Amplifier suggestions?

[David Beckwith]

I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews  
seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective  
wisdom here? Thanks
Dave  K6CGE
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[David Christ]

Was over at a friends shack who is driving a Tokyo High Power 1.5
with a K2.  He speaks very highly of it.  He fired things up and got
through to a South African station first call on RTTY and then
switched over to SSB and used a vertical to work a ZD station I
think.  Got through the pile up on first call.  Very impressive.  He
has 296 countries confirmed and has a FT-930 which sits in the corner
unused.

 From what I saw, if the THP 1.5 is in your budget you probably
wouldn't be disappointed.

David k0LUM
Eastern Iowa

At 6:48 PM -0800 1/18/10, David Beckwith wrote:
>I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews  
>seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective
>wisdom here? Thanks
>Dave  K6CGE
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[PD2R]

Let's say, for argument's sake, I too have a THP 1.5 (which I do not). My
work and family take up most, if not all of my time. I can only put a couple
of feet of wire to use as a antenna because of HOAs. I have 10 countries
confirmed because I don't care for QSL cards or LOTW.
Does that make it a bad amplifier? I hope not.

I don't actually own a Acom 1000 but have used one for many hours at our
contest station or during field days. We Also use a ACOM 2000. Both
amplifiers are very good and near bullet proof. It has a very good
protection system which shuts down the amp if something is wrong. That said,
it will take a wide range of SWR without shutting down which makes it easy
to use because you don't have to retune it every time. If you do have to
tune the 1000, it will only take you a couple of seconds because tuning is a
breeze. The 2000 is fully automatic so you tuning that monster is even more
easy.

Our amps get a lot of use and abuse but up till now we never had a problem.
To give an example, last year we went to OZ to participate in the IARU
region 1 field day with the OZ5GX group. I had met them a year earlier
during summer holidays. During the field day we obviously used a generator
to power our equipment. It was a Diesel generator which provided 380 V.
After some rewiring we got 230 V which we needed for our equipment. After a
couple of hours something went wrong and the Acom started to shut itself
down repeativly and on the display it showed a code of letters and numbers.
I grabbed the manual to find out what it meant. I quickly found out it meant
"High Voltage" so I decided to check the voltage at the power outlets. The
multi meter showed 270 V (!). We quickly switched off all equipment and the
generator. None of the other equipment showed any problems but thanks to the
Acom we new that something was wrong and were able to fix it before any
damage was done.
As for the THP, I never used one so I can't comment on that amp.

73, Maarten
PD2R



2010/1/19 David Christ <[hidden email]>

> Was over at a friends shack who is driving a Tokyo High Power 1.5
> with a K2.  He speaks very highly of it.  He fired things up and got
> through to a South African station first call on RTTY and then
> switched over to SSB and used a vertical to work a ZD station I
> think.  Got through the pile up on first call.  Very impressive.  He
> has 296 countries confirmed and has a FT-930 which sits in the corner
> unused.
>
>  From what I saw, if the THP 1.5 is in your budget you probably
> wouldn't be disappointed.
>
> David k0LUM
> Eastern Iowa
>
> At 6:48 PM -0800 1/18/10, David Beckwith wrote:
> >I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews
> >seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective
> >wisdom here? Thanks
> >Dave  K6CGE
> ______________________________________________________________
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[Arie Kleingeld PA3A-2]

Dave,

I've run Drakes L4B and L-75, Yaesu FL-2100z and Commander hf2500. Never
bought one of these new.

All four are good amps if you know what you are doing when you tune and use
it. If you don't know or if you want it all automatic , then take the
automatic ones as suggested. (they are usually more expensive...)

73 Arie PA3A

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: [hidden email]


I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews  
seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective  
wisdom here? Thanks
Dave  K6CGE
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[W0FK]

I haven't operated an Acom, but note that it uses 4cx800's (as do a few other companies). Those have been discontinued, and not having a future source of tubes could be a concern. That's why Alpha switched the tube in its 8400 from 4cx800's to a 4cx1000's (new model is an 8410).

The THP is a nice amp, but bear in mind that solid state amps are more sensitive to SWR issues than tube amps. If you don't have good resonant antennas, a tuner may be essential. I also found that the THP 1.5 required 100 watts plus from my K3 to drive it to full or close to full power, whereas my PW-1 and Alpha 87A required a lot less for full output.

If I were looking for a non auto-tune tube amp, I'd seriously consider the Alpha 8410, perhaps one that uses 3-500Z's (inexpensive and readily available). Not sure where I'd go on an autotune tube or a solid state amp, other than what I'm currently using.


73,

Lou


>I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews  
>seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective  
>wisdom here? Thanks
>Dave  K6CGE

[w0mu]

 
Alpha or Acom.  I had a THP and it was nothing but trouble.  Maybe I got the
lemon.  They look nice but just did not seem to hold up very well.

I have an Alpha 99 and love it and have owned other Alphas in the past and
they were all solid.  

I have the Acom 1000 and it is great to have an amp on 6m.  It tunes easy
and works great.  It is small enough to consider for a dx pedition or
contest expedition.

Mike W0MU


CC Packet Cluster W0MU-1
W0MU.NET or  67.40.148.194




-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of W0FK
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 10:15 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K2] Amplifier suggestions?


I haven't operated an Acom, but note that it uses 4cx800's (as do a few
other companies). Those have been discontinued, and not having a future
source of tubes could be a concern. That's why Alpha switched the tube in
its 8400 from 4cx800's to a 4cx1000's (new model is an 8410).

The THP is a nice amp, but bear in mind that solid state amps are more
sensitive to SWR issues than tube amps. If you don't have good resonant
antennas, a tuner may be essential. I also found that the THP 1.5 required
100 watts plus from my K3 to drive it to full or close to full power,
whereas my PW-1 and Alpha 87A required a lot less for full output.

If I were looking for a non auto-tune tube amp, I'd seriously consider the
Alpha 8410, perhaps one that uses 3-500Z's (inexpensive and readily
available). Not sure where I'd go on an autotune tube or a solid state amp,
other than what I'm currently using.


73,

Lou


>I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews  
>seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective  
>wisdom here? Thanks
>Dave  K6CGE


-----
St. Louis, MO
K3 #2513
--
View this message in context:
http://n2.nabble.com/Amplifier-suggestions-tp4417753p4421482.html
Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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[Richard Squire - HB9ANM]

A quote from Rod on Vinantenna's (vinecom.co.uk) Website:

 Q2. Is Svetlana still making these tubes?

 A2. Yes, production has started again, but prices are going to be significantly more than for NOS tubes.
(NOS = New Old Stock)  

I have an ACOM1000 with my K3 but after having read that, I'm not worried. I have had an FT2277 for over 20 years and the same old 572's are still being used by a fellow ham...

W0FK wrote

I haven't operated an Acom, but note that it uses 4cx800's (as do a few other companies). Those have been discontinued, and not having a future source of tubes could be a concern. That's why Alpha switched the tube in its 8400 from 4cx800's to a 4cx1000's (new model is an 8410).

[Barry N1EU]

W0FK wrote

I haven't operated an Acom, but note that it uses 4cx800's (as do a few other companies). Those have been discontinued, and not having a future source of tubes could be a concern. That's why Alpha switched the tube in its 8400 from 4cx800's to a 4cx1000's (new model is an 8410).

Perhaps the most overblown non-issue I can recall in the past year, debated to death on the Acom reflector.  Bottom line: NOS tubes are still readily available for $150 on eBay.  If I were buying a new amp today, I wouldn't hesitate to go with 4cx800's.  

73,
Barry N1EU

[Bob Naumann W5OV]

4CX800's have not been discontinued.

The truth is that the old military version of it, the GU74B is no longer
produced. Gone with it is the low price of less than $100 a piece for
those old, dark gray, tarnished-looking tubes.

4CX-800's are being made all the time,and they look nice and shiny like
Eimac tubes, and they have an equally "Eimac-level" price of about $500
each!

73,

Bob W5OV
Array Solutions
(THP and Acom Dealer)


'>

> I haven't operated an Acom, but note that it uses 4cx800's (as do a few
> other
> companies). Those have been discontinued, and not having a future source
> of
> tubes could be a concern. That's why Alpha switched the tube in its 8400
> from 4cx800's to a 4cx1000's (new model is an 8410).
>
> The THP is a nice amp, but bear in mind that solid state amps are more
> sensitive to SWR issues than tube amps. If you don't have good resonant
> antennas, a tuner may be essential. I also found that the THP 1.5 required
> 100 watts plus from my K3 to drive it to full or close to full power,
> whereas my PW-1 and Alpha 87A required a lot less for full output.
>
> If I were looking for a non auto-tune tube amp, I'd seriously consider the
> Alpha 8410, perhaps one that uses 3-500Z's (inexpensive and readily
> available). Not sure where I'd go on an autotune tube or a solid state
> amp,
> other than what I'm currently using.
>
>
> 73,
>
> Lou
>
>
>>I am thinking about a move up in power for my K2/100.  The reviews
>>seem to favor an Acom 1000 or Tokyo Hi-Power.  What is the collective
>>wisdom here? Thanks
>>Dave  K6CGE
>
>
> -----
> St. Louis, MO
> K3 #2513
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://n2.nabble.com/Amplifier-suggestions-tp4417753p4421482.html
> Sent from the [K2] mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
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[W0FK]

I stand corrected! Sorry for passing along urban legend as truth.

73,

lou, W0FK

Bob Naumann wrote

4CX800's have not been discontinued.

The truth is that the old military version of it, the GU74B is no longer
produced. Gone with it is the low price of less than $100 a piece for
those old, dark gray, tarnished-looking tubes.

4CX-800's are being made all the time,and they look nice and shiny like
Eimac tubes, and they have an equally "Eimac-level" price of about $500
each!

73,

Bob W5OV
Array Solutions
(THP and Acom Dealer)