Amplifier by ACOM

On this page you will find:

• ACOM 2000A (1500W, 160-10m)
• Acom 1010 (700W, 160-10m, compact)
• Acom 1011 (700W, 160-10m, compact)
• Acom 1000 (1000W, 160-6m)

ACOM designs, manufactures, sells and services RF and audio equipment for commercial, government and amateur markets.

ACOM, OOD, a privately owned company located in Sofia, Bulgaria, has been developing products for the European market since 1988.

In 2000, the company introduced the automatic ACOM2000A, a new generation of HF amplifier, followed by the ACOM1000 and ACOM1006, which now have a proven track record for performance and reliability and have become the preferred equipment for DX expeditions, DXing and contests.

WiMo has taken up the distribution of these well renowned amplifiers in 2005.

Here you will find:

• Acom 2000A HF automated amplifier
• Acom 1010 compact HF amp
• Acom 1011 compact HF amp
• Acom 1000 HF amp

ACOM 2000A (1500W, 160-10m)

The ACOM 2000A Automatic HF Linear Amplifier is the world's most advanced HF amplifier designed for amateur use. The ACOM 2000A is the first amateur HF amplifier to include both fully automatic tuning and sophisticated digital control capabilities. This revolutionary new amplifier delivers maximum legal power in all modes and operates on all HF amateur bands.

The ACOM 2000A represents a major advance in the state-of-the-art in HF amplifier design. It changes forever the way radio amateurs employ HF power amplifiers in their stations.

• Instantaneous, automatic tuning makes slow, cumbersome band changes a thing of the past.
• A built-in, wide-range antenna tuner matches loads with high VSWR (up to 3:1), often eliminating the cost and complexity of an external, high-power antenna tuner.
• RS-232 digital control permits full integration into any computer-driven station configuration.
• Advanced protection circuits ensure amplifier safety under every potential combination of operating conditions.
• Remote diagnostic features and modular design ease fault isolation and repair

At the core of the ACOM 2000A is a classic HF amplifier design, employing two Svetlana 4CX800A (GU74B) high performance ceramic metal tetrodes operating in a grid-driven configuration. This design was chosen for its inherent stability and extremely low production of spurious emissions. ACOM coupled this tried-and-true configuration with todays most advanced digital control technology to create an amplifier with outstanding performance, features and reliability.

Grid-driven tetrodes, cathode negative feedback, excellent transceiver loading (typically below 1.2:1 input VSWR), and regulated SG voltage result in an extremely low distorted output. Measured typical IMD are - 40dB (3-rd order) and - 45dB (5-th order). Classical Pi-L network, all-air coils (no ferrite), and carefully designed layout of the output tank offer typical harmonic emissions as low as - 55dBc (second) and below - 70dBc (third and above). Thus, probability of QRM, BCI or TVI is dramatically minimized.

The automatic tuning features in the ACOM 2000A represent a real breakthrough in HF amplifier design. Never think about an ATU for VSWR up to 3:1 (2:1 on 160 m). Matching the actual antenna impedances to the optimum tubes load is completely automated. Typically 1 second and no skill is required.

By completely eliminating time-consuming tune-up procedures, the ACOM 2000A has gives contesters a real edge. It is now possible to change bands without a moments thought. You can work every multiplier spotted using software point-and-shoot, regardless of band. And always know the amp is properly tuned and operating safely. The amplifier follows your transceiver's band and frequency automatically in less than a second. No special cables are required. Just a dot on CW or "Ah" on SSB are enough.

The ACOM 2000A breaks every amateur band into multiple frequency segments. The user can store up to ten (10) sets of tuning adjustments for every frequency segment - allowing individual settings for multiple antennas on each band. VSWR can increase considerably when an antenna is operated away from its resonant frequency. Unlike other amplifiers on the market today, the ACOM 2000 output matching network allows the amplifier to operate at full power, even with VSWR as high as 3:1 (2:1 on 160m).

Microprocessor control improves performance and makes possible a wide range of new, advanced features.

Full break-in (QSK) based on a built-in vacuum relay. Transmit / receive switching sequence is secured by a dedicated microprocessor.

Remote Control Unit

Only the Remote Control Unit needs to be placed near the operator. The main unit can be installed up to 3 meters (10 feet) away. RCU features include: amplifier status shown on LCD display, control of all functions, measuring and/or monitoring of the 20 most important parameters, on-board technical assistance, troubleshooting suggestions, record of power-on hours, password provided.

The protection system makes damaging the amplifier a difficult job. Information on the 12 most recent protection trips is stored in an INFO BOX for remote diagnostics via phone line, PC, and Internet.

All functions are accessible from a PC via RS232 serial port. Local network may include more than one amplifier / antenna unit set working in a system.

The ACOM 2000A offer protection against all tubes voltages and currents, supply voltages, overheating, overdrive, insufficient flow of cooling air, internal and external RF arcs (in the amplifier, antenna selector, tuner or antennas), T/R sequencing, antenna relay contact hot switching, antenna matching quality, reflected power, stored data, inrush power-on current, and cover interlock for operator safety.

Technical Specifications

• RF output: 1500-2000 W keyed carrier or SSB - no time limit. Constant carrier modes 1500W RF output - no time limit with auxiliary cooling fan.
• Frequency coverage: All amateur bands 1.8-24.5 MHz. 28 Mhz only with modification by licensed amateurs.
• Bandchange / Tuneup: Initial output matching process in less than 3 secs (typically 0.5 secs). Preset matching process / bandchange takes less than 0.2 second to move to different segment, same band and less than 1 sec for QSY to different band.
• Tuning memories: Non-volatile for up to 10 antennas per frequency segment.
• Drive power: Typically 50W for 1500W output.
• Input impedance: 50 Ω nominal. VSWR < 1.5:1.
• Output tolerance: Up to 3:1 VSWR (2:1 on 160m) at full rated output before SWR protection circuit actuates. Higher SWR's tolerated at lower output.
• Harmonics: At least 50 dB below peak output at 1500W.
• Full-BK (QSK) supported
• Intermodulation: At least 35 dB below peak output at 1500W.
• T/R and keying: Vacuum Relay: QSK capable.
• Tubes and circuit: 4CX800A/GU74b tetrodes (2); resistive grid, PI-L output with RF negative feedback. Regulated screen grid voltage.
• ALC: Negative going, grid derived, -11v max, rear panel adjustable.
• Metering: Comprehensive. Remote Control Unit provides flexible monitoring of all amplifier operating parameters.
• Protection: Grid and screen current limiting, power inrush (soft-start provided), trip to excessive reflected power, RF arcs, password access protection if needed, correct T/R sequencing, tube exhaust overheat, cover interlock and HV crowbar.
• Fault diagnosis: Remote Control Unit display and LED's plus "INFO Box" for 12 most recent events. PC interface (RS-232), plus remote phone line interrogation feature.
• Cooling: Full cabinet forced-air. Rubber isolated blower.
• Transformer: 3.5 kVA with strip-wound Unisil-Hâ core.
• AC power requirements: 100/120/200/220/240 VAC nominal. 50-60 Hz. 3500VA single phase at full power.
• Physical:
  • RF Unit: 440W x 180H x 450D mm
  • 135 X 25H X 170D mm
  • Shipped in two cartons total weight 80lb (36kg.) Plug in transformer for ease of installation and transport.
  • No controls on RF unit except ON/OFF. RF unit may be located up to 3 metres (10m with optional kit) from RCU

Cinch (RCA) cables for PTT and ALC, please see Cables and accessories.

Acom 1010 (700W, 160-10m, compact)

The latest ACOM1010, budget 160-10m small and lightweight linear amplifier, for fixed or DXpedition and Field Day operations.

Easy operation. The plate-load True Resistance Indicator (TRI) is an ACOM innovation that provides quick and precise tuning, typically in less than 10 seconds. The auto-operate function will return the amplifier to the OPERATE mode automatically after each protection trip, saving time and avoiding manual switching.

No external antenna tuner is required as long as the antenna VSWR is 3:1 or lower. The amplifier will perform the functions of an antenna tuner, enabling you to change antennas faster and use them over wide frequency ranges.

This amplifier is both user-friendly and self-monitoring. It is designed to safely withstand up to 240 W of reflected power, up to 100 milliseconds of drive spikes (RF "tails" after a PTT or KEY release), and even operator tuning errors. It is also capable of operating at more than half its designed output power at only 75% of nominal line (mains) voltage. Because it can tolerate deep voltage drops (down to zero for 10 milliseconds) and 15% line voltage spikes, it is particularly suited for use in portable environments, such as field days and DXpeditions.

The upper LED bar-graph always reads peak forward power while the lower LED bar-graph is for the reflected power. LED warning indicators are provided for abnormal conditions of grid 1, grid 2, and plate parameters.

Two antenna outputs are selectable on the front panel of the amplifier.

Antenna matching can be achieved in less than 10 seconds and at a quarter of nominal output power, which produces lower risk of interference to other stations and greater safety to the amplifier components.

The amplifier operates without special signaling from the transceiver; it needs only "ground on TX" and 60 W RF drive power to operate at full output power. The ACOM-1010 does not support Full-BK (QSK).

Broadband input matching circuitry offers excellent loading characteristics for the driving transceiver, from 1.8MHz to 30MHz.

A single Svetlana 4CX800A (GU74B) high-performance ceramic-metal tetrode with plate dissipation of 600W (forced air cooling, grid-driven) is used for maximum efficiency.

The Acom 1010 offer permanent monitoring and protection of the plate and grids currents. The Bias Optimizer minimizes heat dissipated by the tube, assuring tube longevity. Design of the high-voltage power supply eliminates the danger of turn-on transients affecting sensitive devices connected to the same line (mains) circuit. Moreover, the amplifier can be configured to accommodate any of 8 nominal line voltages between 100 and 240 V, 50 or 60 Hz.

The amplifier can be shipped with 10 and 12-meter capability disabled as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for United States users. Contact your dealer about enabling those bands.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency Coverage: All amateur bands in the 1.8-29.7MHz frequency range.
• Power Output: 700 W PEP or 500 W continuous carrier.
• Intermodulation Distortion: Better than 35 dB below rated output.
• Hum and noise: Better than 40 dB below rated output.
• Harmonic Output Suppression: Better than 50 dB below rated output.
• Input and Output Impedances:
  • nominal value: 50 Ω unbalanced, UHF (SO239) type connectors;
  • input circuit: broadband, VSWR less than 1.3:1, 1.8-30MHz continuously (no tunings, no switching);
  • Bypass path VSWR less than 1.1:1, 1.8-30MHz continuously, 200 W maximum;
  • Output (antenna) impedance matching capability: VSWR up to 3:1 or higher.
• RF Gain: 11dB typically, frequency response less than 1dB (50 to 70 W drive power for rated output). Primary Power: 85-132 V/170-264 V ac (100, 110, 120, 200, 210, 220, 230 & 240 V nominal taps), +10% -15% tol.), 50-60 Hz, single phase, 1200 VA.
• Complies with CE safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements as well as FCC-regulations (10 & 12 m band locks provided).
• Size & Weight (operating): WxDxH: 406x315x150mm, 16kg.
• Operating environments:
  • temperature range: 0...+50 °C
  • humidity: up to 95% @ +35 °C
  • height: up to 3000m above sea level without output deterioration

Cinch (RCA) cables for PTT and ALC, please see Cables and accessories.

Acom 1011 (700W, 160-10m, compact)

Acom 1011

Acom has continued the development of the hugely successful amp 1010 and offers now the new model 1011. The essential differences to the 1010 are:

• Two 4CX250B tubes instead of one GU-74B. The 4CX250B is manufactured by nearly all tube companies worldwide, two of these tubes cost less than one GU74B and offer the same power.In short: same power at a lower price!
• Heat up time reduced to 30 seconds.
• Tube socket developed by Acom especially for this tube.
• Noise reduced fan, similiar to those developed for the Acom 1000 and 2000
• More solid case and many improved details in the electronics

Same as the 1010, the Acom 1011 is characterised by easy operation. The compact size and tolerance against power fluctuations make this amp ideal for DX-peditions and fieldday operations. The Acom 1011 can tune antennas with an SWR up 3:1, often avoiding the use of a separate tuner. The mechanical construction is very solid, equipped with various protections the amp can withstand up to 240W reflected power, power spikes up to 100m sec length and even operator errors. All in all an almost indestructible amplifier. The ACOM-1010 does not support Full-BK (QSK).

Acom 1011

Technical Specifications

• Frequency Coverage: All amateur bands in the 1.8-29.7MHz frequency range.
• Power Output: 700 W PEP or 500 W continuous carrier.
• Intermodulation Distortion: Better than 35 dB below rated output.
• Hum and noise: Better than 40 dB below rated output.
• Harmonic Output Suppression: Better than 50 dB below rated output.
• Input and Output Impedances:
  • nominal value: 50 Ω unbalanced, UHF (SO239) type connectors;
  • input circuit: broadband, VSWR less than 1.2:1, 1.8-30MHz continuously (no tunings, no switching);
  • Bypass path VSWR less than 1.1:1, 1.8-30MHz continuously, 200 W maximum;
  • Output (antenna) impedance matching capability: VSWR up to 3:1 or higher.
• RF Gain: 11dB typically, frequency response less than 1dB (50 to 70 W drive power for rated output). Primary Power: 85-132 V/170-264 V ac (100, 110, 120, 200, 210, 220, 230 & 240 V nominal taps), +10% -15% tol.), 50-60 Hz, single phase, 1200 VA.
• Complies with CE safety and electromagnetic compatibility requirements as well as FCC-regulations (10 & 12 m band locks provided).
• Size & Weight (operating): WxDxH: 407 x 315 x 169mm, 18kg.
• Operating environments:
  • temperature range: 0...+50 °C
  • humidity: up to 95% @ +35 °C
  • height: up to 3000m above sea level without output deterioration

Cinch (RCA) cables for PTT please see Cables and accessories.

Acom 1000 (1000W, 160-6m)

The ACOM 1000 HF Linear Amplifier is one of the world's best value in an amateur HF amplifier. The ACOM 1000 gives you a comfortable 1000 watts output on all amateur bands from 160 through 6 meters.

Easy to tune. The plate-load True Resistance Indicator (TRI) is a powerful tuning aid which, together with the automatically controlled input attenuator, helps the operator to quickly and precisely match antennas (5-10 seconds typically). The auto-operate function (when enabled) maintains the amplifier in OPERATE mode for you, thus saving manual operations and time.

The amplifier will perform the functions of an antenna tuner for VSWR up to 3:1, thus enabling you change antennas faster and use them over a wider frequency range (saving tuning time).

An amplifier that is both user-friendly, and that looks after itself. It is designed to safely withstand up to 500W reflected power, up to 100 milliseconds duration of drive spikes, drive RF "tails" after a PTT or KEY release, operator's inadvertent tuning errors etc. It would also not cease to function with a "soft" AC line and would deliver more than half power at only 75% of nominal mains voltage. Withstands up to 10 milliseconds (down to zero) voltage drops, and up to +15% line voltage spikes - important particularly when used at field days, Dxpeditions, etc.

Text messages,12 parameters, and strip peak-reading PEP meter displayed on a dot-matrix, back-lighted LC Display. LED indicators are provided for OPERATE, attenuator-on, and ON/OFF conditions.

Signatures of the amplifier internal status are stored in a nonvolatile memory for 7 most recent auto protection trips. This information is used for diagnostics.

Silent QSK. The input bypassing and the vacuum antenna relays are very quiet even in CW mode due to their special mounting.

Resulting in very good load to the transceiver over the entire spectrum 1.8-54MHz.

A Svetlana 4CX800A (GU74B) high performance ceramic-metal tetrode with plate dissipation of 600W is employed (forced air cooling, grid-driven). Permanent monitoring and protection of plate and grid voltages and currents, as well as of the exhaust temperature.

Technical Specifications

• Frequency Coverage: All amateur bands 1.8-54MHz; extensions and/or changes on request.
• Power Output: 1000W PEP or continuous carrier, no mode limit.
• Intermodulation Distortion: Better than 35dB below rated output.
• Full-BK (QSK) supported
• Hum and noise: Better than 40dB below rated output.
• Harmonic Output Suppression:
  • 1.8-29.7MHz - better than 50dB below rated output;
  • 50-54MHz - better than 66dB below rated output.
• Input and Output Impedances:
  • nominal value: 50 Ω unbalanced, UHF (SO239) type connectors;
  • input circuit: broadband, VSWR less than 1.3:1, 1.8-54MHz continuously (no tunings, no switching);
  • bypass path VSWR less than 1.1:1, 1.8-54MHz continuously;
  • output matching capability: better than VSWR 3:1 or greater at reduced output levels.
• RF Gain: 12.5dB typically, frequency response less than 1dB (50 to 60W drive power for rated output).
• Primary Power: 170-264V (200, 210, 220, 230 & 240V nominal taps, 100, 110 & 120V taps on request, +10%-15%tol.), 50-60Hz, single phase, 2000VA consumption at rated output.
• Complies with CE safety and EMC requirements, as well as FCC-regulations (6,10 & 12m bands lock provided).
• Size & Weight (operating): WxDxH: 422x355x182mm, 18kg.
• Operating environments:
  • temperature range: 0...+50 degs.Celsius;
  • humidity: up to 75% @ +35 degs.Celsius.
  • height: up to 3000m above sea level without output deterioration

Cinch (RCA) cables for PTT and ALC, please see Cables and accessories.