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Reviews For: Alpha 86

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 86
Reviews: 23MSRP: New 2200
Description:
Legal-limit HF linear amplifier, manufactured from 12/87 to 5/92.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://www.rkrdesignsllc.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15234.8
N4DEK Rating: 2005-06-14
Nothing but solid performance Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
First let me say that if you're having trouble with the PIN Diodes going south then there's a reason for it and you probably need to take a look at your antenna. Don't blame it on the amplifier because you tried to run 1500 watts into your G5RV on all bands and the high SWR fried your diodes! I've heard countless stories from many people that have owned or still do own the 86 and claim it is one of the best amplifiers that they have ever had on their table. I just bought mine but from what I've seen from it so far I don't think I'll be buying another amplifier anytime soon. Built like a tank and runs at whatever power level you want for however long you want and never even breaks a sweat. Legal limit is just a tease to this one. It has got to be the smoothest tuning amp I have ever tuned up and the metering is great also. I had the Ameritron AL-800H before this one and as good as the Ameritron is it's not even in the same ball park as the Alpha. Just no comparison in the build quality between the two amps. If you want alot of bang for the buck then go for the Ameritron but if you want the best for your buck then look no further than the Alpha's.
W4PIG Rating: 2004-04-04
WHAT A DOG Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I HAD A ALPHA 86 THAT STAYED ON THE BROWN TRUCK MORE THAN I USED IT. THE PIN DIODES WAS ALWAYS GOING OUT.HIGH DOLLAR EQUPIMENT BUT HAS PROBLEMS. LIKE MY HEADING WHAT A DOG!!!!!
K2VCO Rating: 2003-10-27
Very solid amplifier. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Alpha manufactured 294 of these amplifiers from 1987 to 1992. The amp uses a pair of Eimac 3CX800A7's, and is capable of the legal limit with about 45-50 watts of drive. The 86 is a manually-tuned unit, which appears quite similar to the later 89. It has PIN-diode T/R switching. The amplifier is extremely quiet, even with the optional extra fan running; the transformer doesn't groan under load and the only way to know it is putting out 1500 watts is to look at the LED's. It is protected against overdrive, excessive reflected power, T/R faults (applying RF without a keying signal), etc.

The amplifier has separate bandswitch positions for the WARC bands, and loads smoothly to full power on all bands. The PIN didode QSK is completely transparent. I have had absolutely no glitches of any kind in the year that I've had it.

Although it is protected against excessive reflected power, it is possible to damage it. I was lucky enough to purchase mine from a ham who had damaged the bandswitch and didn't want to bother getting it fixed. This happened when he tried to load an 80-meter dipole on 160 -- apparently he managed to find a condition where the circulating current in the tank circuit was high enough to burn the bandswitch contact, without enough reflected power to trip out. Alpha supplied a new bandswitch wafer, which I replaced. No matter how foolproof something is, there is usually a way to fool it!