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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
KB8O Rating: 2011-12-12
good amp for the money ... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked one up in Dayton used ... Once I got it home I found that 1 out of 3 tubes were bad . I ran it on 811's for about 6 months on 120v . During this time the amp put out close to 600w with about 50-60w input but I noticed the meter lights would dim on key down . During contests it would run hot . I was still very happy with a 600w amp for $300 used at Dayton ...
I now have the amp on 240v , and 3 572's in the amp and couldn't be more happy . No more dimming of the meters on key down ... 30w pretty much gives me 600w output on all bands , and the best part is the thing runs so much cooler now . If I could suggest one thing to anyone about the amp , it would be spend the extra time and run a 240v line in the shack ...
AE6ZW Rating: 2011-11-24
AL-811 3 x 811A Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a opportunity to check out and make minor repair of AL-811 ( 3 x 811A tubes ) . I do not have much experience with tube amplifier, but it had some loose connectors. unlike solid state device, LOAD / PLATE tuning setting changes depend on amount of power output and driving power. it seems like do comfortable 500 wts in normal CW operation. 600 wts if pushes to limits. I have notice it tune better at close to full power output, other wise, many of the band, my LOAD setting was all the way counter clock wide ( maximum capacitance ). it seems like good AMP for its price range.
N4ZAW Rating: 2011-07-27
FOLLOW-UP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm still running the original tubes,and have spanked them hard. I'm still getting full 600 clean watts output and have had no other issues, other than inrush "whoomps"... So many, that I got a store-bought inrush filter, which cured that little deal. This amp is very forgiving, as I'm a band-wanderer, and have on many occasions, temporarily-forgotten the bandswitch. This is quick death to tubes and power supplies, but so far, it has taken these momentary lapses of reason in-stride... Basically, I licked-out so far, I'm sure. I have my own "chart" for settings, and they have remained very accurate in my installation. Most usage has been on 40 and 80 meters, with "visits" to 10 n 20.
For the money, this AL-811 is a very good choice.
KD5UDE Rating: 2011-03-29
excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
i'm still running mine now since october 2007 and it is still working perfect and still has the 811a tubes in it it came with full output and not one problem buy it easy to tune and operate perfect amplifier! i'm happy with it!!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KD5UDE on 2007-10-24

well what can i say but buy one and give it a try!! this is about the best amplifier out there as far as i am concerned!! very easy to operate and use! very clean signal and tubes are cheap to replace! book is not wrote very well so if you need a little understanding call ameritron and they will help with the tune up the proper way! take my advice you'll get 50 diffrent views on how to tune it up from ham operators and most really don't know how to run it properlly. but not to fear the amp is very easy to use once you learn the proper way to tune it up! i highly recommend this amp!! and the first 600 watts counts! and you can bank on that! thanks! kd5ude, jerry
NZ8X Rating: 2011-02-19
Good Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I replaced my 811's for 572B's years ago. I run SSB only. Folks, keep in mind, the power supply in the 811 cannot handle the max power the 572's are capable of. When tuning up, use MINIMUM power, 10 watts or less. Your drive should not be over 30 watts to achieve the 600 watts the power supply can handle using the 572's. Have fun, watch for arching inside the amp that may occur if SWR is not what it should be. Trust me, experience! Do not exceed 600 watts if you use the 572's. These tubes idle at this power level and should last longer than we on this earth.
W2RS Rating: 2011-02-19
A workhorse, but swap the 811As for 572Bs if you work CW Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked up my AL-811 from a local ham's estate about five years ago, and it's still going strong.

My main HF amp is a Collins 30L-1 and, no, Art Collins would not have made an AL-811. Quality-wise, it ain't no Collins. The 30L-1, however, doesn't cover 160 meters and that's mostly what I use the AL-811 for. For five years now, it's been a solid, reliable performer.

I am mostly a CW operator, so the first thing I did when I got the amp was to swap out the 811s for Taylor 572Bs from RF Parts. I'm still on my original set. If you operate mostly SSB with its low duty cycle, you can probably get away with keeping the 811As, but their maximum rated plate dissipation is only 195 watts (for three tubes). On CW, running more than about 350 watts output would exceed that.

With the 572Bs, you can safely run the amp at 500-600 watts CW output, and 300 watts on RTTY. As other reviewers have noted, the power supply and RF components are the same as those of the AL-811H.
DF2DD Rating: 2011-02-09
Solid AMP Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am totally satiesfied with the AMP. Very solid and mine is very quite. Puts out around 550W. Mostly run it at max. 400W. You know: The last 100W will kill your AMP, hi. Would buy it again.
KI6OSH Rating: 2010-11-27
Very good Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought this amp a little over two years ago and I have no complaints at all. I'm fairly new at this ham game and am not an amateur electrician by a long shot. This amp gives me 500-600 watts out ssb with about 50w in and even I was able to figure it out. I was overdriving it for awhile so hopefully that won't come back and haunt me. For the money, I don't think it can be beat if one wants a new starter amp.
W1MSG Rating: 2010-09-22
1st HF Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
By far this is the most inexpensive way to get into your 1st HF Amplifier. It was very easy to get on the air puts out a full 600 watts which is where you get the most bang for the buck.
K9RLB Rating: 2010-08-15
Good Amplifier! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great amplifier - 600-700 pep 811a tubes are cheap and plentiful (China has been making them for decades)
Now, free advise!
Do not swap to 572b's. Why? No need - no more power.
Also, not enough plate voltage for them, so they will alwways be mis-tuned. Another reason? Sure. Getter. Will they reach a high enough temp running low to keep air out? Probably not!
More, sure. The 811 circuit has the control grid grounded; if a 572B tube is put in that circuit without the proper modifications done for the grid leak resistors then that tube (the 572B) IS gonna draw more current than it should and it's gonna draw current when it should not! Look at a schemetic of a Yaesu FL-2100 - or a SB200 Heathkit - or better yet, a schemetic for an AL-572 or the AL-811HD with factory 572b tubes. Circuit is different.
Of course, if you don't mind replacing the 572b regurarly, go fo it! Be sure to buy 2 sets at a time, because they won't last!
Keep those 811 amps with their 811a tubes, they were made fo reach other!