Be careful with that Ameritron QSK5. It can blow the front end right out
of a modern rig. I know. I found out the hard way! I've talked to other
that had the same bad experience.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: "bob finger" <finger@goeaston.net>
To: <k2xx@swva.net>, <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 13:00:55 -0400
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Re: Orion qsk and 425
> Hi Joe: and I sent you an answer directly.
>
> I'll try again as I do not have the original message I sent. Plus I am
> copying the reflector.
>
> I use the ptt outputs of the Orion. Menu sets for Orion are:
>
> menu = tx = keying loops 1 and 2 off; ext t/r delay 1 and 2 at 50%
> mernu=cw=cw qsk delay 70%; ssb = cw jack ptt off; ptt in cw as key
>
> for my pc I let it just run in cw, and I can use either ptt or vox in
> ssb
>
> This way the Orion works as normal in cw with a bit of delay at the end
> but
> not enuff to harm anything. It keeps the relays in the 425 (and in the
> alpha 78) from following keying. I do not use qsk at all with the
> Orion and
> the amps. I can also hit the footswitch and lock the key for tuning.
> It is
> very easy using N1MM logger. I type in cw, then hit the footswitch to
> tune
> and then type lsb/usb to go back to ssb if I started there.
>
> The Orion and 425 work together (or did with early firmware!) I have
> not
> tried it with 1.371 and know others are having difficulty with the 425
> and
> Orion using 1.371 firmware. TT is working on the problem.
>
> The other problem with Orion and 425 is output power overshoot. If I
> am
> running the 425 right at the high edge ie grid current at about max
> then the
> first dit or two will overshoot and overdrive the 425. I have to turn
> the
> Orion output power down about 5 watts to keep that from happening. The
> difference in output power is minimal so no big deal. Without the grid
> overdrive led tho, one would never know it was happening. I have a
> grid
> overdrive protection circuit built in, and it can trip the amp
> off....so I
> am careful to set the output power of the Orion before keying the amp.
> I
> have to set the Orion ouput on 160/80cw to 25 watts and on 40 cw to 40
> watts
> to avoid initial overdrive. (I use the alpha 78 on the high bands)
>
> IMO real qro qsk can only be had by using a separate tx/rx and rx
> antenna.
> No clicking/clacking or anything else. The only other solution is a
> pin
> diode switch, but that is another set of challenges. The Ameritron qsk
> switch does work quite well but is very susceptible to transients on
> the
> feedlines. The only time I would want true qsk is traffic handling, and
> I do
> not do that anymore!
>
> Hope this helps. 73 bob de w9ge
>
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