This changed my opinion and I’m going to start buying my stuff MFJ now regardless of the reviews, because I loved seeing all those American people working and having jobs
I bought my first AL80b directly from Ameritron back around the time of this video, maybe that nice lady was building mine! It was on sale for $1299 free shipping and it came with an Amperex 3-500z Tube
Glad you enjoyed the tour. We had a great time doing it. I would not turn down a 1200 or a 1500. I recently upgraded my AL-811H to an AL-811HD with 572B tubes. I am really enjoying it.
I own an Ameritron AL-811H, it works well for my purposes on SSB. I don't use it for RTTY or CW. It would be nice to have another video made of the ameritron factory.
I have the AL-572 talked about in video. had for years. only push 1 Kw or so. rated 1350 watts. came with Russia 572/b tubes. think sovtek. only had to blow out dust. you can use on AM/FM just keep drive down. I have used 10 meter FM just fine. have not used AM myself. I did hear same AL 572 on 160 meter AM and was sounding great!!! Had a lot of ameritron amps come across the bench. very well built. that bias bord for the AL-572 is really neat. on SSB tubes are just about cut off between words. same on CW.almost goes class C .I still have same tubes in when I got NEW!! great video. AM/FM users keep plate current and grid current down drive also.
I asked that question recently and was told they had other equally good sources for the transformers. It appears that no one is going to take over the Peter Dahl company and keep it in business.
I have an AL 811. 3 valve amp. The TX and PSU are identical to the 811H. I am going to fit the extra valve to my 811 to bring it to 811H spec. Valve base, 5 turn choke, 2 Caps 1 Res. Valve cap and a bottle !!. It`s done. Anti-parasitic neutraliser PCB is already there.
They didn't want to get into the transformer game. Amateur Radio was only a small part of what Peter Dahl built transformers for. Also, I think someone else eventually bought part of Peter Dahl's business.
I've bought 2 AL-811s. The second one I use and does OK except for some funny business tuning up on 20 Meters. The 1st one I bought self-oscillated and I could never use it (MFJ couldn't figure it out). I ended up cannibalizing it for an AM transmitter project. I still like MFJ overall and still buy their stuff.
Yea- Peter Dahl was a local Ham here in El Paso. He donated a bunch of stuff to our local club when he passed away- guessing about a decade ago now and I went to help pick it up.. Man I was a young ham and had no idea what I was saying when I told the others I didn't want any of the transformers, variacs and tons of parts.. 73s W5YAK
Can I ask about using the Amp in AM mode?......the manual doesn't exactly state AM mode operation, but I'm making up my mind right now in buying a secondhand Amp from a fellow Amateur and I'm thinking of using it mostly for AM use. What would be a safe operating condition for AM and expected power output. Here in Australia our legal limit for AM is 125 Watts, if the AL-811H is happy at these power levels in AM mode then all is good....incidentally I'm talking about long transmissions times too.
I think you will be ok with 125 Watts, but I wouldn't try any higher for extended periods. Also might want to replace the 811 tubes with some good 572B tubes if you can find them.
I run Both! AL-811H and ALS-1306. With a FTdx3000, IC-7000 or FT-897 (All switchable). Just busted a Pile-Up, with 9X0T in Rwanda. On 2nd Call, with a Dipole!! 1st was the 811H, 2nd was the 1306. I'm Happy.. With Both of them! 73 -Thom KD8RWR
Hi Guys, i dont like the sounds of the 811 only lasting about 1 year, what does that mean exactly, is it if you use it all the time, or 3 times a week or once a week etc...i know you can replace them with the 572B but you shouldn't need to or they should put them in there in the first place, i haven't bought one yet but thinking about it...any comments welcome, from Fred g4vvq in England...
Different tube brands will have different life spans. Of course how much you use it has an effect too. As well, you can abuse a tube and cause premature failure. The 811 tubes in mine where still good when I remove them at 24 months of use. I saved them for backup.
I had the 811H for about 3 years before part exchanging it for an Alpin 100 mk3. I must admit I miss the nearly instantaneous on. I found that RTTY and SSTV will weaken the 811A's fairly quickly, keep to SSB and you should be okay. I did try some 572B's, but found that the power was down a little on the 811A's. Your mileage may vary though.
What is the big deal about cutting the green wire? Here in the UK we're allowed 26dbw (400 Watts) only on all HF bands. I own a AL-811H (800 Watts), so for me it will run nicely at our legal limit. Do you have a problem in the US with QRO on the10m band?
This changed my opinion and I’m going to start buying my stuff MFJ now regardless of the reviews, because I loved seeing all those American people working and having jobs
I have a AL1200 here and I'm very happy with it. 100W in gets 2000w pep and the tube is 20 years old. Its a keeper
Thank you rob a great video bill
This has to be one of my favorite videos. I’d love to see more “inside the production line” videos for radios and amps.
I would love to go down there, build it myself at their factory with their help and then bring it home.
Enjoyed the Video and the Tour, even though its from 2007. I would love to see a newer one, I am sure it has changed.
I bought my first AL80b directly from Ameritron back around the time of this video, maybe that nice lady was building mine! It was on sale for $1299 free shipping and it came with an Amperex 3-500z Tube
Here we are in 2022 and the tube prices are about 3 times more expensive than they were in 2007.
Glad you enjoyed the tour. We had a great time doing it. I would not turn down a 1200 or a 1500.
I recently upgraded my AL-811H to an AL-811HD with 572B tubes. I am really enjoying it.
I use an AL-80B. Great amp. Thanks for keeping it American made, Ameritron!
I own an Ameritron AL-811H, it works well for my purposes on SSB. I don't use it for RTTY or CW. It would be nice to have another video made of the ameritron factory.
Great video, I have new AL-82 sitting here ready to install the transformer and tubes. I need to deal with the green wire! Randy
Great show !! And it looks like a great product made by great people ! I want one !
I have the AL-572 talked about in video. had for years. only push 1 Kw or so. rated 1350 watts. came with Russia 572/b tubes. think sovtek. only had to blow out dust. you can use on AM/FM just keep drive down. I have used 10 meter FM just fine. have not used AM myself. I did hear same AL 572 on 160 meter AM and was sounding great!!! Had a lot of ameritron amps come across the bench. very well built. that bias bord for the AL-572 is really neat. on SSB tubes are just about cut off between words. same on CW.almost goes class C .I still have same tubes in when I got NEW!! great video. AM/FM users keep plate current and grid current down drive also.
Thanks neat infromation
So, where are they getting their transformers now that Peter Dahl is out of business?
Great shows, btw... love 'em! :)
como me encantaria trabajar en esa fabrica
Jim and I are. Tommy is originally from Alabama, but he's an adopted Mississippian now.
I asked that question recently and was told they had other equally good sources for the transformers. It appears that no one is going to take over the Peter Dahl company and keep it in business.
I have an AL 811. 3 valve amp. The TX and PSU are identical to the 811H. I am going to fit the extra valve to my 811 to bring it to 811H spec. Valve base, 5 turn choke, 2 Caps 1 Res. Valve cap and a bottle !!. It`s done. Anti-parasitic neutraliser PCB is already there.
They didn't want to get into the transformer game. Amateur Radio was only a small part of what Peter Dahl built transformers for. Also, I think someone else eventually bought part of Peter Dahl's business.
I've bought 2 AL-811s. The second one I use and does OK except for some funny business tuning up on 20 Meters. The 1st one I bought self-oscillated and I could never use it (MFJ couldn't figure it out). I ended up cannibalizing it for an AM transmitter project. I still like MFJ overall and still buy their stuff.
It was Peter Dahl at the time of this video. Someone else took over that company later. I am not sure of the current owner.
Yea- Peter Dahl was a local Ham here in El Paso. He donated a bunch of stuff to our local club when he passed away- guessing about a decade ago now and I went to help pick it up.. Man I was a young ham and had no idea what I was saying when I told the others I didn't want any of the transformers, variacs and tons of parts.. 73s W5YAK
@10:25 for the record, where am I able to buy a set of 4 (811) tubes for $60 and a set of 4 (572) tubes for $150
Can I ask about using the Amp in AM mode?......the manual doesn't exactly state AM mode operation, but I'm making up my mind right now in buying a secondhand Amp from a fellow Amateur and I'm thinking of using it mostly for AM use. What would be a safe operating condition for AM and expected power output. Here in Australia our legal limit for AM is 125 Watts, if the AL-811H is happy at these power levels in AM mode then all is good....incidentally I'm talking about long transmissions times too.
I think you will be ok with 125 Watts, but I wouldn't try any higher for extended periods. Also might want to replace the 811 tubes with some good 572B tubes if you can find them.
7 years on... are the days of the tube amplifiers numbered?
I run Both! AL-811H and ALS-1306. With a FTdx3000, IC-7000 or FT-897 (All switchable). Just busted a Pile-Up, with 9X0T in Rwanda. On 2nd Call,
with a Dipole!! 1st was the 811H, 2nd was the 1306. I'm Happy.. With Both of them!
73 -Thom KD8RWR
Whats is the brand of the producer of the Transformer >>Peter???/
Hi Guys, i dont like the sounds of the 811 only lasting about 1 year, what does that mean exactly, is it if you use it all the time, or 3 times a week or once a week etc...i know you can replace them with the 572B but you shouldn't need to or they should put them in there in the first place, i haven't bought one yet but thinking about it...any comments welcome, from Fred g4vvq in England...
Different tube brands will have different life spans. Of course how much you use it has an effect too. As well, you can abuse a tube and cause premature failure. The 811 tubes in mine where still good when I remove them at 24 months of use. I saved them for backup.
I had the 811H for about 3 years before part exchanging it for an Alpin 100 mk3. I must admit I miss the nearly instantaneous on. I found that RTTY and SSTV will weaken the 811A's fairly quickly, keep to SSB and you should be okay. I did try some 572B's, but found that the power was down a little on the 811A's. Your mileage may vary though.
What is the big deal about cutting the green wire? Here in the UK we're allowed 26dbw (400 Watts) only on all HF bands. I own a AL-811H (800 Watts), so for me it will run nicely at our legal limit. Do you have a problem in the US with QRO on the10m band?
We have for years.
I think it was a legal requirement by the FCC to stop the amps being used on 11m by CB'ers.