The ALC feedback is adjustable and works well. I operate mine with standard 110VAC without any problems.

The AL811, while within FCC limits on harmonic radiation does not seem to be as good as I would like. 2d harmonic suppression appears to be somewhere between 45 and 50 dB. This may be attributed to a low-Q tank circuit. The WARC bands do NOT work well. Output is somewhat reduced and the tuning is a bit more difficult on these bands. The vernier on the load and plate controls are very touchy, could be smoother. There does not appear to be an easy way to neutralize the amplifier, but I have never experienced parasitic oscillations.

I recommend this amplifier for those who can live with 500-600 watts output. It gives me a boost of a couple of S-units when needed. The 2d harmonic on 20 meters might result in a stronger than desired signal on 10 meters. I would recommend the use of a Hi-Q antenna tuner in conjunction with the amp to reduce the harmonic output.

73, W7RJR
KB3GWI Rating: 2002-10-21
Ideal Amp for Budget-Minded Hams... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a boost from the 100-150 watts I was running with my TS-50. I found a private deal: An Ameritron 811, less then a year old, with 3 extra 811 tubes for $370!! What a deal. But who cares if it doesn't work? So to the bench it goes. After tweaking drive and tuning it delivered 700W into a dummy load @ 1550V, (I smoked a MFJ dummy load for 1KW, garbage MFJ stuff). Pushing it I suppose, but I want to know what she'll do. I came out very satisified. I would not run that high always, but I know it will work well for a long time. Would recommend any time.
WO8USA Rating: 2002-08-18
Great, inexpensive amp Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I did not buy the AL-811 to run full power. I use an Icom 706MKIIG at home and wanted to get a little more punch. I usually back off the 706 output and run the amplifier at about 200W. I have noticed the improvement. No apparent noise on the output, easy to tune up if you just follow instructions and have a good wattmeter. I recommend this amplifier to any casual HFer like myself seeking more consistent and stable DX conditions.
W0JOG Rating: 2002-06-23
Good value! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed a little more power than the 100 watts out of my Kenwood TS-430s into an 80 meter Inverted V used on 40 for regular schedules (MFJ-910D tuner, rated at full 300 watts output. Not SSB only like later versions) I bought it based largely on the experience of my ham classmate, W0JOC. He has two trouble-free older Ameritron AL-811s.

A free shipping special by AES dictated when I bought. The amp came UPS in five days, packaged well. Made well. Setup was easy. Manual is clear and the upgrade to include 10 and 12 meters easy. My on-air reports are qood and usually two S units over the Kenwood alone.

What more can you ask for the price?
ON4CCP Rating: 2002-05-21
nice for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Never had any problem with this one. The ampli even survived a direct lightning (the EMC filter died - i've the AL-811XCE - but protected all other inside equipment).

Indeed it isn't that much power, too high to participate low power, and about 6 dB under high power rating, but for that money you can't except much more...
ON4CCP
N6WIN Rating: 2002-05-20
Performed as advertised Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought my AL-811 used from HRO in Anaheim, bought new Taylor 811A tubes for it a couple months later. The amplifier put out 600w on all bands save 12m/10m where it output 400w for me. I liked the quick warmup, I could just turn the amp on and get going a few seconds later.

Tuning was touchy, move up or down a bit on the band and you'll want to touch up the tuning. I felt that the extra 6-8db over my barefoot 100w helped in being heard.
K0KAV Rating: 2002-05-18
Solid performer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
These are great little amps with economical tubes that Art Collins put in his 30L1 many years ago. It will easily deliver 400-500 watts of clean power for many years. They'll also leave you with more money to invest in antenna's and other accessories. Try it, you might like it.