Ameritron AL-811 Ham Radio Linear Amplifier - Do You Really need one? 

I mainly operate 80 meters. You need an amp on 80 meters due to a high noise floor. To gain a full S unit, you need to increase power 4 times, not 10. 6 db per S unit on most transceivers. Doubling your output gives you 3 db.

Increasing ones power from 100 Watts to 400 Watts has the potential to give you a 1 S-Unit advantage on the receiving end. An increase from 100 Watts to 1000 Watts would be an increase of 1.7 S-Units. If you want to know exactly what's going on, try logging into an on-line SDR at a distant location and monitor yourself while switching between running 'barefoot' and running with amplification and see!

Well said, we sometimes forget it's JUST a hobby ! Thanks for the upload.

What people fail to take into account is that the noise floor on the lower HF bands is significant and an extra 6dB or 1 S-unit can be the difference between making the contact or not. A 600W amp will give you enough oomph to break through the noise floor and be heard.

Excellent production. Thank you!

YES!!! Life is too short for QRP

I like this guys honesty it comes through the lens loud and clear 73

Enjoyed your video and advice. I don't currently own an amp, but have pondered the question a few times when unable to bust a pileup.

1 S-meter point is the difference between hard DX and not in log (expecially in DXpeditions pileup)

Nice video ,thanks for taking the time to make it 73 Leo

1 S-point is 6 dB so that is 4 times more power not 10 times.

i bought an ah 811 and it has made a huge difference for me i operate all mode all bands from 160m to 70 cm it helps being heard when chasing rare dx andis great for am and ssb transmissions on the lower bands. i alsready have a good antenna setup do this was the next choice de vk3ktt

Love your great sense of humour, I will keep and ear out for your QRP station from here in Sydney Oz VK2UAL. Have a lovely weekend kind regards Richard vk2ual

Thanks for the video. I like your style and I like your attitude. Very entertaining video. You make some good points about increasing the signal output without an amp.

Great video and it's true do we really need that amplifier. I have a few of them here taking up space and I have not used any one of them for over a year. An AL-811H amplifier is next to me right now and I should blow the dust out of it. I believe as you do that antennas and feed line are good way to increase the efficiency of your station. Thank for the video

Smiling! A Linear Amplifier is a nice to have more than a need, Thats why I have 3, one not working at this time, was in the basement when it flooded.

What a great viewpoint. It's only a hobby. So very true. I mostly use ham radio for emergency communications. We live in hurricane country so ham's are called on regularly. My club and group work with local and state agencies during emergencies so I find my AL-811H very useful then. Thanks for a great video! Jack K5FIT

Ten times the output power is a 10dB increase, which would actually be ALMOST 2 S-units on a calibrated S meter. One S-unit would correspond to a 4X increase in output power. That is about what a functioning AL-811 amp would provide.

Chasing DX is an enjoyable event for many people. Adding only 400 watts to your output power gives a noticeable increase at the receiving end. I do agree that making a better antenna is the most efficient way to increase your signal levels at BOTH the transmit and receive ends of the QSO. I was running 1500 watts here for a number of years. Recently, I purchased a 500 watt linear. I have found it so effective that I rarely run a full kilowatt any more. I have to say that I am 99% CW here. If I were SSB I would be running the full kilowatt a lot more. Thank You for the excellent video … best of 73 ...

Love the comment about getting out the shack to meet people.

Well, I’m convinced that an amplifier is not what I need at the moment. Got my ticket about 18 months ago (USA) and have been experimenting with antennas. I have validated that a resonant antenna up as high as possible is a worthy goal to achieve. Thanks for your perspective and reminder that it’s a hobby .... have some fun .... meet real people on occasion. 😊

Excellent advice

Thank you for the great advise. Yes it is just a hobby hard to get out with this covid thing stay safe

You say wisely, this is a hobby! I sold the amplifier, mounted the 80 / 40m bazooka and the 20 / 15m GP, a much better effect! Greetings from Poland

Lol..the most real and one of the best videos ever!!! It IS a hobby and it IS all subjective!! Either spend the $$ and or time on more power or be happy using what you like and can afford. There is no substitute for talking to real people in real life!!!

Great advice sir.

In the UK as I understand it you only get 400W out. If you do 80M especially in the summer yes you need an amp and for 160M as well. Most of my operating is on 80M, a smattering of 160M ragchewing and nets. My TENTEC centurion is on all the time. On those bands if you want to be heard you need an amp. :-) Most people these days don't have the room for an 80M beam I don't. In those cases the amp makes a big difference. Also even if you put 572B's in the 811 type amps you only have a power supply big enough for the 811's so treat the 572's as such. You do get more plate dissipation though. Happy hamming.

I've got an IC-730 that pushes about 65 watts PEP. It drives my AL-811 perfectly, no ALC needed. Nice amp (BTW I recommend the 572b upgrade - graphite doesn't melt).

An Honest man. Good answer.

Amp's are great. Buy one, if you can. I recently picked up a used AL-572 (very similar to the 811H) and have been VERY happy with it. It does an easy 1Kw on SSB with 60-80 watts in (max 1300w). It's nice to be heard, and even cooler to be the operator who others can hear, but you can't hear them. Lol While I do enjoy operating barefoot (a bit more of a challenge), it's also nice to have the ability to punch through the QRM/QRN when necessary. 73's, Alan

I found your channel and have subscribed. You are very knowledgeable and I like how you present the information. Thank you for this video. 73! de K0PIR

Great channel

I have an 811 h i bought at a yard sale (a sale by a person on their lawn of stuff they don't want anymore) that wasn't working due to blown tubes for $100.00 usd a few years ago. I put the tubes in it to make it a 811hd so now it's a 800 watts pep on ssb amp that's very rugged. It really has worked well for SSB dx here during the low in the sunspot cycle. The problem? 95% of what I do is 80 meter CW with an NVIS antenna and if you need more than 100 watts for that the band is in such a shape its time to go to bed and not aggravate yourself. I plan to get into SSTV and maybe 160 meters so maybe Ill use it. If not maybe it will go to a swap meet. I like to think having one makes my weiner bigger though.

I've been ham radio since early 1990s, took a long break from 2005 to 2018 but back then I did not do much HF, my main interest was satellite, meteor scatter and aurora propagation, I use to have a dipole on HF to run some satellites but never did real HF contacts back then. 1997 to 2004 was incradible propagation on 2m and 6m, that was really fun ! Then in 2018, I've decided to return to radio but this time on HF, I thought I could talk around the world with a wire... wrong... I then got a vertical antenna that was a little bit better, tried a different vertical antenna, was better on some bands worst on others... having a really small lot, it is difficult to have long wire antennas deployed, power lines every where, small backyard... So I did buy a rather expensive compact 2el beam that covers 40, 20, 15 and 12 with dipole on 10 and 6... it made a nice improvement from the vertical, I am now at 84 countries since 2018 but then again, I seem to be stuck with my compact beam. Nice advantage with that compact antenna is that my noise level is quite low on 40m, about S3-4, that is a nice improvement from the vertical something hitting S7-9 on 40m... I started to hear Japan on 40m at the end of 2021 and now in the begining of 2022, they are still there pretty much every day but there is absolutely no way I can be heard on their end with 100w, they are big gun stations with huge antenna setep and a lot of power, I copy them 55 to 57 but bigger stations in my area are catching them to 59+5 and even +10dB while I am stuck at 57... Makes me realise what I though would be possible to do fun communications with a simple wire, wrong... now with that 2el beam, a bit better but still far from being a performance station... I thought about an amplifier a lot, at least "maybe" I could be heard, I really enjoy making dx contact but I realize that I am far far far away from these guys who makes contact all over the world... I often hear stations but they can't hear me... I was thinking about an amp but they are CRAZY expensive here when new, 4000$+ for a Acom 1010... anyway, it makes me rethink all the hobby again, this is never ending spending money on the station to get a little bit more contacts... and what will happend after spending all that money on that amp...

New sub. I have worked the world on less than 100w and a vertical. But, sometimes.... you just want that extra little bit :-) Thanks for the vid.

love this

Nice video Thanks. Also I like your alien 👍

It's a fair point, perfectly well made. But, I have a small house plot. The BEST antenna I can put up without buying a bigger house (which is a lot dearer than a linear) is a 1/4 vertical with a good ground plane of verticals. Even with an excellent transceiver, Italians are leaving my signal absolutely nowhere when I try for a US or Canadian station.

Did you say don’t take ham radio seriously? Blasphemy! lol cheers from the US KD9NTD

That's the best advice I've had, I've spoken to the USA and Canada on 10w from the uk my radio can put out 100w, do i need anymore? No i don't

Interesting video and viewpoint. By all means do everything you can for your antenna first not all of us can put up or want to put up a 40 foot tower or 15 m tower. I have a vertical with 32 radius and the dipole 10 m high, that is good on 40 m good grounding for the antennas of course. I ran 100 W for quite a while did OK but I wanted to do better. I got an 811 H. Are usually run it at 500 W. It makes all the difference for making contacts it gets me above the noise floor.

Hey, I've got a station on some rock in the Pacific Ocean :-) I am considering getting one of these, as I have trouble being heard in Europe etc. Not really interested in filling up the log book with lots of exotic location. Just like talking to people on the radio :-) Thanks for the fine review 73 de Chris ZL3CJH

I have a 3 holer and it's a great little amplifier. Quiet, operates fine on 120V, and covers 160 Life is too short for QRP. I'm 73, so I know about which I speak. First licensed about '65

100 percent TRUE 🎉🎉

That room your in says ham radio is more than just a hobby. 73 lol

Just bought on of these and plugged it in to see if it would power up. It did but but the plate current gauge immediately went to the red area of the gauge. I shut it off and powered it up again, the needle moved half way up but when I touched the front of the amp, the needle maxed out...again. Any idea of what's going on. I didn't have it hooked up to my rig....just plugged it in to see if it worked or not.

Great video :) new subscriber👍👍

I agree that an amp is not necessary but lately with propagation so low the most common situation for me has been that I have most signals that I can hear just over the noise level. QSO's have been relatively difficult as we're at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. I have the Ameritron 811H that has one more tube for 800 watts output. I've found it necessary quite often to use the 800 watts output to make contacts and fight QSB. As others are stating in the comments a 1 S unit increase on the receiving station's meter doesn't require a 10 times power increase but a 4 times power increase. Usually though what you state is true, a barefoot 100 watt signal into a good antenna system is plenty for most contacts if propagation is good. Good propagation may be several years into the future of cycle 25.

Wish I could buy you a beer! After watching your video I suddenly feel like I have $3000 to $8000 rattling around in my pocket. I don't have to worry about the price of a piece of great coax or a new meter. Or maybe even a new Flex or a modest crank-up. All covered by the amplifier I won't be buying thanks to you.

Better antenna means you receive better too. If you have the means and the space, a good antenna is the way to go. If you are limited eg. by space, you can make others hear you better with an amp. It won't help hearing the response though, unless the other end has an amplifier too.

Yes it's just a hobby but it's nice to have power when you need it

Love your style. Thanks. M0XMX

Well said!! : ) Great video......73's

Great advice , I have a Kenwood 520s puts out 100 watts into a palomar 300a will put out 460 on 20 meters. Both units retubed and recapped and completely refurbished. Play with your antennas to get best performance it's a hobby! Remember decibel formula is an exponent he is right why buy all that power for one s unit! Have fun JOHN KJ7TBR ! Have fun

So True well said

I love this video & the great Honesty you are presenting here in saying that Linear Power Amplifiers aren't absolutely necessary. A big factor for many new Hams on a strict Budget is once they outlay the big Bucks for even the cheapest ones (ex-811, etc), then they wonder how much their household Electric bill will increase, even while the Amp is in Receive mode much of the time. What are your thoughts on this ? Could you please tell us what to expect ? Thanks so much.

I love the thrill of making DX contacts @ 100 watts but it's hard to compete with other big European/Russian stations running 1 - 3 Kw of power and it can take a long time to be heard through a pileup. It would be great if we all ran 100 watts and it would be more fun, if it's so easy why bother ? but I do intend to get an Amplifier just so I don't have to take so long to make a contact and sometimes with difficult band conditions and lots of QRM from others running big power it's good to fight fire with fire.

I have e 600 watt solid state .. barley use half that power makes difference.. nice to have the power crank the beast! Have.. the capabilities great option. Do you need it ? No...cant wait for cycle 25 get going already.

Great video, a linear? Hmm I rarely use 100watts into my bits of wire!!

I have a Ameritron al-811 amplifier and I use it a pretty good bit of the time on 160 meter SSB. Because on 160 it is usually very noisy band if you don't have amplifier you're not being heard.73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF

Thanks for a very well presented video. Lots of very good points. 73.

. If you live in Europe where you have 25 countries within 1500 miles of your location you don't an amp to work DX. If you want to work DX from Nebraska an amp is very helpful. You are correct about being more efficient in other areas of operation, coax, antenna, ect. Liked the video. 73 KF0ALT

Very good point. For just one S unit, does it worth it ? Well.. maybe sometimes, when that is all what you need to raise your signal just a bit from the noise. Not to break a pile up. ;-) De Chris, VA2WP.

Hi, how is the amplifier on AM ?

HF paths are frequently NOT reciprocal in terms of received noise floor. If one has the ability to run QRO when it's needed, you can always turn it off when you don't. Antenna "efficiency" is fantastic, but that's not all there is to it.

I have a old Heathkit Amp had to replace the 572b tubes with chines tubes only lasted 3 weeks and one failed. Good quality tubes are no longer made best to avoid tube amps.

Good Video Linear or not height is might

Short answer is yes long answer is hell yes! Do I need twin turbos on my 5.3 no but sure does make life fun.

The AL-811H gives you 800W in SSB. Compare 800W to 100W, is the same as compare 100W to 12,5W. Do you really think that it does not make a big difference? My experience tells me it makes! The AL-811H gives you more 9dB of output: to increase by 9dB the gain of my antenna would be too expensive and not friendly to the neighbours!

where is your giveaway ?

If my wife would go for a weekend out, I would do it! But instead I got the 811H

...Check the tube condition..burned?.. good video, I love my AL811,runs 300w every day on CW!, NO COLOR on the tubes please!!..73's Dave,k3dgr

Not correct on your S Unit claim. 1 S Unit is 6db.

i love 100 watts. i figure it this way... i run all the wattage in the world. if i cant hear you. what good is it.. lol .. amps dont change band condations. would i like one.. iam on fence. if i could aford one. probley would have one.. maybe a single bander for 75. or maybe 160/75. and as stated below i think it is 4 times power so 100 times 4 is 400. then its 1600 then 4 times that 6400 watts. i could be wrong tho.. we cant do the last 2 so why bother. lol good video for sure. edit.. i see your a 101zd? guy.. good old radio.. had the 3 wish i never got rid of it

🤣 from USA florida. saludos...

I don't need an amplifier. After 60 years of hamming the HF bands I know very well how to operate in a poor signal to noise ratio environment. So yeah, I don't need one. But I have one. A big one. And I use it (shrug)

Ja ja da razzle & dazzle ya ya Veenerschnitzle doosledorph ja ja da bloopemdeekem ya ya GRATSKI👍DANKE👍👍

Id say yes...if you want to talk. Otherwise fight to get heard and get asked to repeat your call sign over and over. "this is whiskey 5 tango papa mike from Texas " ...."got it thanks whiskey 4 tango bravo Nancy zed from Tulsa" :)

Just 800 watts get you almost 2 s units. Not 1 s unit per 1000 watts.

if I buy you and the Mrs a cup of coffee can I have your amp?

I also own a amplifier uhhhhh, now, where did I put it???? 10 to 25 watts get me around on CW with no worries..Sufficient antennas is the answer.....

Possibly a really informative clip, unfortunately I could hear most of it because of a dreadful background noise on the soundtrack.

Best comments at the end, who cares, get a life, well said.

I don’t have an Amp, and never use it.

Your math regarding S-units is incorrect sir. Each time you double your power output you gain 3dB, so if you move from 100W to 200W that represents a gain of 3dB. Moving from 200 to 400W gates you an additional 3dB, for a total of 6dB gain, or 1 S unit. A jump from 100W to 800W represents a 9dB gain, which IS significant. NOW upgrade your feedline (30 meters at $3/meter) and Net those gains where you can! Amateur Radio is a hobby, but it’s NOT “just a hobby”! It’s contribution to emergency services (ARES, RACES, etc.) make it much more than “just a hobby”.

Looks like a radio graveyard!

What annoys me the most is all the old guys running 1500+ just talk to their buddies 5-20miles away and bleading over 3kh. Seems like 75% or more hams are all running 600w and higher

I had to chuckle.... I don't have a boyfriend....lol.

I don't have a wife. My amplifier is my lady!

The completely unnecessary music track is extremely distracting.

Junkman more power

thats a lot of money for not much internals.

Yes it is just a hobby spend what you can afford on Ham Radio for entertainment . Ham Radio is a want not a need.

Take advice from this guy and his boyfriend

Good video , Annoying music though that's just not needed 👎👎👎

Moral of the story,,,,,,, Height is might,,,,amps are 💩! 😂😂😂😂😂👍󾓪 Now that's not 🚀🔬

Actually incorrect. A doubling of power gives you one S unit. So 100 to 200 watts is 1 unit. 200-400 is another. 400-800 is another. So a KW is a little more than 3 s unit increase.