| Author |
Message |
    
Nickle
Junior Member
Username: Nickle
Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 2:29 pm: | 
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are these amps dependable? i've heard both sides but would some more info.i've got a freind that has one but it blows up at least once a month. i think he does it because he gets it fixed every time.i finaly decided on my new mobileand was wondering about this type of amp. i don't know if they even make mobiles. nickle |
Alsworld
Advanced Member
Username: Alsworld
Post Number: 928
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 10:56 pm: |
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Nickle,
Dave made amps are extremely reliable if you get a "real" Dave made, and hook it up correctly and run it properly. They are one seriously built amplifier.
I'm not sure what your friend is doing but it's pretty hard to 'blow them up' unless something is really wrong in the setup, or within the amp. Something tells me he is having it fixed locally.
I have horror stories from supposed Dave mades (they were fake imposter amps not near the quality) when I lived in Florida where the local chop shop would put his golden screwdriver into it, and guys would push it to it's max. Poof!
The amp got the bad rep where it was really bad "techs" and even worse operators. If you were in the establishement I refer to, you would see why I have a hard time calling this guy a tech.
Get yourself a real Dave made and run it properly and you will smoke the airwaves in the right sense of the word.
Alsworld |
Mdiver
Intermediate Member
Username: Mdiver
Post Number: 268
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2005 - 8:07 pm: |
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Alan your right on here.
The most important thing is to run the amp right other wise you will smoke it, I no this for a fact!! The Dave Made amps. will get out great just don't over drive them. Regarding J.R.Have a couple of beers before talking to him.
Also they are AM ONLY unless they have changed
Steve |
Nickle
Junior Member
Username: Nickle
Post Number: 16
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 8:26 am: |
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Well thanks for the info. I thought they were good amps. the " friend" I know is the problem . SO are they strictly base units? I think i'll get one of copper amps . Then go from there. thanks nickle |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 368
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 9:38 am: |
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Davemade Amps come in 2,3, and 4 pill mobile configuations, as well as the 5- pill (1- 2290 x 4- 2879 pills). I believe that they still make the 2- 2290 x 4- 2879 amps. They also make 2 pill and 4 pill base units. Davemade used to make AC tube amps, and maybe still do. Do a google on Davemade Amplifiers, and see what you come up with.
Wolverine. |
Pig040
Advanced Member
Username: Pig040
Post Number: 824
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 11:17 am: |
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Dave's made is a great amp, it is a lifetime purchase as long as you dont abuse it a whole lot, it will take a lot of abuse without complaining though. Great Amp!!
Rich |
Chrisdey
Junior Member
Username: Chrisdey
Post Number: 24
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 10:24 pm: |
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Are Davemade's compatible with side band? I generaly talk side band 10 and 11 meter and started with 95T's and S-9's modified and with a switch that reduces power to push only 4 watts into my Texas amps. I assume Dave made and some of the other brands that are supposed to be much better machines are better to begin with as they are not CW amps modified. Can I buy Daves, plug it in and us it on side band and just buy the wattage that suits me?
Kindest regards,
Chris |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1224
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 11:33 pm: |
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i take it you are looking base & not mobile?
davemade does make AC transistor bases, but it would need to be ordered. they also make AC tube bases.
xforce HAS readily available AC powered transistor bases. x is a clone of davemade, & every bit as good. price difference MAY lean to xforce, depending on shipping costs. both are class 'c' boxes, in theory biased for more power & better use on AM. does that make them no good for SSB use? NOT AT ALL. ask anybody who's heard my class 'c' biased davemade mobile on the SSB nets, or any other time SSB . davemades, you need to request SSB delay to be added. x force you need to ask for 1 with delay since they build 'em both ways all the time. x force mobiles can be requested to be biased to SSB even though they make the magnaforce, which is SSB ready, but is not built in an AC powered version. they do offer a 150 amp power supply, but it's around $600 i believe.
you can throw fat boy into the mix, too. these 3 are the ones with best availability & customer service, though there are others out there. others are more regional, & unless you can 'run down to their shop'...i've heard horror stories.
yes, you can get ANY of them with ANY output you want, high drive or low. more or less.
bet you thought it was gonna be easy |
Slowhand
Member
Username: Slowhand
Post Number: 55
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 10:34 am: |
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Anyone have info on Snowcap amps? |
Dx431
Senior Member
Username: Dx431
Post Number: 1083
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 10:56 am: |
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SnowCap Amps |
Slowhand
Member
Username: Slowhand
Post Number: 56
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 1:34 pm: |
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Has anyone used or had the opportunity to inspect a snowcap amp?
thanx! |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1225
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 3:34 pm: |
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'...unless you can 'run down to their shop'...i've heard horror stories.'-i didn't want to specifically name any 1 particular, but you said it 431, not me. have never seen 1 around here, but have while in NC & PA, in other mobiles. they SOUNDED fine, didn't get to see inside though. e-mailed NUMEROUS times before getting a response, & then they never followed through. i was told they have that rep, thought it may be improving, but i never went back. fatdaveX is where i'm stickin' for now!
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Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 432
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - 5:15 am: |
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Davemade amps being custom built are very sturdy. The only problem those amps, if that with big watts (850 +), you must keep your swr under 1.3, and your reflected watts real low. At high watts, good grounding is essential.
Wolverine. |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1243
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - 8:45 pm: |
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275 dead key, less then 3 watts reflect, 800+ swing, reflect doesn't reach 10. |
Prozac
New member
Username: Prozac
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 12:01 pm: |
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The amps are keyed off of RF. On A.M. your carrier (Dead Key) is what keys the amps relay and it stays keyed until you unkey your MIC.
On side band you have no carrier so the amp will only key when you modulate causing the relay to chatter.
Simple fix: Add a relay to key the amp while the mic is keyed.
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In reply to:
Are Davemade's compatible with side band? I generaly talk side band 10 and 11 meter and started with 95T's and S-9's modified and with a switch that reduces power to push only 4 watts into my Texas amps. I assume Dave made and some of the other brands that are supposed to be much better machines are better to begin with as they are not CW amps modified. Can I buy Daves, plug it in and us it on side band and just buy the wattage that suits me?
Kindest regards,
Chris |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 1425
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 4:41 pm: |
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my m400 davemade 'chatters' away on SSB. class 'c' as well. NOBODY has EVER made ANY derogatory comments towards the way it sounds. & when some do find out what i'm using, they are quite surprised.
you can request of davemade to setup for SSB, or you can get an x-force(exact copy of davemade) class 'c' with SSB delay built in(must be requested) or go with a magnaforce class 'b' SSB-ready. |
