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From: parnass@ihuxf.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Yet another Dentron disaster?
Message-ID: <1640@ihuxf.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Nov-83 11:46:35 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxf.1640
Posted: Fri Nov 18 11:46:35 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Nov-83 23:18:14 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 41


x
       A friend	in N.J., KC2KO,	once related his experiences with a
       new  Dentron  Clipperton-V 2 meter amplifier, purchased from
       Amateur	Electronics  Supply  (AES)  in	 Milwaukee.    This
       SSB/CW/RTTY/FM  amp  was	 advertised by Dentron and AES as a
       500 watt	input unit.  It	used a single 4CX-250B and required
       between 10 and 25 watts drive.

       In  addition  to	 experiencing	bizarre	  amplifier   input
       impedances,  this  fellow  could	 never	run the	unit at	500
       watts input without it blowing up.  It was sent back to	the
       factory	for  repair,  but  still  wouldn't run at the rated
       input.

       Finally,	a Dentron engineer confessed that  the	Clipperton-
       V's design made it IMPOSSIBLE to	run 500	watts input without
       self-destructing!  KC2KO	wrote letters to AES, Dentron,	and
       the  Attorney  General's	office,	claiming false advertising,
       and demanding a full refund.  He	got one.

       The Fall	1983 AES catalog contains a closeout  advertisement
       on  page	 43  for this amplifier, reduced from $699 to $299!
       These  units  are  new,	not  used.   Beware,  there  is	 an
       interesting footnote in the ad:

		  "This	unit is	being offered at this low price	 on
		 an  "as-is"  basis with No Factory or AES Warranty
		 and No	Returns; all  sales  are  final!   Consider
		 this  purchase	only if	your [sic] have	the techni-
		 cal expertise	to  perform  any  possible  repairs
		 and/or	modifications on this type of equipment."


       There are other Dentron items advertised	on the	same  page,
       but  they all carry a 90	day AES	warranty.  The Clipperton-V
       must have been a	super lemon.

-- 
============================================================================
Robert S. Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories, ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass (312)979-5760