Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Ameritron ALS-600

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

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 ALS-600
Reviews: 197MSRP: 1299.99
Description:
600W Output Solid State Amplifier w /Power Supply on 100/110/120V for US
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=ALS-600
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
451974.2
AA4AJ Rating: 2013-09-04
No problems Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
My ALS-600 is about six months old. I have the linear power supply. I found that the TR relay had not been adjusted so, it was slow on CW. The Ameritron techs told me how to 'fix' it and that was the end of that. I run it at about 300 watts (40 watts drive) between my IC-7410 and an LDG 600 autotuner controlled by the rig. Match the band switches, switch the amp to standby, tap the tune button, and switch to transmit. That's it. No tuning, no dipping or peaking stuff, nothing.

This amp will not run QSK and neither do I. I have found that you need to slow the break in delay time to match your sending speed so the TR relay doesn't drop out so often. You can also control the TR relay from a switch. I couldn't be happier.
WY4J Rating: 2013-08-24
Great Little Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Purchased this little amp used from a SK ham in 2008. Just like every MFJ product I have owned in the my 37 years as a ham, it works great! I don't abuse it or try to overdrive it. The amp required very little drive and best of all, "no tune." Over the years, I have owned, SB-200's Drake L4B's, AL-811's and I am happy with this little one. Now, it does not have all the birds and whistles that my Elecraft KPA-500 has but again, is less than one half the cost and the bottom line is, they both do the same thing which is, 500 watts output with no tuning. I have no beef with MFJ or their products as I have never owned one that gave me any problems, had to be sent back or I had to take apart and repaired. I have absolutely no hesitation recommending this little amp and any MFJ product as they have always been very professional and customer service oriented in all my dealing with them.
KQ4YA Rating: 2013-08-24
Easy to use and delivers Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It's been a perfect little amplifier for me - works as it should and delivers a nice boost to the signal. I drive it at 60 watts and get about 550 watts out (I've driven it harder just to see how it would react and got near 800 watts on SSB peaks ... but I prefer not to push it that hard and don't). My only hiccup was operator error. When I first got the little amp I hooked everything up. Then I kept looking for an on/off switch on the switching power supply. I looked on the back, the sides, even underneath. Then I switched on the amp and the power supply came on. It made me feel foolish (not at all a new experience for me). I replaced my old SB-220 with this amplifier and suspect that - even with the power difference - I'm still able to work anyone that I could have worked with the old Heathkit amp.
AG7K Rating: 2013-05-19
Works well after rocky start! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my ALS-600 recently, brand new in the box. Hooked it up and threw the switch. No sizzle, no bacon, no joy!! The AC fan in the linear power supply came on but no 12v lamps in either meter. Of course, not being a newcomer to MFJ products, I should have taken the cases off and inspected it before operation :) The 12volt power supply fuse was blown because the 2200uf electrolytic cap was not mounted flush as required, and was pushed hard into the fuse holder (luckily on the load side)by the fan that sits right above it. The plastic cover on the cap was cut by the fuse holder resulting in a dead short. I had to remove the fan and thermistor assembly heat sink, remove the board, reseat the component, repair 4 very poor and one broken solder joints and re-assemble. Rest of the power supply solder and components looked ok. Popped the rf deck open and the solder and parts placement were very nice. Hooked everything back up and put it on the air. First thing I noticed was the sloooow open frame relay would hot switch with the Icom 7600 at times. Never have this issue with the AL-1200. Good thing I was prepared as off came the case on the rf deck again and the AD5X relay conversion was installed. Now it works like it should have from the start. 50watts of drive gives me 400-475 out. Any more than that tends to push it into the imd badlands! When used with the KX-3 10 watts gives me a nice clean 100-150 pep on ssb depending on the band.
I am very satisfied with it now. With good QC and better switching relays this would be 5 stars instead of 3.
WD0BC Rating: 2013-04-30
LASTED AN HOUR Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
PREVIOUS STATION WAS AL 811, LDG AT-1000 PRO II TUNER INTO A ALPHA DELTA MOD-A ANTENNA.

SYSTEM WORKING JUST FINE.

WANTED TO QUICKLY MOVE FREQUENCIES IF I DECIDED TO.

RECEIVED NEW ALS-600.

TOOK AL-811 OFF AND REPLACE WITH ALS-600

ALL WORKING FINE AS USUAL WITH THIS ANTENNA SYSTEM AND TUNER.....HAD ABOUT AN HOUR QSO ON 160.

TESTED ON ALL MY BEAM AND BUTTERNUT. ALL WORKED FINE.

SWITCHED BACK TO THE DX-A. WENT 7.027 TUNED LDG TUNER. SWR 1;1 : 1.

BACKED THE K3 TO 45 WATTS WHICH GAVE ME ABOUT 300 OUT WITH THE AMP. IN QSO ABOUT 3 MINUTES THEN IT QUIT!

AMP WENT DEAD!..

FUZES ARE OK....HAVE 120V AC IN THE PLUG.

AMP JUST QUIT!......

NOT THE WAY TO START A RELATIONSHIP WITH AN AMP.

NOW ...WE WILL SEE IF THE VENDER WILL HELP OR IF I AM GOING TO GET HOZED ?

IT IS ON A CREDIT CARD....MAYBE SOME HELP THERE????
SA6AUT Rating: 2013-04-19
Oh Yeah Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My first amp ever and I love it!

Bulletproof with no tune and protections, saved me a couples off times!

I got the lates model with remote possibilites and switch power supply!
Everything works as advertised and now I can work dx!
N6AB Rating: 2013-04-07
Impressive Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After forty years of operating with only 100 watts, I decided to supplement my Kenwood TS-940S with this amplifier, for those occasions when I can hear the DX stations, but they can't hear me. After using it for about five minutes, I could instantly notice the difference. The first DX station that I called, who was only about an S2, immediately came back and said, 'nice signal'. I'm not used to hearing that when working weak stations. After contacting a few more DX stations, I'm just afraid that I might get spoiled with this thing, by using it more often than I need to. Hopefully not ...

This amp (with the linear power supply) easily puts out 600W PEP on every band except 80m, where the max power drops about 100W. I'm only driving it with about 50 - 60W. Fortunately the speech processor on the TS-940S seems to work independently of its output power setting. The ALC adjustment procedure in the manual did not work, since the ALC LED was always on with the 'ALC Set' = 0 and power applied. I ended up setting the rear panel 'ALC Limit' fully CCW to allow the ALC to work properly with my radio. Now the ALC LED indicator and the TS-940S ALC action are aligned to activate at about -6V. 'ALC Set' = 5 (midway) limits the output power to about 600W PEP, while fully CCW limits it to about 100W. A fully CW setting disables the ALC limiting. Works for me.

After reading the other reviews here, I've decided not to rely on the ALC alone to protect the MRF-150's and the swamping resistor. I would like to avoid the brief overshoot spikes that could occur before the ALC first kicks in. I gradually increase the drive power until the amp peak power meter indicates 500 - 600W PEP, and the ALC LED is just starting to light up. This usually sets the drive power at about 50W. Overall I'm very impressed with this amp, although I hope to only use it when necessary.
KK8ZZ Rating: 2013-04-03
Just works ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Found an early one for $500 at Orlando 2011... it's a little ugly (faceplate peeling and there's no replacement for the pre-remote versions) but it is simply "plug-and-play" with resonant antennas. When I added a DX Engineering 43 foot vertical, I added an LDG AT-600PROII auto tuner too and they work fine together. Great investment. Highly recommended !!
KD4W Rating: 2013-03-06
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one of the first ones built and it's been operating without fault for more years than I can remember. The only problem ever was a burned out dial lamp and Ameritron sent me two replacements without charge! How's that for service?

I guaranty you I'll never own another tube amp.

I'd give this amp a 10 if I could.


KF1C Rating: 2013-03-06
FB Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Awesome little amp. 2 years and ALLOT of use. Puts out rated power no problem. The instant on is great.
Very forgiving amp. I had a coax segment fail while transmitting and the amp shut down on high reflected power. No damage or issues. A tube amp would have been up in smoke. Power supply is a separate unit and can be put up out of the way making it not much bigger than the rig.