Ham Radio Amplifier DIY599 PA500 OH8STN
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Published 2021-08-21
In this episode of OH8STN Ham Radio, we are having a looking at the portable ham radio amplifier from DIY599.com the PA500. The PA500 is a 60 watt portable ham radio linear amplifier compatible with most QRP radios available today. The power amplifier has a built-in antenna tuner, auto band switching, auto band selection, and built-in low-pass filters. This ham radio review will make the case for a combining a QRP radio and amplifier, versus a QRO based portable ham radio station for the field.
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Julian oh8stn
Video URL: • Ham Radio Amplifier DIY599 PA500 OH8STN
DIY599 Playlist
• DIY599 PA500 Portable Amplifier
Episode notes: oh8stn.org/blog/2021/08/21/diy599-pa500-hf-amplifi…
PA500 Home diy599.com/
Groups.io: groups.io/g/diy599
FCC PA500 report: fcc.report/FCC-ID/2A2IEPA500
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:53 PA500 Background & Overview
02:33 New Portable Ham Radio Strategy
04:30 PA500 Detailed feature set
09:12 Field testing
12:09 Q&A
14:32 Final Thoughts
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All Comments (21)
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A friend suggested your channel a month ago. Since then I have learned from many of your videos. THANK YOU!!
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Finally some detailed info on the amp!
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I had a chance to Use this Amplifier today and I must Say. I'm a believer. Using only 1watt on a 6100 was truly impressive.
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I received my PA500 yesterday. Fantastic replacement for my Elecraft KXPA100 in terms of portability and current draw. Using 6Ah Bioenno for the last two days with the IC-705 using it's internal battery on SSB and it really holds up well. No key line needed. Excellent amp.
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Great episode and product 🙏 I absolutely love these small businesses making high quality products as an alternative to ebay junk. 👍🏻
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I have been contemplating the 891 for some portable operations, but since I like SOTA this may change my mind, Thanks!!!
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That did it! The IC-705 & PA500 is my new system! I have an K3 that is my base station and I did not have a QRP rig. This also brings me to the world of having a band spectrum display that I always wanted. Thank yo so much Julian!
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For years I have used the idea of using a QRP radio to drive an amplifier on 2 meters at my home / off grid station. I use an HT to drive a 25 watt 2 meter amplifier. I am totally sold on the idea of using a QRP rig to drive an amp. Thanks for yet another excellent video WB8ERJ
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Watching here in Southern California! 73
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Perfect timing. I was just starting to research portable amplifiers for my QRP rigs.
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Love the video. Just starting to build my own QRP radio kit. Keep making these videos. Thanks for your hard work and willingness to share your knowledge.
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Your adventures always fascinate me, Julian. Great, informative video! Please keep up the great work! 73, Brett
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I love the Sound of Olivia...
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Wow, thanks for sharing. I think I will have to rethink my portable station setup! Keep up the good work Julian👍👍👍
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As always, a great video with tons of great information. While most of us don't get to/can't bug-out like you get to, just seeing and having you test the way you do shows how the equipment can truly perform. Keep it up, and thank you.
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Really good video. Your conclusion on QRO radios in the field are in line with mine. I thought I was the only one with this opinion until I stumbled on this video. Great job!
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There is a lot I like about this concept. Someone out there clearly understands the need for light power efficient gear. Rugged and reliable are two words that come to mind as well. I am now the ACS (Auxiliary Communications Service) Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Bruce County, Ontario Canada. As such I understand the value of high quality reliable gear. ACS operators provide backup communications for our "served agencies". This includes all the emergency services, hospitals, government administrators etc. If our group were ever called out in a real emergency the situation would be very serious. All other communications would have failed and we would become the primary means of keeping communications up. This situation would also mean that we would be operating in some form of grid down communications. Power consumption would be very important and so QRP digital would go to the top of the list of priority modes. This would be especially true if we were being asked to pass a lot of traffic. Generators with no fuel also provide no power and so solar QRP rigs would be the true hero of such operations. I believe that anyone operating an emergency communications station, either for personal or formal EmComm use should be thinking about real world grid down communications using QRP.
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Holy smokes, I didn’t know Casey Kasem was a ham radio operator. Lol 73
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I really enjoyed this video...I continue to fine tune my current portable setup to be as low drag as possible. Thank you for your content!!!
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Thanks for the awesome review 📻😎
