Well, given your need to build, you go for it, just remember there is high dc voltage in there...
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What is a good cheap used amp to keep my eye open for?
- Thread starter mr_fx
- Start date
Well, given your need to build, you go for it, just remember there is high dc voltage in there...
Unless you have one heck of a junk box for parts you will find it is more expensive to build than buy.
converting it can be done but once again you have a $700 to $800 amp that you will put another $$$ into to convert.
Better and easier to just purchase one all ready designed for 10 through 160.
The AL80 series are work horses, AL80A and AL80B, with the B being the best of the bunch according to reviews.
Keep in mind 160 is not about TX, although it is nice to have a KW output.
the trick/ or obstacle on 160 is receive, most run beverage antennas 1000' long for receive antennas. You can work local on 160 but it is noisy as heck.
Furthermore it is called top band for a reason. 1/2 wl is 260 feet above ground level. anything less and the antenna is a cloud burner.
do your research, read reviews on the amp you are interested in.
A single 3-500Z is plenty. the Plate voltage on the SB-1000 or AL80's is higher than on the SB220's you will get just as much output from the single 3-500s as you will the pair of them with lower voltage.
I have the SB220, SB-1000, SB200 Drake L4-B, and home brew 4-1000A amp in the shack.
the amp I use when i use an amp is the SB200, simple easy to tune works great on the warcs easy 400 to 500 out with 85 watts of drive.
Top band 160 sure play with it, try it, see how you like it. Most of the ops on 160 are older ops that either got ran off of 80 or decided to move to 160 due to the noise and mess that 80 meters has become.
GOOGLE is your friend
When you start talking low band DX it is another world.
Anyway this thread is abotu amps.
Keep in mind an amplifier will only give you 6 to maybe 10DB gain. you can get that much out of a decent yagi. or half that much out of a good loop antenna, ot extended double zepp ( in directions).
Before you go lay out all tha $$$ for an amplifier you might want to look at a good antenna system.
90% of my Dx contacts have been 100 watts, even in pile ups. The antenna system is the key, not the amplifier.
the rest of the time I could not make the contact even with the amplifier at full legal limit. Mother nature also plays a roll in that mess.
Improve the antenna system first, then look at an amp if you need one.
160 meters 1.910 you want some laughs? tune in their and see what that crowd has to say, then ask yourself why you even want to work 160?
