The ACOM range of amplifiers is expanding. Visitors to our site may know that ACOM built the renowned Alpha 91b amplifier. Since then, ACOM have gone on to build the ACOM 2000A 160-10m automatic amplifier, and the ACOM 1000 160-6m amplifier.(Click here for more info)
For now, we can introduce the .............
ACOM 2000A
Automatic HF amplifier
RSGB's Member's magazine RadCom featured a full review of both the ACOM 1000 and ACOM 2000A in the March 2001 RadCom We quote the following headlines below....
*"The Acom 2000A amplifier is really in a class of its own........"
*"The two Acom linears reviewed can both be highly recommended as offering excellent performance and quality at a very attractive price, and in addition Acom have a 2 year warranty on their amplifiers (including the valves)."
For full text of the RSGB review of the ACOM 2000A, click here. For the text of the ACOM 1000 review, click here.
Click here to see what ON4UN has to say about this unique amplifier
and here's an unsolicited comment from the Pratas Island team -
Dear Sir: My name is Paul Pai. and Callsign is BV4FH. Our BQ9P QSL manager Steve/KU9C and our good friend Henry/KE1AC contact with ACOM before we took off for BQ9P Pratas Island DXpedition on Apr5-13,2000,a great news from our friends that we can have two of ACOM 2000A for our DXpedition,
It makes everything wonderful, and put everything together to make a successful operation, 31,000 QSO`s in 7 days.
Also it works very well by generators running 220V, 7 days 24 hours a day. We appreciated ACOM supported this operation.Thanks again, Paul Pai./BV4FH /BQ9P Committee./ DX Committee of Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League.
The ARRL reviewed the ACOM 2000A in May 2000 QST.
The bottom line - "The operation of the ACOM2000A is so transparent that you might forget that it was there. After initial set-up and programming with it connected to your particular antenna system, the amplifier will sense your transmitting frequency and automatically tune itself for the band segment of interest".
This unique amplifier follows the drive frequency but also matches the antenna automatically, without any need for operator manual presetting procedures. In normal operation, the 2000A will sense the frequency of incoming RF (a single dot or a word is enough), and QSY to the appropriate band. Provision is also made for up to ten antennas for each band segment, to allow for more than one antenna per band, or for wet/dry antenna characteristics. In auto-tune mode, the user needs only to drive the amplifier with between 20 and 40W, and the amplifier will match itself automatically to the load.
The amplifier is controlled by a remote unit (pictured right in the image above, and shown in detail below), which may be housed up to 3 metres (10m with optional kit) from the RF unit.
The remote control is only 5-1/4"Wide X 6-3/4"deep X 1" tall - about the same size as a paperback book, yet contains a back-lit alphanumeric LCD and LED's to indicate operate/standby, power on, protection, overdrive, and plate/filament overcurrent. Push buttons control ON/OFF and OPR/STBY. In default mode the unit monitors the exhaust temperature of the hottest tube, the frequency in use, and the operate / standby status of the amplifier. In addition to constant metering of peak forward and reflected power, the unit can also be switched to constantly measure and monitor two of the 20 most important parameters of the amplifier, as follows -
Grid bias volts
DC Power Input
Drive RF Power
Last freq used (to nearest KHz)
Load (Antenna) Forward Power
Filament Voltage
Amplifier Power Gain in dB
Plate HV value
Filament current - front tube
Filament current - rear tube
Grid DC current
Anode DC current
Screen DC current
Mains input voltage
Plate RF amplitude (peak)
Reflected power from load (antenna)
DC screen voltage
Exhaust airflow temperature - front tube
Exhaust airflow temperature - rear valve
Load (antenna) VSWR
Buttons are available for scrolling the menu to monitor the different parameters, to pretune your antennas for different band segments, add your "password", show the hours the amplifier has been on, etc.
The RF Unit contains a pair of inexpensive, rugged, but fully-protected 4CX800A tubes, silver-plated RF components, and a vacuum relay for QSK operation. Three on-board stepper motors tune the amplifier. Exhaust temperature is monitored within the tube airflow chimneys. A tape-wound transformer (similar to Hypersil) is removable for ease of transport/installation, and assures long QRO operation without strain.
ACOM 2000A specifications
RF Output - 1500-2000 W keyed carrier or SSB - no time limit. Constant carrier modes 1500W RF output - no time limit - with auxiliary cooling fan.
Frequency coverage - All amateur bands 1.8-29.7 MHz, including 10, 18 and 24 MHz.
Bandchange / Tuneup - Initial output matching process in less than 3 secs (typically 0.5 secs). Preset matching process / bandchange takes less than 0.2 second to move to different segment, same band and less than 1 sec for QSY to different band.
Tuning memories - Non-volatile for up to 10 antennas per each freq segment.
Drive Power - Typically 50W for 1500W output.
Input impedance - 50 ohms nominal. VSWR <1.5:1.
Output tolerance - Up to 3:1 VSWR (2:1 on 160m) at full rated output before SWR trip actuates. Higher SWR's tolerated at lower output.
Harmonics - At least 50 dB below peak output at 1500W.
Intermodulation - At least 35 dB below peak output at 1500W.
T/R and keying - Vacuum Relay: QSK capable.
Tubes and circuit - GU74b/4CX800A tetrodes (2); resistive grid, PI-L output with RF negative feedback. Regulated screen grid voltage.
ALC - Negative going, grid derived, -11v max, rear panel adjustable.
Metering - Comprehensive. Please see above under Remote Control Unit image.
Protection - Grid and screen current limiting, power inrush (soft-start provided), trip to excessive reflected power, RF arcs, password access protection if needed, correct T/R sequencing, tube exhaust overheat, cover interlock and HV crowbar.
Fault diagnosis - Remote Control Unit display and LED's plus "INFO Box" for 12 most recent events. PC interface (RS-232), plus remote phone line interrogation feature.
Cooling - Full cabinet forced-air. Rubber isolated blower.
Transformer - 3.5 kVA with strip-wound Unisil-Hâ core.
AC Power requirements - 100/120/200/220/240 VAC nominal. 50-60 Hz. 3500VA single phase at full power.
Physical - RF Unit, 17-1/4"W X 7"H X 17-3/4"D (440W x 180H x 450D mm). RCU, 5-1/4"W X 6-3/4"D X 1" H (135 X 25H X 170D mm). Shipping in two cartons total weight 80lb (36kg.) Plug in transformer for ease of installation and transport. No controls on RF unit except ON/OFF. RF unit may be located up to 3 metres (10m with optional kit) from RCU.
Owner protection - 2-year warranty, parts and labour, on amplifier . 1 year on power tubes.
Price - Please phone
PRICE MATCH - WE WILL BEAT ANY COMPETITORS PRICE (TO INCLUDE SHIPPING AND TAXES) FOR THIS AMPLIFIER. CONTACT US AND WE WILL DO YOU A BETTER DEAL.
