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Reviews For: Alpha 8410

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

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Review Summary For : Alpha 8410
Reviews: 114MSRP: 5395
Description:
The Alpha 8410 utilizes an enhanced version of the bombproof RF deck, found in the Alpha 99 and Alpha 8100. On the 8410’s control board you’ll find a microprocessor that allows us to normalize amplification performance, calibrate the power and gain metering for each specific band, and increase reliability and durability. All of these functions aggregate into a single greater benefit for the user, ease of tuning. The 8410 comes standard with USB and serial ports for remote monitoring and performance data logging. The power supply stack found in the 8410 has been designed for maximum durability and reliability, while allowing for extremely easy voltage tap changes.

This amplifer is handcrafted, designed, and built in Boulder, Colorado, USA, comes with a 4-year warranty.

Tubes: 2 x 4CX1500B Tetrodes
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.alpharfsystems.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001144.9
K2WOP Rating: 2010-01-31
NOTHING BUT QUALITY Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I am not going to get into how long I waited for my 8410 because thats "old" news. I will say that I have owned all of the top selling amps out there and the 8410 is a large step above them all. Right form the packaging to the top line performance, this amp glimmers. Alpha has really shown me that its really not hard to do it the right way. I have had many friendly phone calls with their fine staff about questions I've had about many things to do with my shack and the 8410 and they were all answered professionally without a hitch.
Now for the amp itself. It runs as smooth as glass. Tune-up is a breeze. Its the most quiet amp I've ever ran. Its got a great look and performance is bar none. So if you have the cheese----buy the best---ALPHA.
KB9R Rating: 2009-12-19
I'm a Lucky Dog! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
In Feb of 2009, after a very long wait, I finally received my new 8410 Alpha. So after several months of use, I thought it was time to make some comments.
As stated by other reviewers, the unit arrived at my door, palletized in 2 boxes. I was immediately impressed with the precautions taken in shipping. Upon opening the boxes, I was even more impressed with the thought and material used to protect this amp from damage! I had already purchased the plug needed for my 240 volt dedicated circuit and it didn’t take long to install the plug, set the voltage tap, install the transformer and place in the operating position. I did a very thorough inspection of the amplifier inside and out. The construction detail, in my opinion, is first class! After double checking all connections, and after previously having checked my system’s ability to handle full legal limit, I powered up the amplifier. Some initial items noted were the fact that power needs to be applied to the mains long enough to allow “boot-up” (I have my dedicated 240 distribution switched) before the “on” switch is activated. This takes several seconds. The amp won’t turn on if you switch the mains on and then the ON switch immediately.
The second item noted is the agonizing wait of 180 seconds while the heaters warm the tubes before the STBY lamp signals it is safe to switch to Operate. I am used to my directly heated tubes in my other amps that allow almost instantaneous operation.
The first operation of the 8410 required the exciter to be reduced in power to only several watts for tune-up. After finding the correct settings of the amp and logging same, the 8410 is extremely easy to tune from the logged chart. If you apply to much exciter power before finding the correct settings of the load and tune controls initially, the amp will protect itself by refusing to output power or by going into a fault mode. I find that between 41 and 50 watts easily drive the amplifier to full legal limit. Typically 41~ 42 watts on 160 ~ 40 and 45 watts on 20 and 50 watts on 15. I must say that I am delightfully surprised with how cool the exhaust runs at full output while running ssb. I expected even with the new fan that those two 4CX1000A’s would run much warmer.
I did have a show stopping problem after only one long QSO. I contacted Molly at Alpha and was pleased to receive help with none of the problems I had read others have reported. I want to make sure I make that point, that I had NO problems contacting or getting help from Molly, Brad or other that I talked with. I was very happy that they could teleport into my computer, which in turn connected to the amp with Hyper Term, and trouble shoot the unit. I am not certain how well this may have gone if I had purchased the amp from some other part of the world. Anyway, I ended up pulling a circuit board and shipping it out to Colorado for testing. A common surface mount regulator had failed by what I consider infant mortality, and I was given a full explanation. The board was returned; I installed it, and have never had another hiccup with the 8410. Actually, I am happy to have gone though that failure as it was a learning experience for me and also made me comfortable with their service.
So, would I buy another amp from Alpha? The answer is “in a heart beat”.
K7ZP Rating: 2009-08-03
OUTSTANDING Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I received my 8410 the end of April 2009 and wanted to wait a few months to get past the honeymoon period and see if any infant mortality issues would present themselves so that a valid and objective review could be posted.

As mentioned the amplifier arrived FedEx on a pallet... not a mark on the amp or the transformer shipping container and the best part was both units when unpacked were perfect. It is unfortunate that shippers can be so rough on delicate equipment.

After opening removing the case screws of the amplifier the very first thing you will notice is the extremely clean and well thought out design before you. As a RF Systems Engineer by trade, I really appreciate the thought that went into the design and execution of the 8410. To start with the 4CX1000A tetrodes and sockets are mounted on a tube deck that is then mounted on the main part of the RF chassis. If you have ever needed to replace the blower assembly on a amp you are painfully aware how much time it takes and how much needs to be removed. Not so on the 8410..... did I mention the thought put into their design. The RF tube deck can be removed in less than 10 minutes after opening the amp and then the axle is ready to access.

Operation and tuning is very easy and spot on. When band changing, it only takes a few seconds as the amp is returned to the numbers in tune and load ..... you are ready to go. The axle fan is very quiet in operation and has 3 speeds available dependent on tube deck temperature. After a long transmission my amp will go to it's second speed, the tube exhaust being about 145F, the deck temperature drops quickly and the fan reverts to it's low speed setting. On more normal transmissions the fan is on it's lowest setting all of the time.

Some will question that possibly the use of two 4CX1000A tetrodes might seem like overkill in a legal amp. These tubes are widely used in industry and while they have been around for a long time, they will continue to be available for many years to come. The 4CX800A/GU74B Soviet/Russian tubes used in many amps including the Alpha 91b, 99 and 8100 are excellent tubes however availability to the manufacturing folks is very questionable and as we have all seen much more expensive and more difficult to locate.

In conclusion, this amp just plain works. It is a pleasure to deal with the folks at Alpha... a great team.

Cheers... Frank, K7ZP
K4SX Rating: 2009-06-07
Excellent amplifier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I received my Alpha 8410 June 5th via FedEx. I have been an Alpha amplifier fan for many many years. I currently own the Alpha 87A and the Alpha 77sx. I have owned in the past 3 Alpha 78s and 2 Alpha 76PAs.

The amplifier was shipped via FedEx in 2 boxes strapped to a wooden pallet. Also the packing internal to the boxes was extremely good. The power transformer installed effortlessly, guided into place by 2 guide rails to ensure proper placement.

The amplifier powered up as predicted and described in the manual and was visually counted down via the RF Output meter. I initially tuned the amplifier up with 25 watts from my IC-7800 and I used a military 50 dummy load as an antenna. I used the spec sheet shipped with the amplifier and found their test measurements in line with mine. At the 25 watt drive level the amplifier put out 1000+ watts on 20 meters. I increased the drive to 40 watts and the amplifier put out 1500+ watts with very little tweeking of the tune and load controls. The amplifier tunes up in just a few seconds. (very broad-banded).

Tuning the amplifier is very easy and the spec sheet is almost spot on for setting. Also the amplifier is quiet.

Fit and finish of the amplifier is typical Alpha quality. Very nice. The internal engineering and construction is fantastic.

I will close with one negative and that is the manual. There are certainly improvements that can be made and two of them are overall quality and there is no schematic.

73,

K4SX