parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (11/18/83)
x
A friend in N.J., KC2KO, once related his experiences with a
new Dentron Clipperton-V 2 meter amplifier, purchased from
Amateur Electronics Supply (AES) in Milwaukee. This
SSB/CW/RTTY/FM amp was advertised by Dentron and AES as a
500 watt input unit. It used a single 4CX-250B and required
between 10 and 25 watts drive.
In addition to experiencing bizarre amplifier input
impedances, this fellow could never run the unit at 500
watts input without it blowing up. It was sent back to the
factory for repair, but still wouldn't run at the rated
input.
Finally, a Dentron engineer confessed that the Clipperton-
V's design made it IMPOSSIBLE to run 500 watts input without
self-destructing! KC2KO wrote letters to AES, Dentron, and
the Attorney General's office, claiming false advertising,
and demanding a full refund. He got one.
The Fall 1983 AES catalog contains a closeout advertisement
on page 43 for this amplifier, reduced from $699 to $299!
These units are new, not used. Beware, there is an
interesting footnote in the ad:
"This unit is being offered at this low price on
an "as-is" basis with No Factory or AES Warranty
and No Returns; all sales are final! Consider
this purchase only if your [sic] have the techni-
cal expertise to perform any possible repairs
and/or modifications on this type of equipment."
There are other Dentron items advertised on the same page,
but they all carry a 90 day AES warranty. The Clipperton-V
must have been a super lemon.
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Robert S. Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories, ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass (312)979-5760 caf@cdi.UUCP (caf) (11/21/83)
What are the previous Dentron Disasters implied in the subject? I have had a MLA-2500 amp bought some years ago (to beat the FCC ban on 10 meter linears) and have had no trouble with the little amount that I have used it. I talked to a Dentron engineer once and he mentioned that they run these amps at 2kw D.C. input for an hour if they get one back with complaints about low output. The MLA-2500 uses some of the newer technology and so they may have been more careful than usual to get the bugs out. The only problem I have heard with 2500's has been power supply wipeouts caused by the electrolytics shorting out (apparently not related to power output, just inrush). The main problem I have with the amp is that seemingly everything electronic in my house goes fruitcake when the amp loads up. -- Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX CDI Portland OR (503)-646-1599 cdi!caf