Yeah I really like the amp. But again $1000 for couple hundred watts is a lot. You'd take that over the Texas Star?
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Need Amp Recommendation
- Thread starter Brian G
- Start date
But I am likely only going to get a couple hundred out sounds like since I can't put in more than 15 watts dead key--though with 60 watts pep maybe that will push it higher?. I would take 500 if I could get that with what I have but doesn't sound like it....
W9, I would not recommend the 811\811H to be used on 27 Mhz.
They are not designed to run on 11 meters.
It is my experience that power output is low on 27 MHz and one of the reasons is in the screen shot below from W8JI.
Most guys running AM are not going to be happy with the result of these two amps.
73
Jeff
Brian first of all eliminate the Ameritron AL-811 or 811H. Secondly even if you ran an Ameritron AL-80b with only 15 watts dead key and 60 PEP you’re not going to see 500 watts output. Third the difference between 500 jumping to 700 watts is peanuts 1.46 db gain.
At some point in your operations you’re going to need a DC power supply whether or not it’s 50 amps or 100 amps. Then you’re going to get into a quandary about variable voltage or fixed. You will have to decide between switching power supplies and linear power supplies. The cheapest route is megawatt or meanwell switching power supplies then again for rough $419 you can get an Astron 70 amp linear supply.
If you buy a base solid state amplifier either a 4 transistor HG 2879 or a 1 x 4 an HG-2290 driving 4 HG 2879’s. If they have build in power supplies you’re not going to be able to utilize those power supplies for anything else. You’re choices for amplifiers are basically Texas Star DX500 or DX667, Hopperbuilt, CarlBuilt or Fatboy or get an RM Italy 703 although 60 PEP will be to much drive for a KL-703 or any RM Italy amplifier. Even too much for a Texas Star DX500
As far as cleaning up your signal the truth is it’s CB radio and if your neighbors aren’t complaining “who cares.” Do I care personally yes. You can clean up your output signal some by running a Low Pass filter on the output and say that’s good enough.
Now onto another completely different subject regarding the input impedance of your current amplifier. If nothing is really wrong with your amp buy a LDG ProII tuner ($179ish) to match your radio to your amplifier. As someone mentioned it might be a good time to part with your current amp while you can make some money and before you let the smoke out. I’ve read your thread but I can’t decipher if your SWR issue is new or if it’s something you just noticed.
As far as what Amplifier I think is the best for 11 meters I’d choose an Ameritron AL-80b or AL-82 over any of them. If choosing between CarlBuilt, Hopper, Fatboy or Texas Star…throw the dice and pick your poison. Any amplifier will eventually fail…mostly due to some operational error. This can be antenna failure, over driving, over volting, high SWR, power surge at the outlet, poor jump cables…etc. You’re not going to get by on the cheap…meaning $300 to $500 dollars for 500 watts of output and a power supply. Oh and don’t think the input impedances on the aforementioned amplifiers (Carlbuilt, hopper, Fatboy, Texas star) are great but they do work typically without modifications. Even the AL-80b isn’t meant to be driven hard on AM.
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
At some point in your operations you’re going to need a DC power supply whether or not it’s 50 amps or 100 amps. Then you’re going to get into a quandary about variable voltage or fixed. You will have to decide between switching power supplies and linear power supplies. The cheapest route is megawatt or meanwell switching power supplies then again for rough $419 you can get an Astron 70 amp linear supply.
If you buy a base solid state amplifier either a 4 transistor HG 2879 or a 1 x 4 an HG-2290 driving 4 HG 2879’s. If they have build in power supplies you’re not going to be able to utilize those power supplies for anything else. You’re choices for amplifiers are basically Texas Star DX500 or DX667, Hopperbuilt, CarlBuilt or Fatboy or get an RM Italy 703 although 60 PEP will be to much drive for a KL-703 or any RM Italy amplifier. Even too much for a Texas Star DX500
As far as cleaning up your signal the truth is it’s CB radio and if your neighbors aren’t complaining “who cares.” Do I care personally yes. You can clean up your output signal some by running a Low Pass filter on the output and say that’s good enough.
Now onto another completely different subject regarding the input impedance of your current amplifier. If nothing is really wrong with your amp buy a LDG ProII tuner ($179ish) to match your radio to your amplifier. As someone mentioned it might be a good time to part with your current amp while you can make some money and before you let the smoke out. I’ve read your thread but I can’t decipher if your SWR issue is new or if it’s something you just noticed.
As far as what Amplifier I think is the best for 11 meters I’d choose an Ameritron AL-80b or AL-82 over any of them. If choosing between CarlBuilt, Hopper, Fatboy or Texas Star…throw the dice and pick your poison. Any amplifier will eventually fail…mostly due to some operational error. This can be antenna failure, over driving, over volting, high SWR, power surge at the outlet, poor jump cables…etc. You’re not going to get by on the cheap…meaning $300 to $500 dollars for 500 watts of output and a power supply. Oh and don’t think the input impedances on the aforementioned amplifiers (Carlbuilt, hopper, Fatboy, Texas star) are great but they do work typically without modifications. Even the AL-80b isn’t meant to be driven hard on AM.
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
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Thanks for the info Brad. I actually do love the old PAL amp. Have had it a long time and put quire a lot of work into it when I first got it. No problems at all but it is 40+ years old so who knows how long it holds out and I always said if and when it smokes out I was not going to try and repair it. The SWR issue has always been there at the radio side but frankly with the radio I used to have I didn't care that much and it actually ran fine for years. But with the new radio, I am more concerned about it so I'd like to get something cleaner for sure (new radio is a Stryker 955HP). I really don't know what to do...I don't mind spending the money if I can get what is the best option. Just don't know what that is right now. A lot of thoughts to consider in this thread. Everyone has such different opinions lol as now I see "strikes" on the Texas Star and the 811 so kind of back to square one....
Also I do use a low pass filter now though neighbors aren't really an issue. The Stryker as you likely know has a power control on the front and I can turn it way down to about 1.5 watts dead and therefore substantially less PEP so those low drive amps (like my current one) don't blow up..
If the SWR issues only appeared when you changed radios to the Stryker 955 then I’d buy a LDG ProII 100 watt antenna tuner to match your Stryker to the Input impedance of the PAL amplifier. I’ve never had a PAL but it seems to me it’s a low drive amp and your 955 maybe hitting it to hard as well which will eventually cause problems.
A LDG tuner between your radio and amplifier will solve your SWR issues. A much cheaper solution to a common problem. Just research what LDG tuner to get. Hell even some kinda of cheap MFJ tuner would work.
So what radio did you use to have sir?
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
A LDG tuner between your radio and amplifier will solve your SWR issues. A much cheaper solution to a common problem. Just research what LDG tuner to get. Hell even some kinda of cheap MFJ tuner would work.
So what radio did you use to have sir?
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
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The SWR issue was always there to some degree just like I said I am more concerned about it now. I figured I can turn down the power on the stryker and make it nice and low for the amp. I had an old Cobra 142 that I just decided to move on from. I still have a Cobra 2000 but that is a reclaim project I am still working on... I will check out the tuner if you think that might be a "cheaper" fix.
Very quick look at tuners. I assume I would need the AT-1000 Pro II since the amp does 750. That tuner is $540. Granted I know very little about them since I never had a need for one so I could be mistaken.... the other ones have low power ratings.
The tuner will DEFINITELY fix your SWR issue…how do I know…I’ve done it myself! No need to go BIG or NEW on the tuner…just a 100 watt capability which I believe most are rated at unless it’s a QRP tuner. Check out Qth.com and QRZ.com for a used tuner and do your normal price comparison shopping. It’s a more common practice by amateur radio operators than you realize.
When the amp is off the automatic LDG tuner will match it to your antenna or I believe go into bypass mode if you antenna match is good. When the amp is on the LDG will match it to the amps input. Unless you buy a manual tuner.
No need to make this complicated sir.
No you do NOT need the AT-PROII 1000! You’re only matching the 60 watts PEP from your radio to the Amp.
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
When the amp is off the automatic LDG tuner will match it to your antenna or I believe go into bypass mode if you antenna match is good. When the amp is on the LDG will match it to the amps input. Unless you buy a manual tuner.
No need to make this complicated sir.
No you do NOT need the AT-PROII 1000! You’re only matching the 60 watts PEP from your radio to the Amp.
Brad
KE0XS
South of Pittsburgh
Guess I am confused on how to read the power ratings. The tuner does not have to rate at or above the power output from the amp? See, I told you I didn't know alot about them! lol.
If you were placing the antenna tuner between the amplifier and antenna then yes you’d need something that could handle 750 watts, but your placing the tuner between your radio which only does 60 watt PEP and the input of the amplifier.
Call me, just sent you a PM with my phone number
Call me, just sent you a PM with my phone number