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Reviews For: Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX

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

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Review Summary For : Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX
Reviews: 48MSRP: 2,980
Description:
Amplifier, HF + 6m 1.5KW Solid State
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.tokyohypower.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00484.8
KE4WY Rating: 2008-07-23
Works Great Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have three rigs here and band switch the HL-1.5, a Palstar AT-AUTO and a SteppIR all together, very seamless. No issues.

K5DDM Rating: 2008-04-04
Quality Built Amp! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had the HL-1.5FX in service for about 2 weeks now. My initial feelings are that it is a very well built, quality amplifier.
However, it appears that the protective circuits are designed to be a little aggressive, giving false trips under certain conditions.
I drive a 160m offcenter dipole through an MFJ Versa Tuner V. On the lower bands where the antena is naturaly more resonate, the amp delivers the goods with no problems. However, when the antenna is tuned to 20 meters or greater and showing very little SWR( <1.2 on stand-by), it will trip on reflected power or sometimes over drive . The problem appears to be some sort of instantaneous peak caused by tuned circuit resonance in the tuner and or antenna balun. I can run the radio barefoot at 200W all day long into the antenna when tuned to 20 meters, and several quality SWR meters show the swr to be low. However as soon as the amp is added, it will trip out when ask to go to rated max output. I can run it at 400 Watts, and all is well. I assume that the trip circuits are just reacting in a very sensitive way, and when I get an antenna cut and matched for 20 meters , the problem will probably go away. I will give a "follow up " in 6 months or so.

One other irritation that I do not like is the fact that if I want to use the auto bandswitch function of the Tokyo Hi-Power with the Kenwood 480, I can no longer use Ham Radio Delux to control the Kenwood with my computer. The bandswitch info is only available from the same plug RS 232 port use to interface with the computer. I just have to manually switch the amp when changing bands. Not a BIG thing , but annoying , considering the price paid for the amp.

Overall, a very good , very quiet, easy to operate amplifier.

K5DDM
W3YY Rating: 2008-03-31
Wonderful Amp, But... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I second the review provided by AA6VB below. He couldn't have said it better. The HL-1.5Kfx appears to be the perfect amp and the folks at THP and Ham Radio Outlet are very responsive and supportive. Unfortunately, I experienced reliability problems with my HL-1.5Kfx.

The finals in my HL-1.5Kfx failed after about a month of use. After being repaired, the unit failed again within 48 hours. The second failure was especially frustrating because the amp was operating into a perfect match and well within its drive and power output ratings when the failure occurred.

I trust that if there are design improvements needed, THP will make the necessary changes. I'm looking forward to trying another THP amp in the future, perhaps a HL-2.5Kfx this time, because I really love the small size, quality fit and finish, and quiet instant-on no-tune operation inherent in the THP design. Hopefully my first experience with THP was the exception rather than the rule.

Bob - W3YY
HB9LGA Rating: 2008-03-26
HL-1.5KFX Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
We have received the amp in a perfect packaging for reuse purpose and highly protected against shocks. The HL-1.5KFX was taken out of the box and is simple to operate. No warm up no tuning and until today very reliable. Can recommend it with pleasure.

Rene,HB9LGA
W2ATO Rating: 2008-02-06
Great amplifier Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased first one on 9/18/07 and purchased the second one about 2 months later.
Both have given me service exactly as advertised!
There are 5 of these amplifiers operating daily in my area by people I talk with weekly with the same result.

My units are used with Yaesu, Kenwood, and Icom exciters with perfect results.
AA6VB Rating: 2008-02-06
Great Service, Great Construction, But... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It is with mixed feelings that I write this review.

Mixed because I have NEVER had better service than what I received from the very kind and responsive folks associated with THP. Their service gets a 10 plus. The fit and finish on my amp was exceptional as was the quality of the construction. It looked, inside and out, like a piece of very expensive laboratory equipment.

On the other hand, the finals in my HL-1.5kFX failed on the second night. Judging by the reviews, and my discussions with other hams, this seems to be a common problem with this amp. Given the state of the art, and allowing for an odd failure due to a bad batch of parts or a random failed component, solid state amps should be as reliable as solid state transceivers.

Buyers of these amps should be prepared to accept what seems to be an unusually high potential for failure. On the plus side, buyers can know THP will make it right and will stand behind their products like no other manufacturer. When it was working, the amp was great, and I can easily see why people would rate the amp a 5. Until this finals issue is resolved with the amps, I think the rating is "needs help", much as I want to give it a "5".
AF3Y Rating: 2008-01-31
A GREAT Amp! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have had my HL-1.5KFX for five months now, and no problems at all. 60 Watts input gets 900 watts out, full key down, or 800+ watts or so on SSB Peak. I am a happy user!
W1JUS Rating: 2008-01-25
HL-1.5 Auto Band Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The HL -1.5Kfx has a NEW BOARD that addresses the YAESU FTdx 9000 not auto banding at no cost !! Give
THP an email or call HRO fer were send ur Amp.

Once again AMP 5+

THP support 5+

73 Ray W1JUS
VE3ELQ Rating: 2007-11-25
Excellent product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Had mine now for 6 weeks and I'm delighted with it. Used on all bands except 6 meters. Interfaced to a TS-870S, FT-2000 and IC-7000 for auto band select and all work perfectly. Powered with 120VAC I do get some AC line sag as expected but still see 900 watts CW output on all bands except 80 meters which is 850 watts. SSB PEP is a full 1KW even on 120VAC due to that big filter capacitor. High speed fan has never come on once.
A fifth meter position to display heat sink temperature would have been nice however. Seems idiot proof as I have done a few "stupids" and it always protected itself. A very nice product, glad I bought it. 73s.
KE7BMU Rating: 2007-11-20
THEY DIDNT HAVE TO!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
After much Stewing about which No Tune amp to buy and looking at the prices of the Icom PW-1 I deceided on a used amp from a ham on the East coast that had only had it for three months,His only reason for selling was to get the newer full legel limit Tokyo Hy-Power 2.5.Received my amp in great cond.and used it for two weeks and all of a sudden no band change!!!Right away I e-mailed Tokyo hy-power and received a response within 45 min of them receiving my E-mail,From the president of Tokyo Hy-Power!!!!He was VERY nice and told me that I would need a Board thats in the inside front of the amp,And to get ahold of HRO Repair Station (Ham Radio Supply)at their headquarters store in Nor. Calif.So I called and explained that I was a new second owner,Another very nice guy and was concerned about my abilty to install the new circut board,I asured him that it was within my abilties,so within TWO Days I had a new circut board at my Doorstep and installed that mornining,everything has worked flawlessly since,as you can Tell that I'm just happy as a lark with this amp and the out stand-ing sevice!!!!! With me being a second onwer they just didnt have to send out this board,But they did!!! Buy One Now!!!!!!!