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Reviews For: Alpha 9500

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 9500
Reviews: 122MSRP: 7950. USD
Description:
Fully-automatic 160-10M amplifier, successor to the 87A. Uses a single 8877 tube in grounded-grid configuration. Integrated antenna switching, full QSK with vacuum relay.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alpharfsystems.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001224.8
K7LFY Rating: 2018-08-24
There are several versions of the 9500 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For everyone's edification the Alpha 9500 has been built by numerous different operations over the last decade or so. Frankly the 9500's of a decade ago had problems. So did the organization making them. I know because I have one and dealt with them. Today's Alpha organization is clearly owned and operated by different people for the most part with different corporate ideals and attitude. The difference is night and day. I wrote a belated poor review for the 9500 recently and posted it here on eHam. Subsequently I have been in contact with key people and employees at the NEW Alpha operation in CO and OH and I am impressed with their candor, honesty and earnestness. They assure me that the NEW 9500 is generations ahead of the one I have and that they can update my 9500 to the new configuration for a reasonable cost and that will alleviate my former stated issues with this basically fine amplifier. I believe them and I plan to do just that. Steven Dishop and Glenn Pladsen have convinced me that the new Alpha organization produces a first rate product and that they stand behind it and are honorable business people. I am rewriting this review to clarify that my previous concerns were with an amplifier that is actually no longer being built. Technology has passed it by and I am sure that the upgrade will be a striking improvement. I will write yet another review after I have my 9500 upgraded. Bob Forgey K7LFY
VY1JA Rating: 2018-08-20
Keeps Remoting well.. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For the past few years, Yukon CanAm Contest Club, under the direction of Gerry Hull, VE1RM/W1VE, has kept VY1AAA, YT-NT-Yukon on the air and made over 120,000 QSO's almost always under international remote control. The A-9500 has been central to their success in being there for others who need the Yukon in their log. The Alpha remote software has significantly helped with this work. As the host of this remote station, I have had the pleasure of receiving excellent reports on the signals of VY1AAA. We had the amp gone over and updated by Alpha Service, and we know it operates just like the latest production line Alpha 9500's. Buy this amp, read the and follow the manual and you cannot go wrong. I strongly recommend the Alpha 9500 and the manufacturer, Alpha RF Systems.
K1GUY Rating: 2018-08-20
BEST OF BREED Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a solid state amp, but they all seem to work hard with heavy duty cycles like FT-8.....due to two failures, I picked up an ALFA 9500 after considering all the alternatives. A beefy tube that can accept full power and laugh at it, as well as a well-matched transformer... It purrs along without a moment's hesitation, always seeming to ask for more ! It auto-tunes all my antennas to a 1.2:1 match or less...and it you make a mistake, it faults and lets you know it. Alpha Dependability is unmatched, and the service is still first class. IT's plug and play.....run and get a great AMERICAN MADE ,BEST IN CLASS AMP
WA3HDW Rating: 2018-07-01
Outstanding Amplifier Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Purchased the 9500 new from Alpha about 4 months ago at the recommendation of two friends. Both use 9500's and love them. I cannot say enough good things about the quality, performance and great customer service Alpha provides. With 40 watts of drive it delivers 1500+ watts on all bands and the auto tune feature is outstanding. Recently I set up a remote station for when I travel and still want to get on the air with a good signal The 9500 with its remote software to a desktop provides me this capability with legal limit power. I would recommend this amplifier to anyone.
KA1CDE Rating: 2017-11-14
Perfect Amp for remote Operation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have own this amp for about 3 years, 1500 watts out with about 60 watts drive. This amp has operated with out any issues since owning it.
I bought this amp because it has 4 antenna ports, I cover all bands 10-160 meters with a hex beam in port 1, 40 meters in ports 2, 75 meters in port 3, and 160 meters on the last port.
Once you set the memory in the amp for what antenna is connect the corresponding port, antenna switching is completely automated. To switch antennas the power switch needs to on, but it does not need the tube power up at all for band switching.
I use this amp with Alpha software with a Kenwood 2000 for my remote station with full control from my phone or any computer. I can see how the amp and radio is operating just like sitting in front of them.
Alpha 9500 can be completely shutdown remotely, as well as my radio.
I searched around before choosing the Alpha and have been 100% satisfied with my choice . Great looking amp, works perfect, remote capabilities, not to be beat yet from what I see!
WB9JOX Rating: 2016-04-26
blower problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had this amp over 4 1/2 years.Third blower for this amp.I had to pay for last blower because it was out of warranty.Cost to me for repair was 254.00 dollars.I think bit out of line.Will be looking for replacement in case blower fails again.Could probably have bought a blower for furnace for that amount.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by WB9JOX on 2012-02-27

Owned 9500 2 weeks now.Its a real joy to operate and tuning from band to band is so simple.Select band on radio and key mic ,amp switches to proper band.Makes chasing DX that much easier.Fan is real quiet .Installing transformer a breeze as usual and attaching 3 cables. Can't be any easier. Layout of components just beautiful inside amp.Truly a work of art.I am very happy to own this wonderful piece of Alpha history.Also the people at RF Concepts are just great to deal with in every respect.73 to all.
K0BAJ Rating: 2015-07-23
I have owned my Alpha 9500 for several months, it seemed to hav Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have owned my Alpha 9500 for several months, it seemed to have much higher fan noise than my 1991 87A. Called Brad at Alpha and I can't give any greater compliments to him. He took care of the fan noise and now I think it is quieter than my old 87A. Many thanks to Brad and Alpha. Once you own an ALPHA you will never desire any other.

Gary Drussel K0BAJ
W8JN Rating: 2015-04-22
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned 3 9500s.Sold my first two due to lack of use. Got a spectacular deal on a used 9500.I had the previous owner ship it back to Brad for updates. It currently runs like a Swiss time piece. Thanks Brad for an outstanding job. 2500 watts pep into an Alpha 2100 dummy load.


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Earlier 5-star review posted by W8JN on 2009-01-27

i purshased my 9500 during may of 2008. initially the reflector was busy about the 9500 with lots of questions. it has gone silent for 3 months. i thought it was taken down. a test email showed that it was working perfectly. the reason it went silent is that everyones 9500 is working flawlesly. can you believe that? a product without issues? brad, molly and company have built a boeing 747 to carry two passengers! wow this masterpiece works effortlessly and flawlessly. no corners cut, no cheap wrappers, no cheap connectors. just built like a tank. molly and brad, thanks for an amazing product. worth $9500? i bought one and would do it again in an instant.
AE5GG Rating: 2015-03-26
EXCELLENT Amp! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got increasingly frustrated in DX pileups as I would call and call and, only after extreme patience, would I get through. So I decided to buy an amp. I had my eye on the Alpha 9500 for years. I researched everything commercially available but everything kept pointing me back to this amp, so I bought it!

Now I am regularly one of the first people that a DX station will hear vs. being one of the last. It's effortless to operate and I'm a huge fan! Nice job RF Concepts/Ten-Tec!
AE4X Rating: 2015-01-27
Fantastic implementation Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a chance recently to use one of these amplifiers. Seemless operation, quiet and loafs along at full power. Cannot wait to actually purchase one of these very soon. Instant band switching, too... Wonderful pairing between trasceiver and amplifer.