ACOM 1200S
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| Frequency | 1.8-54 MHz (160-6 m, all amateur bands) |
| Bands | 160m, 80m, 60m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, 6m |
| TX power | 1200 W (Rated 1000 W output (+/-0.5 dB, PEP or continuous carrier), and typically delivers about 1200 W, from a single NXP MRF1K80 LDMOS transistor; RF power gain is 13 dB (+/-1 dB), so under about 50 W of drive gives full output.) |
| Modes | SSB, CW, RTTY, AM, FM (no time limit, continuous carrier rated) |
| Weight | 13 kg (28.7 lb) - About 13 kg (sources cite 12 to 14.5 kg). |
| rf input | SO-239 (from the transceiver), 50 ohm unbalanced |
| rf output | SO-239 (to the antenna), 50 ohm unbalanced |
| control | RS-232, plus CAT band data from the transceiver (or the built-in frequency counter); optional ACOM eBox for Ethernet/Internet remote control |
| ac in | Built-in switching supply, 93-265 VAC without switching, 50-60 Hz single phase |
| power req | Built-in wide-range switching power supply (SMPS) with power-factor correction, 93-265 VAC (no voltage switch); about 2000 VA at full output, under 1 VA in standby. Needs under about 50 W of RF drive. |
A genuine kilowatt-class amplifier in a small, light, solid-state box: a single modern LDMOS device gives about 1000-1200 watts instantly, with nothing to tune and automatic band changing even without a CAT cable. Its standout is the very wide 93-265 V mains range with no switch, so it makes full power on a US 120-volt outlet and runs happily on a generator. A big 5-inch color screen, continuous protection, detailed metering and fault logging round it out, and at roughly 13 kg it is portable for its power.
It is expensive, around $2,700-3,000, and like the rest of the S-series has no internal antenna tuner (the ACOM 06AT is an added cost). It uses SO-239 rather than N connectors, and although it reaches about 1.2 kW it is rated 1000 W, a touch under a true legal-limit 1.5 kW amp for those who want maximum headroom.
The ACOM 1200S is a compact, automatic, no-tune solid-state amplifier that delivers roughly 1000-1200 watts across 160-6 m, with the practical advantage of full power on ordinary 120-volt mains. It suits an operator who wants near-legal-limit power without a heavy tube amp or fragile filaments; those who want a guaranteed 1.5 kW look at a larger amplifier, and the 700S is the lighter, lower-power sibling.
The ACOM 1200S is a compact solid-state linear amplifier that brings near-kilowatt power to HF and 6 meters. It is rated 1000 watts output and typically delivers about 1200 watts, all from a single modern NXP MRF1K80 LDMOS transistor, so there is no tube to warm up and it is ready the moment it is switched on. RF gain is about 13 dB, so under 50 watts of drive from a typical radio reaches full output.
Like the rest of ACOM's S-series it is automatic and needs no tuning: a large 5-inch, 800-by-480 color display shows the operating parameters, and the amplifier follows the radio's frequency over a CAT link or, without CAT, reads the transmit frequency with a built-in counter and switches bands by itself. The broadband input keeps the radio's load below 1.2:1, the output stage tolerates antenna SWR up to 3:1 (with power reduction), and the signal is clean, with intermodulation more than 30 dB down and harmonics over 60 dB down. Continuous protection, digital metering and fault logging are built in.
Its standout practical feature is the power supply: a power-factor-corrected switcher that accepts 93 to 265 volts with no switch, so it makes full power on an ordinary US 120-volt outlet and runs well on generators. It draws about 2000 VA at full output, measures roughly 372 by 418 by 162 millimeters and around 13 kilograms, and like its siblings has no internal antenna tuner (the ACOM 04AT or 06AT are options). It sells for about $2,700 to $3,000.
It is the kilowatt-class member of the solid-state line. The ACOM 700S is the lighter, 700-watt sibling, the tube ACOM 1000 reaches similar power the traditional way, and the Elecraft KPA1500 is a comparable 1.5 kW solid-state amplifier with a built-in tuner.