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Reviews For: Palstar VHF-144 1000 watt 2 meter RF amplifier

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

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Review Summary For : Palstar VHF-144 1000 watt 2 meter RF amplifier
Reviews: 3MSRP: $2995.00
Description:
Specifications

* Frequency Range: 144 to 148 mHz.
* High speed electronic bias switching.
* True step-start control circuitry.
* Opto-isolated keying interface.
* Modes: USB, LSB, RTTY, FM, CW.
* Power Requirements: 117/200/234VAC 50/60 Hz.
* RF Drive Power: 10 to 15 Watts nominal; 30 Watts maximum, for full output.
* RF Output: 1 kW (SSB); 650 Watts (FM or RTTY)
* Input Impedance: 50 Ohms unbalanced, front panel adjustable.
* Output Impedance: 50 Ohms nominal.
* Antenna Load (VSWR): 2:1 maximum.
* Harmonic Suppression: better than 60dB down at rated output.
* Weight (with transformer): 43 Lbs. (19.5 kg).
* Cabinet Size: 14.5'' x 14.5'' x 6'' (36.8cm x 36.8 cm x 15.2 cm)
* Tube Compliment: one Eimac 3CPX800A7 pulse rated ceramic metal triode.
* Cooling: pressurized chassis forced air.
* Antenna Relay: DPDT; .1 dB insertion loss.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.palstar.com/commander_II.php
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0033.7
W5IB Rating: 2011-10-14
Great Amp !!! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Owned this amp about three months now, was used but looked like new. The fan is quiet and it loads well with drive from 10-30 watts for 600-900 watts out on a bird, my MFJ says more for what that worth. I have had no problems and am very happy with the performance. Called customer service about the output RCA jack on the rear and got the info from a nice tech. Nice smaller size to my old Henry but same output, quieter and does not require two people to move it.
All in all very satisfied and would recommend to nyone needing more power on the 2 meter band.
VE2CGE Rating: 2011-02-14
Low-end PA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This amplifier has very poor design
Instead of using 50 ohms relays coaxial type
they use low quality relays who gives high SWR between transmitter and PA and also give lost and leaks which is very bad for EME weak signal use and the "Q" of this amp is so high it become very hard and tricky to keep it on the air especialy at high power on SSB voice causing the amp to trip even at very low power like 12 to 18watts PEP and this makes the amplifier almost unusable for DX terrestrial voice communications.
After sales service has about the same quality as the their products
Blower is noisy and at high power level the amp running very hot even for short TX time
If you are looking for a serious PA for EME or DX do you're self a favour put more bucks !
PS: K1FO LUNAR amps works like a charm.
W9JN Rating: 2010-09-13
It does what is specified Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Greetings: I purchased this amplifier in July 2010 after owning a Command Technologies Commander II successfully for several years. The 3CPX800A7 is the pulse rated tube for the new amplifier compared to the 3CX800A7 in the former amplifier. It will cost more to replace if it goes bad but there are several safe guards in the new amplifier to forgo problems. The automatic delay for cathode protection will provide extra tube life as will the step start circuits for AC input start up. Grid trip is rated at 70ma. A flashing LED tells of the problem and one just has to lower input and switch the operate/standby switch once to get back to full operation. Palstar did a complete make over of the amplifier after purchasing Command Technologies. When first purchased it worked 100%, but while attempting a QSO using WSJT 65B the amplifier flashed and was DOA! Believe me it was a sick feeling seeing this happen after just one month of operation. After opening the cabinet (the first time) I soon discovered the nice well laid out circuit boards and quality construction. The problem was found on the HV rectifier board. The power transformer secondary cable is attached to the HV rectifier board using a molex type connection. By itself that was OK except that metal screws, staret washers and nuts were used to hold the connector to the circuit board. The washers were only about 1/16 inch away from the foils carrying the voltage to the HV circuit. The HV shorted to the the staret washer and opened the foil on the board. What happened next was my fault in that getting the HV board removed, I broke a small inductor coil on the meter circuit board with the handle of the screw driver. The handle used at the factory has an 18 inch shaft for that one screw and I did not have that long of a screwdriver. I e-mailed pictures and also called Palstar, explained what happened and in a couple of days received a new HV board and a couple of 330mh inductors. The replacements put the unit again at 100%. The new board now uses nylon hardware to hold the molex connector. A ham friend who works in the RF measurements industry looked at the original board and said that UL would not approve that board as it was built. The replacement hardware will be OK now. I can't say enough for the GREAT, FAST service received from Palstar! I mainly use the amp for meteor scatter, EME and other weak signal modes. I have had no other problems except to say the blower is just a little loud but that is a small price to pay for good cooling. The input tuning along with load and tune controls make for fast easy adjustments. I use the amplifier in the 144.0 to 144.300 range and just minor adjustments are all that is necessary to get the system back at high efficiency. With 15-18 watts input the amplifier usually puts 600-650 watts out. The manual is easy to read with not only good schematics but pictures of each board and other components. YES, I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS AMPLIFIER!