On the other hand I have just worked through a nasty lighting strike
damage incident with my AL1500. I worked with Willie and others at
Ameritron over a three week period as I zeroed in on the multiple
problem areas. I found all the techs to be helpful and good at guessing
what various symptons implied. Also, I ended up ordering a number of
parts and a board. They came quickly and the individual parts were
correct. I pointed out to Willie that some of the power supply
circuitry in the AL1500 did not agree with the schematic. He was aware
of the differences and also of the interchange of RLY2 and RLY3
notations on the parts list. In times past Ameritron has sent me a
number of small parts free.
They have been working for more than a year on a manual update program
and on-line availability of manuals but progress seems to be slow.
So, everybody's mileage varies but I have had good luck working with
Ameritron on a number of amps, tuners, etc. Surprisingly enough to me,
I have found the AL1500 to be more reliable than an Alpha 89 which I
bought new and which has been cursed with strange problems since the day
it came in the door. It's been back to the factory around 3 times and
is about to make another trip. I use an Alpha 86 as well and it has
been a workhorse and is still on the original set of tubes. BY the way,
I have found the Alpha folks very good to work with, it's only the 89
that's cursed.
Bob W2WG
-----Original Message-----
From: amps-admin@contesting.com [mailto:amps-admin@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of kb4tcu
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2002 8:58 PM
To: Amps@contesting.com
Subject: [Amps] Ameritron (Poor Tech service)
My ameritron al-80 has failed a week or so ago. It took out the meter
resistors .6 and 1.5 ohm. I called monday about getting some parts. The
guy that I got was named Willie . I told him that I had no schematic.
Even though i have asked for one for months on the Free Manual Service
that ameritron offers. never did get the manual.
As I described my problem repeatedly to willie the Tech. I stated to
Willie "Do u understand there are only two three watt resistors on the
meter board." I said " I think they are .6 and 1.5 ohm. I need those Two
resistors. I asked " willie are you looking at the schematic. He says
yes ." I asked "What are the values, "Well
willie said I don't have It in front of me." So I said" never.the-less
send me a 1.5 ohm 3watt and If you can find this schematic that you have
memorized send my the only other 3 watt resistor on the board. And If
you dont locate the schematic send me a .6ohm 3 watt regardless If I
irritated this guy calling needing parts for thier product. He should
have told me he was eating lunch and did not have time for my service
question. What do u think I received 3 days later? No! I got 2 51ohm
resistors. I dont even think there is a 51 ohm resistor in a al80a. A
16y/o order-taker at mouser could have got that right.
Ameritron Has crappy service. Period! I will never buy a Ameritron
product again. Or Mfj for that fact.
Kb4tcu
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