Neptune 100 Watt HF Amplifier From 60dBm - Review & On Air Test with Hermes Lite 2 SDR

[@zebclark9288]

I’m loving my Neptune 100 w my Hermes Lite!!! Took a while to get here but well worth the wait w auto rf sensing and the addition of the keying cable.

[@bjarkekorsgaard]

Nice review Mat. I really really like the products from our best friends 60dbm in Ukrain and my experience is that their product alway works very very well. Best regards Bjarke, OZ2BKK

[@cthoadmin7458]

Maybe a good idea to test how the amp works when it sees an SWR mismatch. Does it shutdown to protect the finals? I'm sure those Mitsubishi finals are pretty robust, but like Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction: "There's a limit to the abuse they will take".

[@Aleziss]

I run the 50W version to drive a tube amp on my Hermes and it works very well, I got excellent support and the owner also offer to update my amp because I use it with the Hermes. Very nice quality product. The LED lights are extremely bright though, that might be my only complaint.

[@barrykery1175]

Thanks for the review. The selling point for me is the BNC's on the back. That's all I use when I operate portable. Barry

[@RobCanada]

Nice review, I am looking for a 100w amp for my IC-705, I did wonder if you could install an Anderson power pole connector directly on the back :)

[@JohnSmith-xi2oq]

Wonder how this compares with the xiegu xp125

[@kb1qzh]

Definitely want to see it on 6m. I could see this with my TX-500.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I'll be doing a video on a 6M antenna real soon, so will use the amp in that video and perform measurements etc. Cheers :-)

[@Jonny10001]

Could you test it on 6 meters, depending on what finals it uses power can drop off dramatically at 50MHz.

[@rwojo]

Good amp, the firmware upgrade that Paul helped me on made the auto band switching perfect with the HL2. Gets quite warm on FT8, I added a fan on top as well. Oh and my god those LEDs are overly bright, I have lightdims but can't really place them on there so either going to solder in new LEDs, or use a sharpie to dim them. Best value for clean 100W right now IMHO. Wish the HR50+100W upgrade was closer to this price.

[@markusm.lambers8893]

Why are you using an "amp", in conjunction with FT-8 ? It is a low power solution, for OM's, with less good antennas, or with only a small amout of output power! (mainly, both of them, ... !) So, let me think about it, that 5 or 10W (max.25W!) is more then adequat, for FT-8 and other so called "low-power and small bandwith applications" ! Why 100W ? (or even more?) It is so stupid, it is definetlly not, what the inventor of this mode was looking for, with this application! Are you buying your buns and your bread, every morning with a "Leopard-Panzer", instead of going "per pedes" (by foot!), for the less then 150m of way to go, to your bakery, from your house? There must be something wrong in your thinking! Why 'breaking in', with that amount of useless power? It is not the correct way, to do it like a 'bulldozer', pulling down more then half of all the other small signals, trying to make there call, ... and 'working' a new land, a new zone, new island, or even a new grid, ... ! This is not 'HAM-radio' anymore, this is anarchy! This is like: "I have the most power, so I get it all!" Where is the social component of 'HAM-radio' and the friendship, over all the borders and countries? Disturbing more, than doing good! - Why? - Sorry for my bad English, I am not a native English speaking person. Please appologise the mistakes I made in spelling and grammar! 73 de Markus - db9pz - JN39fq - 3miles/5km east of LX -

[@rwojo]

I limit FT8 to 20-25W or so, but the duty cycle is what causes heat.

[@markusm.lambers8893]

@@rwojo That is adequat! This is what I was thinking and looking for, ... ! Thanks for explaining the case! 73 de Markus - db9pz -

[@rwojo]

@@markusm.lambers8893 cheers and 73 WØJO

[@sas7388]

Q: What is the output power will be with only 1 watt input ? Thanks

[@tpcdude]

no mention if it does AM (the approved method).

[@zebclark9288]

I tune my antenna on am w it so yes.

[@istvanszabo8698]

Attractive amp, the question is how high SWR can it tolerate?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Here is the reply from 60dBm when I asked them the same question "Amp can handle high SWR without damage of output FETs, even short or open RF output will not damage output FETs"

[@MINI-4X4-RADIO]

I have the 50W version, had it for about 2 weeks. Worked flawlessly sofar with my IC-705

[@multilecful]

Think I'll stick with my XPA125. Too many shortcomings for that money. Looks ok if you've got a tuner.

[@xxmrrickxx]

I can’t support Xiegu because they are doing the bait and switch tactic common in Chinese business. They launch a product with high quality components and eventually start using cheap components to save money. They have started using a cheaper transistor in the XPA125 that has a linear region of 60-80W output. That’s almost half the output of the original production.

[@multilecful]

@xxmrrickxx Mmm sounds just like that Japanese company Icom. More chinesium than japanesium. Lets not get started on Elecraft.

[@rpsmith]

I had 3 of those go bad in warranty and instead of replacing it the 4th time they just returned my money!

[@zebclark9288]

I’m loving my Neptune

[@rubyh.4460]

Your TX signal on the spectral display looks so clean! Were you using pure signal in line?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Nope, no pure signal. Just Thetis with the Hermes Lite 2. I do need to give Pure signal a try though at some point. cheers

[@KA4UPW]

AM, FM, SSB, digital? It seems a little light, should be marketed as 75w and over deliver vs under performing

[@philipwells2793]

As the Hermes o/p dropped so did the o/p of the amp. This is exactly what you would expect.

[@zebclark9288]

Doesn’t under perform. I get 150 watts out of mine occasionally and adjust the input back…

[@Philip-KA4KOE]

High idle current

[@ssubaihi]

There's more to test , Like How it performe in AM mode

[@markusm.lambers8893]

Why testing on AM? "HAM-Radio OP's", normaly does not use AM- mode anymore, ... ! Only SSB, FM or CW. Are you a CB-radio guy? Don't you know, that is not allowed, to use 'power- amplifiers' in conjuction with a CB-radio? This is forbidden! - So is the law! - Only 4W (pep) is allowed! No more,, and only 'regulated radios'. So it is, in the US, in EU and also in M/G-Land! No 'homebrew' or any additional parts where allowed! If SSB is O.K. so why should AM not be O. K. ? All seems to be 'very linear', in transmission .... ! 73 de Markus - db9pz - JN39fq - 3miles/5km east of LX -

[@ssubaihi]

@@markusm.lambers8893 Yes I am CB'er and I don't live in US or EU ...

[@ssubaihi]

@@markusm.lambers8893 Yes I am CB'er and I don't live in US or EU ...

[@GunnyWombat]

How/why can we claim VAT back in the UK on this? Are imports from Ukraine null rated?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

yes that's correct, at the time of making this video.

[@harrymagooslum5770]

It’s unfortunate that you didn’t monitor the supply voltage during your tests. The voltage will significantly affect the resulting output power.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I didn’t need to, it’s a regulated 13.8v 50 amp supply intended for Ham Radio. Its constant..

[@harrymagooslum5770]

I’m surprised that a RD100HHF1 push-pull amp like this isn’t putting more out which is why my comment. It appears that their power supply input leads are not very hefty but as they are fairly short then the total voltage drop while the amp is operating near full power maybe isn’t too bad. Are your wires from the power supply to the rig short and thick gauge wire? Hopefully so. I am an engineer who homebrews so I usually monitor the supply voltage right on the amp’s. PCB when doing similar tests so that I can calculate efficiency, among other aspects.

[@harrymagooslum5770]

The later part of this video that uses a similar setup as yours is more in line with what I was expecting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKaZhIBqfayXnLM

[@TechMindsOfficial]

@harrymagooslum5770 you’ve got me thinking now… I did use a longish power cable but it’s rated at quite a high current rating. I will recheck and use my Yeasu radio for the input.

[@SHTFchef]

For not much more one could buy an actual 100 watt ham radio. Such as my Yaesu FT-891. Buy once cry once.

[@R50_J0]

1.) Unfused. Reputable equipment must have an overcurrent device. 2.) NTC temp sensor leads on final should be insulated with teflon spaghetti tubing. 3.) Etched font on enclosure is typical of Chinese products. Hmm. 4.) How many firmware versions and units sold before it functioned as advertised? Early purchasers functioning as beta testers is so common nowadays. The PCB, components, and manual thru-hole assembly workmanship looks good.

[@XBKLYN]

Add in-line fuse to the 13.8 volt input ?

[@vkham9944]

Wait for warranty issue or next 3 months ?? .....total economy collapse.

[@zebclark9288]

I just received a new unit. Works great. Company must be doing well..

[@earlyadapter643]

Nice but to me 60 dBm is a kilowatt, so why is it only 100 W ? And for those who don't buy a QRP radio they already have 100 W and possibly an autotuner integrated, which is the more economical solution because the icom 905 is not 400 bucks cheaper than a 100 W radio.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

60dBm is the name of the company that makes it...

[@zebclark9288]

Bc my SDR is qrp but blows an icon out of the water in every way possible except RF out!!! So $300 for the SDR $400 for the amp and boom flex 6400 performance!!!!! Is WHY?!

[@mphaan]

Go for the full maximum power dude, life is too short for qrp.

[@jamess1787]

QRO! QRO!

[@The0nionKnight]

BNC is a MUCH better connector than so239.

[@MrDmjay]

Why is that so?

[@AdamSWL]

Agreed! I really dislike the threaded banana plug. So much easier to swap out a cable with BNC than the SO-239/PL259.

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

We will just have to agree to disagree. SO239/PL259 are far more secure and make better connections.

[@jamess1787]

BNC is terrible for outdoor, great for "frequent" connects/disconnects tho.

[@Scotscan]

Disagree with both, n type is best as it's a more secure electrical connection

[@raymondmartin6737]

I am amazed how Ukraine is able to produce equipment with that horrible war going on there. Anyway I havzexperg Expert Stick 500 HF-VHF-UHF antenna analyzer from Ukraine which works well too. Slava Ukrainie. 😅

[@sofia-p7d4t]

They do it because army contracts lots of radio equipment, so they gain knowledge and production capabilities. Their staff is top notch.

[@vkham9944]

They do not, US/EU has been providing all goods. Ukro manufacture is gone.

[@sofia-p7d4t]

@@vkham9944 keep racist to yourself.

[@ikkeikke4561]

🎉