Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Ameritron AL-811H

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 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
N0HAN Rating: 2016-08-04
better amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a 811 and traded it for 811H have to admit not much power gain but hey 600 + on all bands not bad like the cost of the 811 tubes. Mine has soft tubes till this winter! About 2 S units 7-9 db increase. 40 wts in 600+ out
PY2KNK Rating: 2016-07-28
very good amplifier Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I did not give full marks because I had a small problem in the anti spurious plate going up the valves, one of the capacitors warmed much to burn as working with AL 811 H in the band 10 meters. (I believe that the problem may have been in manufacturing).

After Substitutes anti spurious plate and put 572B valves, was excellent, it works fine with only input 40W produces its 750W at 80 meters, and good powers (400-600w) in other bands, and no longer had the problem of heating resistors.

I bought the 811H AL in 2012

I am pleased, best value for money for power.

73

PY2KNK
AC6BW Rating: 2015-12-16
Great Amp for the Money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using the AL-811H amp now for more than 1 year, and I have found it to be very reliable and a great amp for the price range. My old SB-200 amp had finally gave up the ghost.I needed a new amp quickly, so I could work the FT4TA Tromelin Island DXpedition in Nov 2014. The AL-811H was in the price range I was looking at, so I decided to give it a try. I purchased it from HRO in Sunnyvale, CA.

So far, it has been very reliable, and works as advertised. I drive it to full output power with 60 W from my FT-450D. I get 700 W out on the lower bands, and about 600 W out on 10m and 12m. I drive it to full output power for my vertical antenna. My other antenna is a Q52 2-el yagi, rated at 700 W max power, so I reduce drive to about 500 W output. This requires about 25-35 W drive from the rig. For RTTY operation, I reduce power further to about 350 W out, and this only requires about 10-15 W drive from the rig. Audio reports have been good, and the amp has good linearity for digital modes.

I added the grid current overload mod, and I'm glad I did. I also use an external AC in-rush current limiter. I wish this feature was built into the amp, but MFJ/Ameritron offers an external unit that works well.

The fan is not very loud, IMO. I have the amp about 3 feet from my operating position.

My only complaint is that the input SWR on 17m and 12m is a bit high, about 2:1 on 17m, and a little lower on 12m. All the other bands are fine. I have tried tuning the 10/12 and 15/17 input coil slugs, but I have not noticed much effect. Maybe I'm using the incorrect size tuning tool. I have tried several different types. It would be nice if the manual recommended a manufacturer and model number for the tuning tool. I have not found this to be a big problem, though. I use the ATU on my transceiver when operating the amp on 17m.

The AL-811H has been quite reliable. I use it practically every day, and sometimes it is turned on for entire contest weekends, all without any problems. I haven't noticed any difference in the power output or required drive levels after 1 year of solid use.

I am thinking of upgrading to either an Acom ALS-600 or a KPA-500, so I can have no-tune operation and instant bandswitching capability. But I'll have to save my $$$ for those options. Until then, the AL-811H serves my needs quite nicely.

BTW, I did end up getting the QSO with FT4TA on 40m, long path, running 700 W output. I don't think it would have been possible with 100 W :-)
KB9RZ Rating: 2015-06-11
Does the Job Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Bought the amp brand new four months ago. Everything inside was as it should be. Peaking at about 750 watts LSB on 40 and 75 meters. No problems at all so far. I think this amp is the best amp Ameritron makes for the dollar. I love this amp.

Warning: my opinion, but I would NOT get the 572 version of this amp. Too much trouble getting 572B tubes these days, even though RF Parts is trying to rectify the situation. Who needs that hassle? 811As are cheap and unless you run digital modes (RTTY etc) all the time you won't need the 572 version anyway. 73.
KJ4EOZ Rating: 2015-05-25
1st HF Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just picked up a AL-811H for $500
needed tubes so I have $600 in it . very clean inside and out . I have to say I love it . I get full power 800+ watts on all bands if I push it . Most of the time I just run it at 500 watts with 40 watts drive . so far so good I'm happy .
N9AOP Rating: 2015-05-15
good value Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I owned this amp for 10 years and recently sold it and bought a KPA500. I never had any issues with the amp and used it often but never pushed it to the wall on output. If I could have afforded more at the time I would have bought an 80B but for the price, the AL-811H was an excellent buy.
Art

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N9AOP on 2006-12-29

I bought the 811H from R&L about 2 years ago. The only trouble I had was with one bad 811 tube after a couple of months that developed a short.

About a year ago I replaced the tubes with 572B's and the amp runs cooler now.

I use this amp every day on MARS where the power limit is normally 500 watts. It works perfectly with no problems.

I would recommend this as a starter amp to anyone wanting a low cost unit. My other amp is a Centurion which also works well.

Art
KC9VFO Rating: 2015-04-01
Works great,nice amp Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
A very nice amplifier, bought from DX engineering and everything arrived perfectly. A bargain at the price , gives the extra punch to break through the noise. My peak reading meter still shows 750 watts all day long. Thank you Ameritron for building a quality amp at an affordable price.
W6LZC Rating: 2015-03-04
Great Amp for the money Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Before acquiring this amplifier, I was operating barefoot. Found that operating on 40 and 80 meters barefoot didn't get your signal over the noise level and was difficult in making consistent and reliable contacts. Definitely requires using an amplifier to boost the signal and get heard on the air. Since I was on a budget, this amplifier met my need for power and within that budget. The amplifier is simple to set up and use. No problems in operating the amp and received good audio signal reports when transmitting. Highly recommend this amplifier for those needing one and on a budget.
K6MTS Rating: 2015-02-07
Bang / Buck = 10 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Great amp for entry level and beyond. My first/only amp so far. Easier to operate than I thought it might be, works great.

Just what is needed to get you through most pile ups, and allow that distant DX station you could not previously reach to hear you above the noise.

Totally worth the money for what you get.

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by K6MTS on 2014-06-29

Simple, easy to tune, works as advertised. My first amp and it works great. Pondered over the Solid state for less output and twice the $, glad I chose the 811H.
WD1W Rating: 2014-12-22
Great Amp! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Warranty expired on my AL-811H today ... so I started making some mods. Cut the power cord and put in a detachable cord ... now, less combersome to move around. Replaced the transmit LED with a BRIGHT one. Considering cutting a 4" hole in the top and installing a box fan on the top cover right over the tubes. Installed a set of Svetlana 811As. This amp rocks ... 800 watts ... easy to tune ... repeatable settings ... fantastic audio reports. I bought this amp last December because I had heard so many great signals powered by the AL-811H. My hope was that my audio would sound as good as what I was hearing. Mission accomplished. I'd buy another one and recommend this amp to anyone looking for medium power and great audio.