This is a little over-severe. The maker of the ARD-230A was a small
defense contractor whose proprietor was a ham. The 230A was the first
auto-tune amp, and worked well, for the most part, but the company
failed. I think you can bet that very few parts in the amp (as opposed to
any programmable electronics) were proprietary.
73, Pete N4ZR
At 10:07 AM 8/12/2005, Will Matney wrote:
>Rich,
>
>Of course the higher ups wont admit to that and make a change in a product
>all ready released. As soon as the customers who already own one found out
>about the change, they would all want theirs modified and fixed for free.
>Same as a recall on a car. The car companies wont admit to nothing either
>until it gets so bad with so many complaints by insurance companies,
>customers, and the government, they make a recall. If it's so bad, they
>merely kill the model, and don't make it anymore with no explanations, but
>they wasn't selling good. That goes on everywhere today and leaves the
>ones who bought the products hung out to dry.
>
>Best,
>
>Will
>
>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>
>On 8/12/05 at 6:50 AM R.Measures wrote:
>
> >On Aug 12, 2005, at 4:48 AM, Fortra wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Amperes,
> >>
> >> I am in process to make a difficult decision, whether to buy an
> >> Advanced Radio Devices Amplifier ARD-230A. The amp is in apparently
> >> good conditions, with quality parts, and operational. Does anyone of
> >> you have had any experience with it??
> >
> >I used to discuss, via mail and telephone, the ARD 230A with the
> >factory technician who repaired them. He told me that some of units
> >that came back under warranty for repair appeared to have been damaged
> >by intermittent VHF or possibly UHF parasitic oscillations, which
> >should probably not be surprising since the 3cx800A7 is rated for full
> >input in "Amplifier and Oscillator Service" up to 500MHz. After he
> >read my articles in *QST* discussing parasites, he became more
> >convinced that he was on the right track and he contacted me. He
> >subsequently informed the owner and designer of the repeated signs of
> >such damage he was seeing and suggested that they try decreasing the Q
> >of the VHF suppressors in order to decrease VHF and UHF gain. The
> >suggestion was rejected, the problems continued, and within a year ARD
> >went under. I still have the set of ARD 230A drawings he sent me
> >during the discussions, so if you would like to have them I will mail
> >them to you.
> >
> >> Judging from Google search, most of the problems were with software
> >> (run by Z-80 processor).
> >
> >- - - Editorial opinion -- As I see it, unless the equipment is to be
> >operated by a moderately retarded chimpanzee, trying to control a RF
> >power amplifier with a microprocessor makes about as much sense as
> >trying to control a lawnmower with one.
> >
> >> Amp has otherwise quality parts as Alpha not to get into great
> >> detail.But as it is fully remote, should I give in into it....Your
> >> advices please!
> >>
> >> p.s.It has pair of 3cx800a7
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Amps mailing list
> >> Amps@contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734. www.somis.org
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> >Amps@contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
>
>
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