Amplifier Choices - What to choose?

[Chris Bryson]

Last week I received and set up my HL2 and have been using with Thetis. I've had a few voice SSB contacts with my Blue Yeti and received great feedback on audio, if a little low on signal. I've decided to proceed with an amplifier for my setup.

I'm in the UK and have a budget of £200 to £300 but could spend a little more if it's worth it.

I use a 6-Band Cobweb which is resonant on 20M through 6M though I know the Hermes only does to 10M. I also have an Icom IC-705 which I'd like to use the amplifier with from time to time.

There are Juma Clones, MicroPA 100 which I hear has less issues than the MicroPA 50. I've heard about RM Italy and 60dB. What amplifiers are commonly used with the HL2? I know everyone will have their preference, would like to hear some feedback then make a choice.

One that I am actively avoiding is the XPA125B from Xiegu. Actually, I bought a Hermes because I sold my Xiegu amplifier to someone who bought it for use with their HL2 and he had a pretty bad experience with it, therefore I'd like to avoid that one.

Many thanks in advance for people's thoughts and input.

Chris 2M0NZB

[JK1QLQ]

Get a real JUMA PA100-D from roWaves.

[Magnus Persson]

Hi Chris,

Yes there are a lot of info about this and many different points of view. I use a Cobweb as well and it is narrow banded so I use a matching unit after the amp to ensure low swr.

Here is what I know and have tested:

- HL2 with the new Micro PA50+ (must be the +) is a very well functioning combination. The PA is cheap and has many good safety features. 40-50w will get you heard quite well. The only drawback is that for long rag chew sessions it tends to become hot and for that you need to add a better fan. If you want more power I suggest to go with the PA100 (I have not tested that one). Here you could use a good ATU, there are many that handle 100W.

- HL2 with BLA350, I purchased a used BLa350 (the blue model) and it will give you about 100W in its original setup with 5W in. I have bypassed the attenuator and get a nice 200W out of it without stressing anything. This works very well as well. 200W with the Cobweb will do a great job. I use a manual tuner to match the edges of the bands.

It seems many have gone with the juma clone. But it also seems the results are varied. If around 100W is your alley I would suggest to go with the original Juma or a cheaper alternative the new PA100. The PA100 would eventually need some additional cooling solution (it’s at least needed for the PA50+ for longer sessions). 

Magnus

SA7EMP

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[Josh Lambert Hurley]

Hi Chris,

For what it's worth, I have both the Juma Clone and the MicroPA100 and tested with both HL-2 and IC-705.  In my humble opinion the Juma Clone is far superior to the Micro PA it terms of performance and use.  I found the power output on the microPA to be less than great (Between 55-90W) compared to the Juma (80-130W) on the HF bands. The fan is also incredibly noisy (i'm sure it can be replaced with a silent one though) and the menu system very fiddly.  However, I will keep the microPA for the 705 when I go portable or on vacation as the form factor is much better for transportation.  Hope this helps a little, 

VY 73,

Josh

G3MOT 

[Roger Bouche]

Sdr+ power

https://kitsandparts.eu/en/startseite/41-ln-p100w-smart-pa-100-watt-hf6m-smart-power-amplifier-for-yaesu-ft-817-icom-ic-703705-elecraft-kx3-automatic-band-switching-4260610689880.html

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[Miguel Martinez]

My 2 cents:

I bought the 60dBm choice, the Neptune 100w. It could not be the cheapest, but it's rock solid and works really well. Plus, you help Paul, a Ukranian ham radio operator. It's fully automatic, so I can place it next to the HL2, along with an ATM100 ATU and the RF Sampler. That is how I remotely operate on a daiy basis (using a vpn tunnel between the house where the rig is and the house where I'm at using thetis)

[Ed Grafton]

I'm using the PA & LPF bank from an Icom 765. With an arduino & teensy microcontroller, all of the knobs & switches in the IC-765 will control the HL-2, PA, bandswitching & VFD display. MIDI & CAT are used for internal comms. I am a bit stalled, as I want to swap out all of the pots for encoders, so that there will not be bad interactions from the front panel & Thetis software controls.

I have already mounted a mini PC that has 2 LAN jacks, so that I can plug the HL2 directly to the PC & have wired internet.

There will be 2 HDMI jacks, 4 USB jacks, 1 Thunderbolt jack & wifi antennas on the back of the IC-765.

Ed

[Don [N5SKT]]

I have used the Hermes Lite 2 with the KXPA-100 from Elecraft. Expensive Amp but it does have a built in tuner and both work well. 

Don - N5SKT

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Best Regards,

Don - N5SKT

[Jerry Kaidor]

I'm using it with a homebrew LDMOS.  The amp is capable of a kilowatt, but the HL2 only drives it to 550W.  

[John Shoffner]

Wow, Chris,   look's like you've got some good choices. I have a microPA100 on the way.  Some have had good luck with it.  I do like the idea of the Juma or Neptune.  Whatever I settle with, I plan to use at 40-50w to drive a KPA500.  Time will tell.

Have fun,,

John - Ko4mjc

[Chris Bryson]

Thank you all for the replies and points of view, I really appreciate this.

In the end I opted for the Micro PA100 which arrived last week while I was on holiday/vacation. I set the amplifier up using just the coax feeds (rf sensing for ptt and band selection) and my early impressions have been very positive. 

Regards, Chris 2M0NZB

[Joe Word]

You only need 20 to 25 watts to drive the KPA500.

Joe  N9VX

[John Shoffner]

Correct. That means just about 2amps from the HL2.   For any travel with the HL2, the PA100 does a great job on its own.

John

K04mjc