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<DIV> Further on the Alpha 91b... I
have one I bought in 1995 from ETO before they were really in production.
Early on I kept having problems with static discharge coming back down the
antenna into the SO-239 knocking out my output metering circuit.. the
amplifier was ok, but I couldn't tune it without the front panel indicators
at the time... (maybe I could if I was technically astute) but after sending it
back to Alpha about 5 times, a late friend named Charlie Folmar came over and
looked into it and being technically astute, fronted for me with Alpha.
Well, it finally came back with a little circuit board attached at the
SO-239 antenna input and it has apparently cured the problem. I
also home brewed and installed one of those porcupine looking static
charge dissipators on the tower. In about 2010, I think, there
was a component failure which blew out the HV board which then had to be
replaced. In July 2015 I had to replace the transformer, but the OEM wired
one now comes from Hammond Mfg., is sold through Digi-Key and the wiring harness
is configured <EM>nothing</EM> like the original custom neatly routed
and cable tied harness... the harness couldn't even be rolled up to
fit into the cabinet anywhere, so I had to shorten it by about 18"
(damn). Also had to wait several months for the damned thing to
be made. I did have the filter board recapped by Glenn RKR
Designs in Longmont, CO while I was at it. I have gone through
several sets of tubes (4CX800/Gu74b's) over the 20+ years I have had it (due to
my operating errors maybe?) but other than those issues, it has been a real
grizzly bear of an amp. It has been humming along quite nicely over the
past 2-3 years. </DIV>
<DIV> All that being said, I certainly
see the advantages of having the simpler MFJ equipment. It may have
made my life easier in the long run. As a matter of fact, I was just as
happy with my old 800 watt Collins 30L-1 and old FT-990. There just isn't
that much difference between 1200 watts and 1500 on the air that I have
seen. Maybe the fact that the 91b can actually crank out more
than the legal limit has something to do with it...</DIV>
<DIV>73,</DIV>
<DIV>Russ AD5W</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Wed, 13 Dec 2017 20:42:48 -0600 "Charles Morrison" <<A
href="mailto:cmorrison@lusfiber.net">cmorrison@lusfiber.net</A>>
writes:<BR>> The 1200 is a workhorse of an amp with the simplicity needed to
work <BR>> on it<BR>> yourself. The 3CX1200 in that amplifier is
expensive but tough as <BR>> nails.<BR>> Treat it right an you'll never
have to replace it. The 91b is an <BR>> EXCELLENT<BR>> amp and has 2
4cx800/gu74b's. They WERE cheap at one time, but not <BR>> so
much<BR>> any longer (but not near as expensive as the 1200 or 8877's or
<BR>> especially<BR>> 8874's for the Alpha 76/78 owners out there).
But they ARE new old <BR>> stock<BR>> now. Add that to the
uncertainty of Alpha the company. Is <BR>> Dishtronix<BR>> working
on the 91b? Can you fix the 91b yourself (surface mount <BR>>
IC's,<BR>> etc?). The 1200 can be repaired by almost anyone with a
small <BR>> amount of<BR>> soldering knowledge. I've already changed
the relay, bleeders and <BR>> filter<BR>> caps in my 1500, piece of
cake. If I had to work on my Alpha 99, <BR>> anything<BR>> beyond
the high voltage or the tube, I'd probably be lost.<BR>> <BR>> Stick with
the 1200 unless its low on power and you don't want to <BR>> buy a<BR>>
tube. No need to inherit the uncertainty of the 91b. I have a
<BR>> spare set of<BR>> GU74's, but they're getting old. I gettered
them about a year ago, <BR>> ran the<BR>> heaters without the HV,
hopefully to keep them in tact until called <BR>> to<BR>> duty.. but
perhaps never?<BR>> <BR>> My 2cents.<BR>> <BR>> Charlie<BR>>
N5WE<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: LCC [<A
href="mailto:lcc-bounces@louisianacontestclub.org">mailto:lcc-bounces@louisianacontestclub.org</A>]
On Behalf <BR>> Of<BR>> <A
href="mailto:w5wz@w5wz.com">w5wz@w5wz.com</A><BR>> Sent: Wednesday, December
13, 2017 4:00 PM<BR>> To: <A
href="mailto:lcc@louisianacontestclub.org">lcc@louisianacontestclub.org</A><BR>>
Subject: [LCC] Amplifier<BR>> <BR>> Hi guys,<BR>> <BR>> I've
currently got an AL-1500 and an AL-1200. They both serve me <BR>>
well. <BR>> However, I've just learned of an Alpha 91b available for
sale at <BR>> what seems<BR>> to me a bargain price of $2,400. If I
do this, I'd likely offer the <BR>> AL-1200<BR>> for sale.<BR>>
<BR>> What do you guys think? Stay with what I've got, or go for the
<BR>> Alpha ?<BR>> <BR>> --Scott<BR>> <BR>>
_____________________________________________<BR>> LCC mailing list<BR>>
<A
href="mailto:LCC@louisianacontestclub.org">LCC@louisianacontestclub.org</A><BR>>
<A
href="http://mail.louisianacontestclub.org/mailman/listinfo/lcc_louisianacontestcl">http://mail.louisianacontestclub.org/mailman/listinfo/lcc_louisianacontestcl</A><BR>>
ub.org<BR>> Message delivered to <A
href="mailto:cmorrison@lusfiber.net">cmorrison@lusfiber.net</A><BR>> <BR>>
<BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> LCC
mailing list<BR>> <A
href="mailto:LCC@louisianacontestclub.org">LCC@louisianacontestclub.org</A><BR>>
<A
href="http://mail.louisianacontestclub.org/mailman/listinfo/lcc_louisianacontestclub.org">http://mail.louisianacontestclub.org/mailman/listinfo/lcc_louisianacontestclub.org</A><BR>>
Message delivered to <A href="mailto:ad5w@juno.com">ad5w@juno.com</A><BR>>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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