ALS-600 for first amp

[K3DNF]

I know "quality amp", "reliable" and "affordable" have wide-ranging meanings to different folks, so I'll skip the "what's a quality, reliable, and affordable amp for a beginner" question, and just ask does anyone have any kudos or complaints about the ALS-600?

What exactly do they mean by "no tuning"? Does it have an auto impedance matching circuit internal? Or just that it's tolerant of most expected SWRs and can protect itself?

Thanks for any input. I'm more interested in learning radio operating practices and theory right now, but down the road I'm sure there will be an amp in the shack eventually.

Dave
KB3WNA

[KF6ABU]

I have the same amp, and it was my first amp as well. It is easy to operate. I have not had any problems in the year i have had it, it is second hand. I drive it with 45w ssb, and 30w for cw. On some bands if the SWR is above 1.6 it will fault (turn off). when it does that you can switch the switch from stand by to operate to clear the fault. You do need to change the band switch to whichever band you switch to unless you have the automatic controller doo dad connected to your radio. I think lots of people blow them up by trying to operate 600w cw/rtty to them.

[K3RE]

I was considering the ALS-600 as well. But its $500 more than the AL-811. Both do 600 watts. As far as no tuning, its not that difficult. Once you do it a few times it is quick. I keep a cheat sheet so I know the load and tuning settings for each band (and within the band) for quick tuning. Also the 811 is more forgiving for SWR slight mismatches.

[KF6ABU]

The al-811 is a great comparison. The 811 will also safely give you more output in cw by 100-200watts and handle higher swr, at the expense of taking longer then .1 seconds to change bands. I got my als-600 for 850 used, which is the new price for an al-811. I also have a solid state tuner, although all of my antennas are now below 1.5:1 so a tuner is no longer needed on any band.

The next amp i'd buy would be a legel limit+ tube amp so i could operate at 1.5kw cw if needed, and not have to worry about duty cycle, and would hopefully be the last amp i ever buy.

I sure do like the extra power the amp gives, and liked it for my first amp for under 900 bucks. I dont think I would buy the als-1200 if I wanted a higher power amp, I'd just get a tube type higher output and duty cycle amp and call it a day. If I could have better and higher antennas I would do that, but i have reached that limit at my current QTH.

[WB2WIK]

The ALS-600 does not have an internal tuner. It will produce 600W into a very good, well matched load. If you have a mismatch, it won't. If it's a bad mismatch, it will shut itself off.

Most tube amps don't tune themselves up, either, you do it manually; but they will tolerate a much wider mismatch range than a solid state "no tune" amp.

Some solid state amps do have internal tuners which will adjust for about a 3:1 SWR mismatch (or maybe a bit more than that). The Icom PW-1 and Yaesu VL-1000 are examples of this. They cost a lot more than an ALS-600.

If your antennas are all very well matched, an SS amp is a really good deal. If they're not, an SS amp can be a bit of a problem as you'll still need a tuner to get them to work. Auto tuners that can handle 600W are in the $500 range. Manual tuners are cheaper, but then you're back to turning knobs, just like with a tube amp.

Can't win for losing.

[W6TMV]

I've had my ALS 600 for about three years with trouble free operation...I say trouble free, but then I do pull the cover off once a year to vacuum any dust and such out and off the fan and also clean the TX switch contacts. I run it at about 400 to 500 watts on CW with around 65 watts of drive. The Fault switch is very sensitive and will trip if the SWR is not well matched (I use an LDG1000Pro) and mine has been known to "burp" once in a while for whatever reasons the gremlins choose...just reset the switch and back on again. If you like the nice warm glow of tubes, get the AL811...

[ND6M]

also, for me, it depends on my operating "style", I do a lot of listening to the radio with "one ear" while I'M really working on the computer.

I used to keep a tube amp in STBY for hours and never xmit, yeah, its only grid current, but......

[WB2WIK]

also, for me, it depends on my operating "style", I do a lot of listening to the radio with "one ear" while I'M really working on the computer.

I used to keep a tube amp in STBY for hours and never xmit, yeah, its only grid current, but......

In standby, it's only filament current. Grid current should be zero.

[KB4MNG]

Ive got a al 80a and the als 600. Both are great, but for ease of use, the als 600 hands down. Especially to a new comer. Cant say enough good things about it. If you plan on getting the full 100 watts I beleive you will need to connect it to 220.
kb4mng

[N7WR]

I agree with the argument that learning to tune an amp is not that difficult and they are more tolerant of less than ideal SWR. Not to mention that a clean AL 811 can be had a lot less expensively than an AL 600. I had a 600 and sold it in favor of a tube type amp. BTW with good antennas you can work just about anything the folks with 1.5 K amps can work.