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Reviews For: AMERITRON ARB 704

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

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Review Summary For : AMERITRON ARB 704
Reviews: 53MSRP: 49.99
Description:
INTERFACE FOR IC706 MK 2 TO AMERITRON 811HX
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15534.3
WB4TJH Rating: 2016-02-04
Works Well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had this unit for several years now. It has been used with several different brands of HF radios and several amps, both older models with high voltage relays and with a modern solid state amp and it worked perfectly with all with no problems.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB4TJH on 2009-06-28

It works just perfectly between my Yaseu FT-450 and Heathkit SB201 amplifier. I push the PTT on the MD-100 mike, and the amp relay keys just like it's supposed to. It required no mods to any of my gear, just plug and play.
DL2FDJ Rating: 2015-11-07
Works just fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I used it previously with my TS-590 and an AL-811. Now it works just fine with my TL-922 and TS-590. No issues, easy setup and trouble free for two years now.

DL2FDJ
N8WGM Rating: 2014-09-18
Works like it should Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The ARB 704 just works great! It does exactly what it should. Smooth amp key up with my transmit pedal and no problems so far in over a year of heavy use. I originally had it connected to my Dentron Clipperton L and now with my new to me Heathkit SB220. Works perfectly every time so far.
AA4AJ Rating: 2014-06-14
Works just fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I don't know if this little box will protect my radio from the amp but, the red light comes on when I key PTT and everything works as it should. It was easy to set up and actually made ALC easier than I had expected because I use the ICOM plug/play cable. It seems well made and the supplied cables are quality work. I hope I never find out of this thing really works. If my amp frys it at some point, I will have other problems and be glad it was here. It is cheap insurance.
W2FBS Rating: 2014-05-24
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Have been using the ARB 704 for several years in between my Icom 7700 and an old Alpha 78. Has worked perfectly. Plug and play. Anybody with an old amp ought to have one or build their own.
NG0Z Rating: 2014-05-23
Slick Little Box Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I'm a pretty smart guy and for the life of me and my son who is an Electrical Engineering student, we couldn't get the Icom 7600's ALC and my new Ameritron ALS-600 to operate efficiently having followed the ALS-600 calibration instructions at least twice...

So I spent $89 on this little box and the custom cord for the 7600...problem solved.

The amp is running more efficiently and the ALC control now controls the power output as it is designed...and it apparently protects the HF rig from any voltage issues on the ALC.

Well worth the money.
WA4FOM Rating: 2013-06-22
The only Ameritron product that has not given me trouble Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This little box is really great if you have *ANY*
doubt as to whether your rig's PTT line can
withstand the voltage present at the key input of
your amplifier. For me at least, it was worth the
fifty clams so I didn't have to dig through the
junk box and build my own.

I look at it as piece of mind: when in doubt, use
it. It can't hurt. So far, I have had no troubles
whatsoever with mine.
G0CUZ Rating: 2013-05-16
Good but unreliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.

I've had the ARB-704 for about two years, during this time it has failed twice with only light usage!
I have used it with an IC-706 for which it has a plug 'n' play interface cable (good) and the swaying reason for getting one in preference to any other.
Control of the -170v switching on a Collins 30L-1 was required which I was assured would be possibe.

OK, it worked fine for a time, but then suddenly failed, it was repaired under warranty by the supplier here in the UK - Walters & Stanton, it took three weeks though (to get a component).

OK, back in business and it was working well until recently when it failed again, by failed I mean that it would switch the 30L-1 into permanent transmit - e.g. output from TX output was continuous low resistance - exactly same fault as before.

This time, I decided to try and repair it myself, after looking inside, it became obvious that Q2 had been replaced before, this is the switching NPN power SC, and indeed it was u/s, I managed to get the same component (took just 2 days for it to arrive via post! compared to 3 weeks at W/S), and total 30min fix from start to finish the job, it is working again at least for the time being.

You can't beat the old fashioned mechanical relay!!!! If you plan to use one of these with a 30L-1 - think again, the -170v is not good for these solid state switches, no matter what the manufacturers say!

This case study may be useful if you encounter the same fault with your ARB-704

73
WY4J Rating: 2013-05-06
Great product/Great Company Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these little boxes. Both work a specified by the manufacturer. Never have had a problem with any of these two boxes and I guess I must be a very lucky person. I have been purchasing MFJ products since I became a ham 36 years ago and have never had a defective product or had to return or complaint about any of their products as I am a very satisfied MFJ customer.
NN8B Rating: 2013-05-06
The PNP-8M cable does it in. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just got an ALS-600S amp and ARB-704 box with the PNP-8M cable to connect a Yaesu FT-897D to the amp. Could not get the ALC to work during setup of the amp, so called Ameritron. Ameritron had me checking the continuity of the cable, tried setting the pot on the back of the ALS-600S full clockwise instead of counter-clockwise to see if the pot was wired backwards. I then checked the FT-897D's manual for the Cat/Linear jack and saw the ALC line is not the same pin as the ALC line on the PNP-8M cable. Told Ameritron while on the phone and they got a manual for the FT-897D to verify what I told him. He agreed with me that the cable is wired wrong and suggested I modify the cable or make my own. Then he said I didn't need ALC anyway because the rig is only 100 watts output. To my knowledge all PNP-8M cables will not work correctly on the FT-897D or the FT-857D radios. Ameritron said they never had anyone with this problem before. I find this hard to believe. My manual for the FT-897D is dated 2004. ALC is there for a reason and not having it is causing me to adjust my power output on each band while using the amp since they recommend 500 watts on CW, 200 watts on digi, and full output on SSB. Ameritron just screwed up on this one. I gave this ARB-704/PNP-8m combination for the FT-897D a 2 because it really needs help and Ameritron is not going to do anything about it.