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To: <amps@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 21:59:46 -0500
From: Floyd Sense <sentek@sprintmail.com>
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To: w6ter@worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: Review: SGC PowerCube
References: <6n6m1r$elo@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>
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I have another SGC product, and also had much difficulty in getting
information and service on it from SGC. The unit was returned to SGC
and received back from them with a tag that said "repaired". However,
it still wouldn't work for me. A call to SGC service revealed that they
had not really repaired it- they didn't find anything wrong with it. At
that point, I returned the unit to AES in Milwaukee for their service
dept to look at (should have done that in the first place). Miles of
AES service duplicated the problem and we found it to be the result of
poor documentation in the manual supplied.
I didn't find the SGC service department arrogant- just very inept.
They were very polite and tried to help, but just couldn't produce a
result.
Gerry Smith wrote:
> This article is intended as a review of
> the SGC SmartPowerCube (SG-500) and
> dealing with personnel at SGC.
>
> First, be aware, the `Cube is NOT 500
> watts on all bands. With mobile supply
> voltage slightly above 12.8 V., at
> maximum current, the power degrades to
> about 350 watts on 10 meters. Here are
> my results:
> Band Power In Power Out
> 80 45 watts 500 watts
> 20 60 watts 510 watts
> 10 105 watts 350 watts
> I sent this data to SGC, their response
> was,
> "... the SG-500 is rated at 500W with
> 14VDC input." Who has 14 volts in their
> mobile at 80 amps, even with a second
> battery? No mention of 14V requirement
> in their brochure. So, lower your
> expectations on the higher frequencies.
>
> Dealing with the SGC company is an
> ordeal, at best. They need,
> desperately, training in customership!
> Trying to get pre-buying questions
> answered was agonizing. Questions like,
> "Will the amp do QSK?", "What is the
> cutoff temperature? (to determine if
> their fan is necessary)", etc., went
> unanswered or I had to recall and find
> someone I could convince to talk with
> me (avoid a guy name `Terry', if you
> can). Even the people that answer the
> phone apparently believe they have more
> important things to do. I have spoken
> to many other consumers of SGC products
> and the consistent comments are
> `arrogant' and `difficult'.
>
> The choice of connectors for DC power
> and control functions are poor. The DC
> power terminates in a large Cinch
> barrier strip. The strip will not
> accept typical large, Stacon type,
> crimp connectors. I had to go to a
> electrical supply house and purchase
> copper screw compression connectors.
> The connector for the remote control
> functions appears to be a subminature
> of a Molex, but not one typically found
> in your parts box or at Radio Shack,
> nor does it have a tab or friction
> locking arrangement to prevent
> vibration woes. A major internal
> connector has the same lack of a
> positive locking mechanism. The PTT
> keying line goes under a screw, fine,
> but be sure and have a small
> screwdriver no more than 2 inches in
> length. `Connectorization' is just not
> well thought out.
>
> The circuit and construction design of
> the `Cube is good, except as noted
> above. Also, one other negative, is the
> tie down (attach) method. The unit
> comes with rubber feet and, if you want
> to secure the unit, you must improvise
> or buy their nylon strapping kit. I
> scrounged some aircraft shock mounts,
> after scratching what is left of my
> hair.
>
> The case is cast and well made. The
> circuit design is also good as is the
> various built in protections. The
> protections are: VSWR, temperature,
> current imbalance among the 8 output
> transistors, under voltage. Kudos to
> them, good protection to prevent
> evaporation of the amp under faulty
> conditions.
>
> Operation is simple, turn it on. It
> works. You should be aware they have a
> input attenuator which switches in at
> various input power levels, depending
> on the input frequency. It allows, for
> example, for the full output power of
> an Icom 706 or you can turn the 706
> power down and achieve the same result.
> The point where the attenuator switches
> varies wildly, for example:
> Freq Power
> 3.5 MHz 45 watts
> 14.2 MHz 60 watts
> 28.5 MHz 105 watts
>
> If you are planning on purchasing a
> `Cube, I highly recommend you call SGC,
> (800) 259-7331, first and request an
> operating manual for the unit (it took
> 3 calls for me).
>
> 73, Gerry
> W6TER
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