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Reviews For: Ameritron AL-811H

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

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Review Summary For : Ameritron AL-811H
Reviews: 187MSRP: 899
Description:
160-10 meter RF Amplifier. 4 811A tubes
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=AL-811H
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
24.51874.5
EI3GDB Rating: 2008-10-11
GREAT AMP Time Owned: more than 12 months.
GREAT LITTLE AMPLIFIER OFTEN PURRS AWAY FOR 2/3 HOURS @400WATTS LEGAL PWR HERE IN EI LAND, 800+ IN TO A DUMMY LOAD BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT 250 PEP WITH OUT A HICCUP, RECOMMENDED TO ME BY A FELLOW EI RADIO HAM, SSTV, RTTY ,SSB 160 TO 10 METERS NO ARCS NO SMELLS AND RUNS NICE AND QUITE ALSO, COMING UP ON TWO YEARS OLD NOW WHAT MORE CAN I SAY PERFECTO, EI3GDB
W7RAA Rating: 2008-09-10
Repaced fan Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I thought the fan a bit noisy. They sent me another. Just as noisy. I'm happy they sent me another. They said, "I should just hear air". I do, and the spinning that is transmitted to the case and amplified. Oh, well. Still a great amp. I can talk over the fan...hi.
WA1GON Rating: 2008-07-15
I love it. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like so many others that has review this amp, the only problem I have had with it was loose items. With me one of the feet was loose (no big deal), loose coax bulk head (could be a big deal if grounding wasn't good) and a set screw for the load turner. The set screw was kind of big deal as I keep turn the load with no effect. A call to tech support confirmed that it was the set screw and told me how to put it back in and cal. it.

Even without the load tuner working, I was getting about 500 watts out most of the time on SSB, once I replace the set screw I got over 800 on 20m. I haven't tried it on other bands yet.

Except for the loose parts this would have been a 5 rating.

Also another reason for the 4 was the tech support staff seems overload. I sent email asking if I could scan my license to get the 10/12 meter mode. No answer. I finally faxed it to them with no answer. I called and the person there found my request and faxed me the mode.

All and all after running the LoTW-Net last night I was very happy my purchase.
K9FON Rating: 2008-07-04
Absolutely GREAT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Im getting between 750 to 950 watts pep on 20 to 160 meters a little less on the higher bands. Easy to tune and it works slick running behind my Kenwood TS 830S. When I first got the amp i had a tube short out, but i got a replacement from Ameritron no questions asked. Granted it's no Alpha (Im poor and cannot afford that NICE stuff, hi hi!) but you cant get better customer support than Ameritron.
K5LG Rating: 2008-06-03
good quiet amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used this amp since around 1998, really a solid performer with around 600-900 watts out. Its easy to tune and nice quiet amp. Probably one of the best amps for the money out there
IM0QMA Rating: 2008-06-02
Tough and solid Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Very good amplifier for this price.Solid, easy to tune and with really high output. 800 Watts are true for bands 15 - 80 , something less on 10 m.I used at low power (no more than 450 ) on 160m to prevent burning my sloper.
WK9L Rating: 2008-03-03
Rock Solid Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The best mid-power amplifier ever made. I have owned the SB-200 and Dentron's they're not even close. For the price it is a no brainer.
K0IYA Rating: 2008-03-01
572b or 811a Time Owned: more than 12 months.
For what this amp is, I rate it a 5. East to tune at 55 watts drive I get a little over 600 watts with a grid of 102ma and a plate of 575. The need for 572b's that some people sugguest, in my opinion, is not worth the money. You will not get any more power, maybe some more heat dissapation and they will handle mistakes a little better. I guess if you already have 3 572b's (you do not need 4) on hand and need new tubes then use them, but I would not buy them for replacements. I would also suggest running at 600 watts not 7 or 8 hundred the S-meter reading is small and your amp will last a lot longer. My double bazooka for 40m tunes at: Load 3.1 Plate 7.6 on 20m my yagi tunes at: Load 3 Plate 8.8. Very near Suggested settings. Rob.........
W0WSP Rating: 2008-01-18
Great little amp for the money Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have had no problems with this amp. Depending on the band and SWR, this amp puts out between 450 and 600 watts CW. A 1.5kw auto-tune would be nice, but for 1/4 to 1/5 the price, this one does just fine.
W4GPL Rating: 2008-01-06
My first amplifier! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What a difference a few extra hundred watts makes!

Not much to say, other than it works and works well. I read the instruction manual cover to cover before operating it and it was easy for a newbie like myself to figure out.

The signal reports have been great and I'm punching through the pile ups like never before.

I'd certainly buy it again though I was a little disappointed that Ameritron did not provide the $3 plastic tuning tool. Runs very warm (as I'd imagine most amps do) and I noticed a few visual defects on the front panel. All in all, very pleased with my decision.