| N6AJR |
Rating:      |
2005-03-01 | |
| great amp |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have a 2kl, and am looking for another.
I drive it with the 756 and use an at500 ( I have 3 of those) into my assortment of antennas, from a 160-40-80 AD sloper to my 4 ele Wilson tribander or my favorite my 3 ele 6-20 m steppir.
I have had lots of amps, a LA1000nt, several clippertonl's , 3 811's and one 811h, an als500, and am currently down to the 2kl and an alpha 76a. I am looking for another 2kl or a 4kl . I have the 756 set up with the 2kl and the at500 and the steppir ( I added the autotune board to the steppir too) and run them into my AC LOG program that has telnet spotting built in..
I see a spot on the telnet, and click on it. the 756 goes to the freq, and the antenna goes there, and the linear goes there. if on 40 or 80 or 160 I use the at-500, on 20 to 6 I turn of the at-500 and use the steppir autotune function. Hook that up with my foot switch, and voice keyer and I am set up for search and pounce contesting at 500 watts. And the telnet automatically fills out half the logger info for me, tab , tab, enter and on to the next one, and the logger sends the spot to the telnet for others.. It is 1 touch ham radio. sweet!
I have the 746 pro set up currently to a alpha 76a and a manual dentron MT2000a, but I would like to move that over to the ts 2000 and use the hopefully soon to be purchased 2kl for the 746 side with one of the at 500's and use it as a sit in one freq and run rig for contesting.
I use the ts 2000 for 2m, 440 and 6m ssb and psk31, and rtty and sometimes rag chewing.
I have a ft 847 in the truck and a ft 857d in the car, and carry a ht on the harley. I use a ht and a mag mount in the other car,, I ain't got around to putting a rig in there yet..
I love the 2 kl and will probably upgrade some day to its biggest brother the pw-1 or the middle child, the 4kl.. but for now want a second 2kl..
I sent my IC-2KL to scott at MTS and had him do the 10 meter "no switchy" mod for under $150 shipped. He is a whiz on icoms in general and the 2kl is puring now and goes to 10 meters easily 500 watts. MTS Ham Radio Repair(http://www.angelfire.com/biz2/mts/)
they are that good, really |
|
| W4GLM |
Rating:      |
2005-01-03 | |
| Hard 2 Beat |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Had my IC-2KL and AT-500 combo for 14 years,
never missed a beat. Had the 10 meter mod kit
and finally had Scott Malcolm install it and check it out, he said no problems.
Makes very nice 1/4 KW plug & play system, my exciter is a IC-765, (also flawless), the
AT-500 tunes a 1000' loop on all bands thru
a 4:1 balun.
Never a hiccup, gets great reports.
If you cat get the system, do it, you will
not regret it... |
|
| PA3DUV |
Rating:      |
2004-09-20 | |
| keeps on rockin' |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Purchase mine in 1992, second hand together with the AT500. I did the fan mod, replaced the molex connector for a DIN connector (Icom standard) and did the QSK mod.
The amp is used in the 20 meter port of my Winlink PMBO, working 24/7 all day long. I rate the IC2KL with a 5+++, a simple, sturdy and solid performer. Recently I've purchased another IC2KL to be used in the 40 meter port.
Regards, Dick
PA3DUV
IC 2KL QSK Mod: www.qsl.net/pa3duv
|
|
| YV4FF |
Rating:      |
2004-07-02 | |
| The best |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Have it since 1995 working great the 751A+2kl+AT500 the best of the best |
|
| W3JMU |
Rating:      |
2004-02-21 | |
| Simply THE BEST |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| My 2KL/AT-500 was purchased at the 1994 Dayton Hamvention, and put into service, in April of that year. So, a little arithmetic will tell you that it is approaching TEN years of duty, most importantly, without flaw, trouble, hiccups or getting tired. It has been used with both my IC 737A and IC 706MKII transceivers, into all sorts of antenna systems, and continues to perform splendidly. This equipment has got to be the closest to bulletproof, of any amateur radio gear I have ever owned (licensed 11/56). If you want a beautifully integrated, automated, flexible and powerful station, connect your ICOM transceiver to one of these, and you will never want to part with it. (Very hard to find, but worth the search/$$). If the 4KL is as good, I'm going to try to find one!. |
|
| ON4VP |
Rating:      |
2003-11-10 | |
| if you find one, get it ! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I got mine second hand, still looking like a new baby. I owned a Acom 1000 before so I was spoiled (I thought). I think I am now ! These amp is really great, mine delivers 550-600 watts pep and feels comftable. Thanks to PA0RCF who made a fan modification by placing a silent computer fan, and a mod that makes the fan run slow all time and kicks in when temp rises above 50°. but with the fan running constant at low rpm, the amp almost never kicks the fan in at high rpm, so this baby is very qiet in the shack.
I have a Kenwood TS850SAT coonected to this amp and made a mod inside the 850 to get the band data converted to the Icom's line voltage for band switching, works like a charm. the IC2KL follows where I set the 850, controlled by the logging software, a luxery to work with this combination. (pics on www.2die4.be)
I feel that having 500 tot 600 watt pep is not so different from the 1KW I was used to. I prefer having -3dB but constant power on, no more heating time, instant band change and no tuning.
This amp can't compete against legal limit power, but it sure makes a few S-points on the opposit station's meter and works like having a K in the shack.
If you can't find one, get it ! It is a great piece of equipment. |
|
| J73BT |
Rating:      |
2003-07-02 | |
| great amp and tuner |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I rate this amp and tuner 5++, it is suppose to put out 500 watts but I have seen it done 850 (if you adjust the swr null on the low pass filter). The ic2kl really makes u sound like 1kw.I have had mine for about 3 years now with no major problems, just a litle tricky to get going,but when set ... works like a dream. The tuner is also great , it follows you every where your rig can go (except 6meters). you just have to keep the presets and band switch clean with some contact cleaning solvent every now and then. Great buy ..........if you can still get one. |
|
| W7KPQ |
Rating:      |
2003-01-18 | |
| Great no tune amp |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
The Icom 2KL solid state no tune amplifier along with the Icom AT 500 automatic antenna tuner is a great combination. These units will automatically change bands when using an Icom exciter which makes them a dream to use. The 2KL easily puts out 500+ watts which is more than enough for most situations. I highly recommend the 2KL and AT 500 to anyone who wants a straight forward amp and tuner that rocks even though these units haven't been on the market for some time. Icom would do will by bringing back an amp like the 2KL!
|
|
| VE7ABC |
Rating:      |
2002-10-06 | |
| PERFECT |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I now have a complete ICOM HF Station. IC765/IC2KL and the ICAT500. QUICK, EASY, PERFECT.
The amp works just fine and it is a real pleasure to be able to get 500 watts out at the filck of a switch. No more tuning or waiting when changing bands. Just change bands on the 765 and every thing happens automatically. No problems with it, but I do find that if I'm long winded, the fan does come on and it is noisy.
Have used the amp with other HF equipment, and while the automatic band changing features don't work of course, the amp does. It dosen't care what brand of radio is driving it.
It's not the ulimate amp of course, but when chasing DX, the ability to change bands within seconds can really give you an advantage. |
|
| W6DE |
Rating:      |
2002-03-23 | |
| Wish I still had one. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The IC-2K and AT-500 pair worked very well with my ICOM-751A. I had two amplifiers the IC-2K and a Henry 3K-A. I ended up using the Henry only on 40M as it was so easy to use the ICOM set up. Just punch the power switches and you were ready to run. I had four different antenas and the AT-500 could switch between them, although, I ended up using a manual switch on the antenas so I could switch between the Henry and The IC-2K.
On 160M, 80M and 40M I felt the 500 Watts wasn't enough for contesting. And, the Henry didn't cover 160. So, I sold both amps and got an Alpha 76PA. I quickly regretted not having the instant on of the IC-2K and near instant on of the 3-500Z tubes in the Henry. With the Alpha's minute warm up, I don't automatically turn the amp on when I come into the shack to listen to the bands. Which means more no amplifier QSOs and longer times in the pile-ups. I suppose my neighbors thank me for that. You tend to use the amplifier more when it is instant on.
The IC-2K comes in two parts, the power supply and the amplifier. The amplifier has thermostatically controlled fans and they are LOUD. The first time it came on it startled me and I thought something was wrong--nope, just noisy. The fans would only come on when in heavy use--like contesting or long rag chewing. I ended up getting a modest sized equipment rack fan and placed it on top of the amp unit sucking the air out. I placed a variac on the fan to slow it down and keep it even quieter. This worked very well and the built-in fan never came on even in a 1,000 QSO CQWW SSB contest.
The IC-2KL has sealed frame relays for T/R switching. They wouldn't switch fast enough for QSK CW--although I tried. That was another reason I used to justify selling the amp. Turned out to be a wrong reason, I wish I still had the amp and tuner pair.
As a result of the quick power on and ready to run experience with the IC-2KL, I'd consider buying the newer ICOM solid state amplifier the IC-4KL--even at its high price.
Dave, w6de
|
|