Bad service from H & Y Electronics in Kentucky.......................

[K4JCB]

...........Be very careful about stuff you buy from this outfit. They distribute the RM ham linear amp from Italy but do not support it. Mine quit working after a fairly short time. They have no techs on staff and they have no one they recommend to do repair on these units. They are telling me it must be sent back to Italy for repair.

[KR2C]

Don't you think that that is the kind of stuff you needed to know before you made the purchase?

[KD8DEY]

I always thought the RM Italy amps were cheap dirty CB amps.
There is a particular CB Shop website that lists them for "Experimentation" purposes only, Not legal for Amateur radio / CB use.

Wasn't there a regulation stating that commercial amplifiers intended for the HF band were not allowed to be manufactured if requiring less than 50 watts to operate at full output??

[WG7X]

John,

Sad to say but... The RM Italy amps have been discussed before here and on the "amps" E-mail reflector.

The general consensus is that these amp are, for the most part, thinly disguised CB amps. Using them on the ham bands is not a good idea, and buying them from an on line-distributor probably is not a good idea either.

Sorry about that, but that's the truth. We should stay away from these types of cheap amplifiers. I know that it is more expensive to buy a "real" ham amp, but it is well worth it in the long run.

What is a "real" ham amp?

Good question, but here is short list of things to look for.

1. Known reputable manufacturer. Currently on the list are the "big three" Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu. The after market is mostly dominated by Ameritron. Then there are the high end amps from Alpha and Tokyo Hi-Power.

Used amps are mostly from the original big three, but alot of Heathkits are out there also.

2. Normally 100 watts drive.

3. Real input network for the usual ham bands, but you have to be careful with this one because some CB manufacturers include a knob for that which really does not work well.

4. RF tubes, not old school sweep tubes and look to ensure that it is not "one driving three" where the first tube is used to bring the five watt CB signal up to a sufficient level to drive the final tubes. RF tubes these days are: 3-500Z or ZG, 572B, 811 in glass envelope and various ceramic triodes like 3CX1500, 3CX1000 3-250B and the like.

5. Transistor amps that have no input network and built-in preamps with "HI-MID-LOW" switches are usually CB junk.

There are more things to look for, but that's enough for a short list. RM Italy supposedly has some amps intended for the ham market, but so far they are mostly a CB outfit. Also bear in mind that rules in other countries mey be different from ours and what's legal there might not be here... and vice versa.

73 Gary

[KY5U]

Guy looking to save a buck by buying junk is zapped by decision. Sorry it happened, but it's what keeps junk dealers in business.

[K4KWH]

Guy looking to save a buck by buying junk is zapped by decision. Sorry it happened, but it's what keeps junk dealers in business.

IS their business mostly centered around CB junk? Aren't they loosely affiliated with Copper electronics? Just asking! If so, then there's your answer!!!

[W5TTW]

They are telling me it must be sent back to Italy for repair.

Or the nearest truck stop.

[KD2AKG]

Is this kinda like complaining that your General Lee 10 meter radio is broken, and the seller will not stand behind it?

[K2XT]

I went to their web site. It is a CB dealer, nothing more.
On the front page of the web site it says they will attempt to get my email address from my PC and will provide it to others. It says if I call the store and give them my mailing address they will sell it to others. I got the heck out of there FAST.
Good grief, what else do you need to know?

[N4BBQ]

Or the nearest truck stop.

+1 and IB4TL.