Amp for 2m

[KI4HRY]

I have a Mirage 25w amp now,looking at the new ones they Max out at 300w, anyone build anything bigger

[WB2WIK]

Sure they do.

TE Systems makes 350W and 600W models 1452G and 14612G: http://tesystems.com/am-radio.htm

THL makes 350W model HL350Vdx: http://www.tokyohypower.com/144mhz_amplifiers.html

M2 makes a 1kW solid state amp 2M-1K2: http://m2inc.com/index.php?ax=amateur&pg=405

Of course if you don't mind using tubes instead of transistors, there are much higher power options available.

[KE5BRG]

Sure they do.

TE Systems makes 350W and 600W models 1452G and 14612G: http://tesystems.com/am-radio.htm

THL makes 350W model HL350Vdx: http://www.tokyohypower.com/144mhz_amplifiers.html

M2 makes a 1kW solid state amp 2M-1K2: http://m2inc.com/index.php?ax=amateur&pg=405

Of course if you don't mind using tubes instead of transistors, there are much higher power options available.

What tube options are out there for 2 meters?

[WB2WIK]

What tube options are out there for 2 meters?

The Lunar Link LA-22 is pretty popular: http://home.cshore.com/lunarlink/la-x2A_data1.pdf

This one is made in Asia but I've heard people using them (off the moon): http://booster144mhz.com/index.php?o...&id=8&Itemid=9

Amp Systems, which is literally down the street from me, makes 1500W to 10kW+ tube-type amplifiers for several markets, including amateur; Charlie makes them to order, but it doesn't take long: http://www.ampsystems.com/aboutasi.htm

Henry built kW+ amps for 2 meters for many years (no longer does, but these are very available on the used market) and their model 3002 and 3002A, which are 8877 amps that run 1500W output are very popular.

Command Technologies made a couple of different kW level 2m tube amps over the years but they were recently acquired by AN Wireless and I don't know if Dan will continue making a 2m amp or not. However, the Commander-144 and Commander-II amps are fairly plentiful on the used market.

E.F. Johnson made a kW amp for six and two meters back in the late 50s through mid-60s called the 6n2 Thunderbolt. I had one of these for several years (it's a pair of 4X150As, runs about 1kW PEP output, or 600W CW output): http://eshop1.chem.buffalo.edu/image.../6N2-TBolt.jpg They're old, they're heavy (over 120 lbs), but they are workhorses that very rarely fail.

[KB2FCV]

Don't forget home brew. I have a home brew RF deck I picked up that has an 8877 final:
http://www.landfall.net/Radio/8877-1.htm

[WB2WIK]

Don't forget home brew. I have a home brew RF deck I picked up that has an 8877 final:
http://www.landfall.net/Radio/8877-1.htm

For sure. My own 2m kW is homebrew, and I built it back in the 60s.

There are also many possibilities to modify inexpensive surplus commercial gear, as I detailed in this article (see page 40 of this magazine): http://www.archive.org/stream/73-mag...e/n41/mode/2up

That article is very complete with schematics and many photographs of exactly what to do, and how to do it.

It takes a $100 surplus Motorola RF deck and converts it to a 500 Watt two meter amplifier complete with power supply and metering. It's quiet as a mouse because the tube is conduction cooled and requires no fan unless you want to use it for heavy-duty cycles like FM.

[KE5BRG]

Wow, I didn't know these options were out there. Are there any other tube amps or plans in the 150-500 watt area?

[K9STH]

For tube-type VHF / UHF linear amplifier projects you need to obtain some of the older ARRL VHF Manuals (the "olde tyme" small size). There are a number of different amplifiers using several different tubes that are in those manuals.

Glen, K9STH

[WB2WIK]

Wow, I didn't know these options were out there. Are there any other tube amps or plans in the 150-500 watt area?

The ARRL VHF Manual and RGSB VHF-UHF Handbook are loaded with designs if you want to build something.

Gonset (Burbank, CA) built a 500W PEP 2m amplifier using a single 4X150A, with a built-in power supply, for many years back in the 1960s. It was model 903A and looked like this: http://www.radioreprints.com/descrip..._903a_913a.php

They sold a LOT of these, and they're easy to find on the used market. They run about 300W output power with 5W drive.

Or if you refer to the 73 Magazine article "linked" above in post #6, that's an easy-to-build (MUCH easier than starting from scratch) conversion for a commonly available Motorola item and runs similar power: About 300W output with 5W drive.

[WB3BEL]

Really you should figure out what you want to do with the amplifier first and then decide which product suits you.

Are you planning to use it for FM repeater, FM simplex, Satellite, Weak signal linear service?
Do you want to use it fixed or mobile or both?
Do you want to be able to operate it from battery power?
What kind of antenna/s will you use it with?
What kind of duty cycle will it see? Or how often will it be used?
How important is cost?

If cost is the most important, I would say about the best bargain would be an amp in the 100-160W range. I am partial to the old brown face Mirage amps like the B1016 and B3016. They last a long time if you don't hot switch them, overdrive them, operate them into a bad load, or overheat them. If you use the external T/R control the preamp will work reasonably well. If you don't use the external T/R control you will likely fry the preamp. The preamp noise figure is not outstanding, but in many urban environments with high ambient noise it does not really matter. You can find these used for ~$150 or less. The T/R relay on an older well used unit may need cleaning or replacement. If heavy duty cycle is desired an external fan will be needed.

A step up from that would be something like a TE systems amplifier or TokyoHyPower. These are better quality at the 100-200 W level than the Old Brown Mirage, but they also cost more. At the 300 -350 Watt power level the TE System 1452G is a workhorse about $500 used and more new with longish lead time.

Personally I would not consider tube at either of these power levels. If you have it already or like to build great, but I like to take the amp mobile for VHF rover operations and the flexibility to run it from battery power in a vehicle or at fixed location with AC power supply is important to me.

The next step from that could go either way solid state or tube. If you don't build it yourself these options are pretty expensive and not really needed for FM type operations. If you enjoy VHF weak signal a lot and have a good location and antenna it might be useful for extended tropo or meteor scatter etc.
Big power is nice for things like EME. Although digital EME can be done with 100W and 2 wavelength long boom yagi with superstations.

I'd start on the lower end of things and focus first on the antenna and then on the power...