HARDROCK-50 HF POWER AMP REVIEW & ON AIR TEST
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- Here we provide a feature and function overview of the Hardrock 50 RF Power Amplifier from HobbyPCB.com
More details here:
hobbypcb.com/p...
A full build video will be released shortly, for those that want to see how this amp was built using the kit ordered from hobbypcb.com
Overall this is a great 50 watt HF amplifier, suitable for a wide range of QRP radios or SDR Transceivers. Personally I use it with a Hermes Lite 2, with the optional IO Board to control automatic band changing.
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My Hardrock 50w amp build was one of my favorite builds! I was so sad when it was over, I bought the ATU to continue the fun of building it. I've had it quite a while now, (built it in 2016 with the ATU and the QSK kit) and it's been a reliable amp for me. 73 de w8tam
I'm super impressed by it's performance so far, definitely a keeper! Thanks :-)
I have a Hardrock-500 that i use with my Hermes lite and the IO board. Using that i only have to use a DB-9 both to power my hermes from the amp and to control the amp from the hermes. Works Great!
Couldn't be happier with my hardrock 50.
The service from Jim Veatch has been spectacular, highly recommended. 73
Absolutely agree! Thanks
Nice video again Matt!
I would really like to get one of these but by the time I get it here with shipping and GST, the cost is not too far off that of an FT-891 which will do 100watts out of the box. Just too rich for a kit although I do enjoy the construction phase.
Look forward to seeing your construction video.
I saw Andreas M0FXB video with you in QSO. Sounded great so had to watch your vid too.
Cool, thanks!
Really enjoy your videos, they're extremely helpful 🙏👍
I hope you'll get to review the rs998 transceiver soon, and the MagicalAnt antenna 🤞🤞
Keep up the good work 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thanks for sharing Matt, looks like a very nice companion for the HL2.
Would be intersted to see spurious emissions and harmonics test to see how it stacks up across the bands.
A video request if you have time... As someone who is saving up for a HL2 + Amp for the shack, I'm extra keen to see a video that compares recieved audio test running Puresignal.
I now have the IO Board installed which now controls the HR50 for band control. This comes with a Puresignal input ready to go, I just need to get the appropriate coupler and attenuator to use it with the amp, but it's definately planned! :-) Cheers!
@@TechMindsOfficial Fantastic to hear Matt.
Really appreciate all you do & share for the hobby 🙏🏼
@@TechMindsOfficial Fantastic to hear Matt.
Really appreciate all you do & share for the hobby 🙏🏼
Pleasantly surprised with gear that is underrated. I have only really seen this on the fishing rod industry with some suppliers rods way out performing their specs. Perhaps there is a change coming where we don't run things at their limit so they fail sooner... my Amp is capable of way more than I push it.
Great video. Thank You.
You're welcome!
Where did you find the pinout for the DB9 Connection
Heres a test for you. Connect amp to dummy load. No radio needed. Just key the amp into TX. See if there is any power out. That would indicate it is oscillating. That is bad.
Great design and execution but the cost is pretty high to be honest.
Thanks so if you were going to buy 1 you would get the HR50? 73 M1CVZ - I see your not far from me I am in Leighton Buzzard
After a few days of using it, then absolutely I would, but I think you mean "Again" right? :-) I quite like the satisfaction that I made the coild correctly and it works perfectly after setup etc. I have a "build" video being released soon, or you can watch it now if you are a youtube member or patreon, they get the vids a little earlier as a thank you for their support. Another great amp is the Xiegu 125b, that's 100 watts with a built in ATU and also works great. Cheers
Hi there , where do you get the interface board for driving the Amp and the io 9 way D with the pico interface , where can I order these .?
Makerfab website
@@TechMindsOfficial
Many thanks , I want to get the version like in your video , same case height, the one that arrived is much higher and the case will not fit together.
Do you have a link please. .
William
GW4LWD.
@@TechMindsOfficial
I have that I/o card with the pico and 9 way D connector , when I fitted it the case to try it , it seems to be not lined up properly .
It’s tilted down a bit down to the connector that plugs in the both board seems to high. I thought this odd and did not Install it .
I see we have also to add a 3 pin header to the main board connector, with a space of 2 pins between.
Did you find this same alignment problem ? , it can’t fit square to the front panel supplied , seems odd , is if we have to remove 2-3 mm off the bottom of the connector on the I/o board. .. ? What are your findings on this.
How does this compare to the micro 50 you shows a week or so back. Got the Hermes 2 lite on order or should that be the everi 2 lite now 😅
Ive been using the Micro50 amp that I reviewed a little while ago with the HL2 for the past couple of weeks. It appears to perform quite well, but no internal tuner. Up to now I would recommend the XPA125b with the HL2, but now I have tried the HR50, then this is on the list too. It's a great companion for the HL2. They do a 100 Watt upgrade kit for the HR50, but going from 50 watts to 100 watts is like 1/2 an S Point.
For some reason my is only 20 watts on 20m?
I would check your filters. You can lose a lot of power in your filter if it's not properly tuned.
@@de_w8tamYes, was my thought but they are correct and others have said the same.
@@smiffykuk Maybe pick up a NanoVNA and see what the filters look like?
Buyer beware, check for buyers reviews first, this radio has many of the problems of the Q900 and the later 119, but here he is reporting on its strong points on HF use only.
DMR, Compass, UHF, have problems to mention a couple. I have the Q900 and it only works properly on HF. Great DSP noise reduction,great CW, and variable SSB bandwidth reception up to 10K! Use an external amplified speaker and the sound is great!
This radio's hardware is essentially the same as the earlier Q900 but is larger, heavier and has an aknow! frequency tuning knob!
KL7EAL in Los Angeles.
Ummm.. Think you commented on the wrong video...
@@TechMindsOfficial Handy for you!
I really like it but think its overpriced.😕
You can get cheaper equipment cheaper, but I don't think you can buy anything as well build as a Hardrock 50w amp. I've run mine hard on JT65/JT9/FT8 with only a small fan barely spinning on top of it. Most other amps would shut down due to lack of a heatsink, or just burn up. I'm afraid in this instance, you get what you pay for. Mine's been going strong since 2016.
Yep, it is a bit pricy at $349 to $399. They do offer the ability to spread the cost out over 4 months or I can always use PayPal pay over 4 months to lighten the immediate expense because I did spend my Christmas ham money on a RS 918, & AT-100m tuner.
I do have a OGS-50 amp where I am very careful about the input power and the Reflected power it sees when using it, but have been thinking about the newer, I believe it us called PA-50+, amplifier that runs around $180.
I guess I have more to consider now & indeed the amp in the video looks well engineered plus it has 6 meters going for it which frankly I wish more people used because it is so much easier to build a Yagi for 6 meters and a real challenge to even create a 40 meter 2 element Yagi.
Absolutely not compared to the competition and the build quality. I chopped in an elecraft 100 to build one. Brilliant
I bought a whole xeigu g90 with interface and cooling fan for $399. Is 50 watts really better than the 20 watts on the g90? Most qrp guys tell me I shouldnt notice a difference between 5 watt and 20 watt. I do like the idea of boosting my trusdx when battery power allows
I do run a AT-100m tuner with a Micro PA50+ amp but I think it's no compare. The Chinese stuff is crappy, sometimes it works great, the next day it doesn't. I really love the HR50 but to get it in the Netherlands it can get really pricy.
50W?! What's the point?
They do a 100 watt upgrade kit, but did you know going from 50 watts to 100 watts only makes the receiving stations signal meter go up by 1/2 an S-Point, 3db? So, 50 watts is plenty of power.
@TechMindsOfficial 3dB can be the difference between being above someone's noise floor or not. More power is always better IMHO. Of course, band conditions will always be King. Thanks for the upload.
$350 and I have to assemble it? Pass. I don't trust my skills enough.
The seller guarantees a working amplifier is included in the price. If you run into trouble and can't fix it yourself, you can send it back and he will fix it for you. Some people enjoy the build process and knowing what's inside. It's open source and customizable. If you're not into DIY, there are other good choices but you'll pay as much or more for similar quality and features. It took me about 10 hours to build and I'm very pleased with the result.
I also have a Micro PA50 which I got for around $150. After using it for 18 months, I decided it was worth upgrading to the HR-50 to have a more robust amp that can easily handle whatever I throw at it. In my opinion the performance and great customer support are worth it but YMMV. The Micro PA50 is small and easy to pack, but more fiddly for day-to-day use and limited by its cooling capacity.
it's only fiddy watts!
Most radios are 100 watts right? Going from 50 watts to 100 is like 3db... 50 Watts is plenty lol..