HL2 + 50W amp - suitable amp recommendatiosn from UK users

[Alan Artt]

I have just joined the grouo and have an HL2 on order.  I would like to source a 50W that interfaces nicely with the HL2 but that I can buy in UK.  I would love a Hardrock 50 but the extra cost of shipping, customs duty and courier handling charges are prohibitive.

Grateful for any input from UK users.

[G4ZAL]

The HR50 can integrate nicely with the HL2, BUT will require you to make/add on a serial interface to the HL2 to have the HR50 automatically follow the HL2 bands

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/tree/master/hardware/companions/db9

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/docs/HL2HR50.pdf

Another option is to make this amp (this needs an interface into the HL2's I2C data)

https://github.com/ea3igt/HL2-PA70

Both amps work well as I have both and made the req'd interfaces available on my HL2

https://g4zal.blogspot.com/2022/09/hermes-lite-2.html

There are many options and the HL2 is quite flexible providing you can make the neccessary adaptions to suit your needs.

I've also made an interface to provide BCD band data by converting the HL2's serial output via an Arduino Nano to drive my QRO LDMOS amplifier

Nigel

G4ZAL

[Reid Campbell]

Hi Alan,

I went with the Xiegu XPA125B and the band volts option available on the HL2 is specificity for it. See

https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Band-Volts

I haven't had any issues except getting low enough power from the HL2 to not over drive the amp. On some bands it will produce over 100W with less than 1W in. This is only really a problem with the TUNE button. It also has an auto ATU.

Cheers 

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

On 11/06/2023 08:42, Alan Artt wrote:

I have just joined the grouo and have an HL2 on order.  I would like to source a 50W that interfaces nicely with the HL2 but that I can buy in UK.  I would love a Hardrock 50 but the extra cost of shipping, customs duty and courier handling charges are prohibitive.

Grateful for any input from UK users.

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[gadget...@gmail.com]

Thank you Nigel and Reid for your posts, very useful info.

The HR 50 would be a good amp for me but only if I can get one in UK.  The Xiegu is readily available which is good news, escpecially with the ATU, though I'd like to limit it to 50W max if I could.

Cheers,

Alan

[Reid Campbell]

Hi Alan,

I only have a problem with the TUNE signal. You can set the Mic gain to lower you power to keep it down to 50W. I run FT8 and set the level out of the FT8 software to adjust the power.

Cheers 

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

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[gadget...@gmail.com]

Good to know Reid.
Thanks,
Alan.
PS my last foray into digital was Amtor in 1995 :)

[Heath Petty]

I don't know if you can get these in the UK, but I have used the mx-p50m and the RM Italy HLA150 with the HL2. I have a friend that uses the micro pa50 with his HL2. 

Heath

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[gadget...@gmail.com]

Thansk for the info Heath. 
The Micro PA looks like it might work for me, it supposedly supports Icom and xiegu band switching so perhaps there is a way for the HL2 to output that info to the amp.

[Reid Campbell]

That micro pa50 looks interesting, especially at under £55 ($70) from one supplier on AliExpress.

Cheers 

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

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[gadget...@gmail.com]

That one must be well hidden or they have corrected their mistake as I can't find it :)

Alan.

[Reid Campbell]

Ooops, my bad. I noticed what I thought was the same amp in the other offers you get at the bottom of the page. The £55 one was a OGS-50W which doesn't have a display or any way of switching LPF - I suspect it doesn't have LPFs.

Cheers 

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

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[Lou Scalpati]

I have not seen good reviews for the OGS-50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpTQI0low2o&t=117s&pp=ygUDb2dz

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[gadget...@gmail.com]

Reid, yes I found that one after some more searching. Might be OK but only goes to 24Mhz according to the spec.

Alan.

[Reid Campbell]

Watch the video and you will understand that is a POS. It would be interesting to see a report on the micro pa50 but I suspect
it will use the same power FET transistors that a lot of these cheap amp use so will give lower output power on the higher bands.

Cheers 

Reid
Gi8TME/Mi0BOT

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[Ron Lewkowicz]

OGS-50 does not have filters. You must add filters.  The MX-P50 has filters but I've seen multiple emissions tests where it failed on the 30-17m bands.  Some people have also had to mod the keying circuit to fix an issue with some radios.  Micro PA50 every emissions test I've seen shows it's passes. So far only complaints I've heard about it are that it's a tad over zealous with SWR protection shutdown.    Not sure about RM Italy. I've read very mixed reviews and for the cost probably better to just go buy a 100W radio. 

[radi...@mail.com]

Now got a bigger amp, but when I first had my HL2 I used it with a RM Italy HLA150plus amplifier. They quite often come up on the used market (which is where I got mine). This amp is not the cleanest at the full rated power of 150W but it is very well regarded if it has less drive and power kept under 100W. At this level it produces a very clean signal. Specified for 10W in for 150W full power, HL2's 5W takes the RM to about 75W max, and very easily controllable right back to very low power levels. It also has auto-sense bandswitching.

So to summarise, I found it an excellent and economical match for the HL2. I've kept it for mobile work. For my main amp I now use a SV2RIF DX-World-e 600W LDMOS amp. On this one, with pair of MRF300s , the HL2 easily drives the amp to a very clean 400W UK power limit on all bands, 160-6m (latter with transverter of course).

Hope this gives you just another option.

73

Max

On Monday, 12 June 2023 at 03:52:40 UTC+1 gadget...@gmail.com wrote:

[Charlie Rubenstein]

I can wholeheartedly recommend the Juma PA100D with the HL2. It can do up to 150W and has automatic band sensing and can be controlled via serial port (I have a Node Red flow for that) It’s sold by Rowaves.com.

Charlie KB8CR 

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