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Reviews For: TE Systems 0510RA 6M Repeater Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - 6M/VHF/UHF+

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Review Summary For : TE Systems 0510RA 6M Repeater Amplifier
Reviews: 1MSRP: 600
Description:
170 Watt 50-54 MHz continuous duty amplifier. Rack mount, fan cooled. Unidirectional. For repeater use only!
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0015
NW2M Rating: 2008-02-16
First look - brand new unit. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Purchased this 170 Watt amplifier to boost our club's 6M repeater signal into the 150+ Watt range. Since it is brand new, it will be on the bench for a few days before it is installed at the repeater site.

I give this unit high marks for my first impression. The "core" of this amplifier is one of the 170 Watt workhorse mobile units that has been modified for repeater use. Since power amplifiers used on repeaters never "receive", all of those parts have been removed. No relays, no switches, no lights, no delay, no low-noise amplifiers, no remote head, no nothing.

Construction, both materials and workmanship, are excellent. Everything is neat, clean, and to the point. The unit's faceplate fits in a standard 19" rack mount in a 3U (5.25") form factor. A pair of 12VDC fans move air across the heat sink and vented chassis enclosure. Airflow is front to back. I am guessing it weighs 15 lbs.

Operationally, the unit works as-advertised. I am driving it with 15 watts on 6M to full power. The RF spectrum is clean on the spectrum analyzer. Input SWR is below 1.75:1 on our transmit frequency. Power remains steady during extended key-downs into large dummy loads. The fans efficiently remove the heat. Voltage and current draw under full load are consistent for Class-C amplifiers. Nothing abnormal as far as efficiency nor linearity.

The test bench includes: Astron 50M for the amplifier, Astron 25M for the exciter, Bird and URM-120 Watt meters, kilowatt dummy loads, and a Motorola R2004D service monitor.

I hope to return in about a year with an update. 73, Al - NW2M