| W8DCQ |
Rating:  |
2005-01-13 | |
| Good Value |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have had the ALS-600 for about 18 months and it works as advertised, the no tune feature of a solid state amp is a definite plus, especially during contest operation. I used it continuously during the recent ARRL 160 meter CW contest without a glitch and made 271 contacts in 47 states, 5 provinces and several Caribbean Islands using a 1/2 wave dipole at 35 feet. The optional 10 meter board installed in minutes and is fool proof. It appears the ALS uses indentical power FETs as the more expensive Icom and Yaesu solid states amps (four in parallel rather than eight). The protection circuit does work and prevents any damage resulting from high SWR. I noted several of the ALS-600 reviews reported relay problems; I haven't, but relays seem to be the weak link in about any amp unless they use the more expensive vacuum type. I did have to move the power supply under the operating desk to prevent the cooling fan noise from being picked up by the mic during SSB operation. The amp would have more "eye appeal" if Ameritron had spend a little more money on the cabinet and front panel design. |
|
| WO8USA |
Rating: |
2004-12-12 | |
| Ease of Operations for Multibanders |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
The ALS-600 allows me to switch bands easily without tune-up of QRMing. While it costs more than my previous amp (AL-811), the ease of going from band-to-band with it (hooked to my Mark V) is great.
The power supply is a bear, though---keep it away from computers/disks or they might get erased.
The only improvement I can think of would be to have it switch automatically based upon the radio control (like the much more expensive matching FET amps by Icom etc).
I am not using it with a tuner, and it seems to work well with SWRs up to about 2:1. I expect it will begin folding back at 2:1; if I ever have this problem I would get the LDG AT-1000 (as I though about doing).
I was very happy with my AL-811, and traded it for the ALS-600 only for the purspoe of no-tune bandswitching. I am very happy with it. If weight is a consideration, get the Ameriton switching power supply.
R&L Radio, Hamilton Ohio, gave me a great trade in and great price.
Chris WO8USA |
|
| K7JQ |
Rating: |
2004-06-30 | |
| Works as advertised |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Purchased new in April and is performing as intended and expected. I run it at a conservative 500 watts and have received nothing but clean on the air reports. I'm driving it with an Icom IC-746PRO...only about 75 watts needed to drive it to 500. Adjusting the ALC per the instructions was a bit confusing, but all seems to be working as indicated. I called Ameritron to verify the ALC adjustment procedure and the tech was courteous but still vague about the necessary steps. Protection circuits work as intended, fans in p/s and rf deck quiet enough for me, relay not any noisier than anything else. No tuning, easy to use, well built, runs cool, no TVI or RFI, plenty of power for my purposes....works for me! Side note: as with any solid state amp, finicky about SWR. Anything above 1.6 to 1.8 will trip the load fault protection circuit. MUST be used with a resonant antenna or suitable tuner... the ads don't tell you that. So far, so good...recommended for that extra "punch" over a standard 100 watt radio.
73, Bob, K7JQ |
|
| TG9AKH |
Rating: |
2004-06-29 | |
| First impressions----Excellent Product |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This seems to be an excellent product. It was purchased new and it came well packed, well protected. It took me less than 30 minutes to unpack, install and calibrate (ALC is the only thing that needs calibrating).
Everything worked as specified by the manufacturer. Power output is 600W CW, 700W PEP in SSB (measured using a Palstar PEP wattmeter). I also observed two-tone waveform using an oscilloscope---shape was exactly as it should be.
The fans were audible, but barely so under normal conditions---background noise from receiver was much greater at normal volumes. Relay noise was acceptable too (my Kenwood and Yaesu rigs have relays and they make as much noise, if not more).
Safety mechanisms appear to be working as intended--e.g., load fault indicator activated when I forgot to switch the amp to the right frequency range, after moving from 80 to 20 meters.
Whichever way I look at it, the amplifier seems well-built, electrically and electronically solid.
There's two things that could be easily improved. Firstly, the instructions manual could be a little more comprehensive (e.g., discuss step-by-step how ALC calibration is done, manual is no more than a 2 out of 5 in this regard).
Secondly, front knobs could be made a little bigger. They feel solid, not wobbly, but why are they so small, relative to the size of the
rf box?
Thirdly, the power supply is solid and seems capable of delivering even more power than is strictly required by the ALS-600, but why having a tiny meter in front? If you're going to have a meter, any meter at all, then let's have one at least the size of the meters in the RF unit!
Otherwise, so far, so good with the ALS-600. |
|
| SM6WXL |
Rating: |
2004-03-18 | |
| Very good amplifier! |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
We bought our ALS-600 from a Swedish dealer and are very satisfied how it works. We use it together with an Yaesu FT-1000 Mark V-rig and an LDG AT-1000 tuner. The antennas we use are G5RV and a Yagi 3-bander for 10-15-20 m. It is easy to use and to change the output.
Before we bought this amplifier we had an old Yaesu amplifier with tubes, but the new one is much easier to use.
73
SM6WXA Jan SM6WXL Gunnel |
|
| KC5LVW |
Rating: |
2004-01-21 | |
| I Like This |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I am a new second-hand owner. Upgrading from the ALS-500M. I enjoy the metering. cross needle power/SWR, Amps/Volts. Only had amps on the other. I like having a operate/standny switch which the other does not. In standby the power/swr meter stil is lit & functioning. Some people complain about fan noise but I have both power supply & amp about 10" away from the microphone & nobody could hear anything during a 30 min QSO. You can obivously hear the fan(s) but they are of such a low frequency it's not irritating or uncomfortable even with the amp/p.s. beside the radio. Bottom line, I think it's a nice improvement to the AKS-500M & I think it's a keeper.
73
Jon, KC5LVW |
|
| W8DMC |
Rating: |
2004-01-20 | |
| EXCELLENT |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Had a new one, used five months. Had a chance for a easier and larger amp, so I sold the ALS 600. Used the newer one two months, and it never even came close to the ease of the ALS 600, so I again bought a used one. Have had it four years now, and it has worked perfect to 625 Watts each and every day. A no tune, set once classic that takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I'm very please with mine, and the 400 to 600 watts always makes the contact 5/8 5/9 And thats the way it is at the W8DMC Ranch |
|
| K0YR |
Rating: |
2004-01-20 | |
| Perfect...so far.... |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I've only had this amp for about 3 months. I, also, took advantage of the "variable" transformer input voltage.
Regarding the relay issues I've seen here, I'm confused. This is the same relay used in their AL 80B and I see no signficant comments related to the relay in that amp?
The output varies from 400-500+ watts dependent on the load the specific antenna provides. It runs very cool; both supply and RF deck. |
|
| W6EZ |
Rating: |
2004-01-20 | |
| ok for what it is |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I bought mine used at a greatly reduced price.
I have had no problems with it except that darned relay. I found that by careful cleaning of the relay with deoxit the relay only needs a small amount of attention every 20-30 hours and that is just a quick re-cleaning.
Mine puts out full power and never seems to get hot or do anything unexpected.
For a quick and fast 500 - 600 watts it is hard to beat and often that 500 - 600 watts makes all the difference.
The only reason I am not giving a 5 rating is the finicky relay, as others have described. |
|
| W2DAP |
Rating: |
2003-07-11 | |
| A lot of quality for the price |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This is a very well-designed amp with a number of excellent features.
My line voltage is somewhat low in summer so I took advantage of the buck-boost winding to develop the correct voltage for the amp, despite soft AC mains.
Working on the power supply allowed me to examine it thoroughly and I found excellent assembly and very fine components. A look into the RF unit also reveals rugged components which loaf at rated power levels.In normal SSB use both boxes become barely warm.
Pleasant surprises include an extremely accurate PEP wattmeter thanks to a very good detector circuit. There is excellent protective circuitry also, including a fault indicator which will shut it down as well as a thermal overload for additional safety and security.
I like the convenient ALC circuit adjustment located on the front panel with an associated LED. I definitely can maximize "talk power" and examining the waveform on the scope, reveals superior linearity.
The fans in both the power supply and the RF deck move a lot of air yet are quiet and positioned correctly.
This is a well thought out little amp which delivers all the power most amateurs will ever need, with the convenience of solid-state no-tune circuitry.
|
|
