On Thu, 15 Nov 2001 12:38:01 -0600, Tom Moore wrote:
>Ok guys, I've got the hots for a new amp for rtty contesting..
>
>lets here the pro's and con's.. QRO, Commander, Ameritron
>and ??? Cost is easy to determine but what about performance,
>reliability, efficiency, heat, noise, etc..
>
>Tom/WX4TM
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I'd go with either Commander (what I have) or Alpha (what I used to
have). I wouldn't trust Ameritron at full output for RTTY contesting
over a prolonged period of time. Their design is too marginal.
I like the Commander partly because it has analog meters. Never did
like the LED bargraph on my Alpha 91b, although it did the job ok. I
also like the triodes in the '2500. IMO, tetrodes just don't tune right
- peaks and dips don't necessarily coincide, due to interaction between
screen current and plate current. That's not to say tetrodes are no
good; I just find the tuning odd.
The '2500's fan is noisy (aren't they all?) but tolerable, even over a
long contest weekend. If fan noise bothers you, definitely listen to
one before you buy, regardless of make or model. It's a very subjective
thing and not easily described. You have to hear it.
If money is no object, I'd go for the Alpha 87A. Has triodes and
autotune, a contester's dream. But nearly $6000 new and hard to find
used.
Commander: http://www.command1.com/
Alpha: http://www.alpha-amps.com/
Have fun!
73, Bill W7TI
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