Gary,

I'll echo Kevin's praise of Tokyo Hy Power.   HRO now sells 3 THP units: 
The legal limit amp just started shipping and is in the $5-$6 thousand 
range. The one Kevin mentioned as being on his wish list is the HL 1.5KFX 
and is around $3,100.  The small one is the HL 1.2 KFX and is the 
replacement for the one that Kevin currently owns.  It is the one I got just 
before Christmas.    I think the main change  between Kevin's and mine is 
that they changed the final FET's and  there is a little more output as  a 
result. Rated at 750 pep ssb, 630 cw and 400 rtty.   Current price is 
$2,000.

Ameritron has the ALS-600 in the $1,300 range and latest production  models 
allow auto bandswitching with an optional unit.
 They sell a lot of these and they always seem to be back ordered. Some 
people love Ameritron and some people have nothing but grief.


There are also high end units from Yeasu, Icom, and the new one from Europe, 
the SPE Expert.

You can read up on all these  and find manufacture's links by going to the 
e-ham product reviews / hf amplifiers page.

As for accesibility, just turn it on, set the band switch if not auto 
bandswitching,  put in operate mode and you're ready to go.

Mine has severalLED's on the front that will light if  a fault causes the 
amp to shut down.  You can use a light probe to see which LED is on , and 
this will tell you what happened.

If you are not aware, SS amps are sensitive to swr.    This means you need 
resonant antennas, or  an external tuner that can handle the amp's power. 
Some  higher end units, like David's, have built in auto tuners.  Mine will 
trip out  at swr of more than 1.8:1 to protect the finals.  I think other 
brands and models are in that same ballpark.  When protection trips, you 
need to reset the amp by turning it off and on again.

I've been very happy with mine.

73, STEVE KW3A




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 11:12 AM
Subject: Amplifiers


>I am looking for a solid state no-tune amplifier for the HF bands that is
> fairly accessible.  I know some of you on the list have one or are
> knowledgeable on the subject.  I'm looking for any suggestions good or 
> bad.
> If you have or had one that you liked, if you could pass on the make, 
> model,
> and what website I could go to and look at specs and prices it would be
> appreciated.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary, N5GD
>
>
>