Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: AMERITRON ARB 704

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

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
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
OE3SGU Rating: 2012-10-20
works as it should Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Using it for some months now. Works as advertised, just doing what it is supposed to do. No problem with uncleaned drillings here.
AD9DX Rating: 2011-12-26
Works great - Fit and finish not so much Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This little box works great. It took all of three min. to set it up and get the amp on the air. With a special cable purchased from Ameritron I am able to hook up my Icom 7000 to my SB-200. My only complaints are that the fit and finish is less than ideal. The holes that are drilled in the back are not cleaned up after drilling. I took at apart and fixed the problem with a small ignition file. Once taken apart it took all of 30 seconds. I just wish Ameritron would have taken the time to do this at the factory.
AB8XB Rating: 2011-11-07
Never a problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used my ARB-704 for well over 3 years on a Yaesu FT-897D and my FT-950 with my trusty SB-220 and never had a problem to date. Would highly recommend to anyone using a older amp on newer rigs.
73' AB8XB
KG4GPJ Rating: 2010-11-06
Works as it should! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had the ARB-704 for over a year, first to interface an ICOM IC-706 with an AL-811, then a TS-870S, and, finally, the current rig, an ICOM IC-7200. It has worked perfectly with each rig and as designed for - HF. For the life of me, I can't understand the "lid" who gave this unit a low score for it not working on VHF, when it was never designed for VHF and never marketed for VHF. He should be giving the low score to the person who recommended the 704 for use on VHF - or to himself for not verifying the product info independently - geez!
AE5JU Rating: 2010-01-16
AL-811H to Icom 718 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Came highly recommended by friends also using the Ameritron AL-811H, "Especially since you have an Icom." I also purchased the PNP-13D "plug & play cable" to connect it to my Icom IC-718. Works exactly as it should. Excellent!
N5RMS Rating: 2009-06-05
ARB 704 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the ARB-704 interface box using an Icom 706MKIIG to key my external VHF amp. It was reccommended by a ham radio company in Texas. The box ONLY WORKS on HF/6mtr when attached to this radio. Short sighted on Ameritrons part. The Icom 706 uses two different lines to key external amps. One for HF/6Meters and a different one to key VHF/UHF. Sent the box back and made my own interface.
W7DDD Rating: 2009-04-06
Works fine Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I also use it as an insurance buffer - guess that's why they call it a "buffer." Drive an AL-80B with a 756 Pro III, TS-830S, and Yaesu FT-857D for about 3 years without any problems.
N3OQD Rating: 2009-04-04
keying buffer Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Even though I have a current low voltage keyed Ameritron AL-811, I still use this buffer just for good measure. In the event that I come across an older high voltage keyed linear, this unit would make it useable with my current trancievers.















W4KVW Rating: 2009-01-30
CHEAP INSURANCE! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My AMERITRON 811H works just fine without it with my ICOM 756 PROII but in my opinion it's a CHEAP INSURANCE POLICY.Better SAFE than SORRY.Just because I fell my gear is safer with it than without it I'll keep mine in line! }:>)

Clayton
W4KVW
WA9VEE Rating: 2009-01-30
Not needed with FT-897D and AL-811 Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was sold one of these, along with the special 704 cable by a well meaning salesman as he thought it was required with the AL-811 amp I was buying new. It worked switching the AL-811 off and on for transmit, but the FT-897 acted strangely refusing to power off and also showing a blank screen when trying to power off. The 897 turned off OK as soon as I removed power from the 704.

A simple Din to RCA cable I had previously ordered off ebay then arrived, and I tried it, since the 897 manual says it can handle the 100ma switching current that the AL-811 uses. The cable works fine.

I will keep the 704, but since the simple cable works better, I will keep on using the simple solution.