The RJ-6 is just the 'longer life' version of the RJ-2's that I use all
the time. Both relays have identical specs. BOTH have a 18 msec op
time.. and a 9 msec rls time. The gigavac eq of em is called a 'G-2' or a
'G-2 ham' [also has identical specs, and don't be fooled by the g-2 ham
specs, the g2-ham is a carbon copy of a G-2 ..except price.
Don't mess with sequencers.. esp the arrl ones, [a] they don't work, [b] u
don't need em.. and esp with a RJ-6.. RJ-2... G-2... G-2 ham relay.
You want the INPUT relay to be FAST RLS. Just install a 200-400 ohm 2-3
watt mof resistor in series with a 1N5408/6A10 diode.... [either end of
diode] .. and put that combo across the relay coil. [ diode is reversed]
You want the OUTPUT relay to be SLOW RLS. Just install a 1N5408 /6A10
diode, RVS polarity , across the output relay coil.
These relays, stock, are SLOW to operate as is [ 18 msecs !] You don't
want to slow down the input relay at all, otherwise you end up with an input
relay that operates in say 24 msecs.. and an output relay that operates in 18
msecs.
You can't use these relays in qsk mode.. even sped up, they are too slow.
The best you can do is super fast VOX ssb/cw.
They BOTH have to be sped up.. with an overvoltage. I use +120 vdc on
mine..... but anything from +50 vdc to +120 vdc will work nicely. This
will increase the Operate speed from 18 msecs.. down to 7-9 msecs.
IF your stock relay supply is a FWB... OR a simple 1/2 wave rectifier,
the simple fix is to change it to a DOUBLER, which requires just 2 x
diodes and 2 x big lytics. Then at least you have +48 to +50 vdc to play
with. You can then use just one drop resistor for BOTH parallel relay
coils. To speed em up even faster, install a 50-100 uf lytic directly across
the drop resistor.
Another option is to replace both relays with new gigavac G-2 ham
versions. You can get ANY of the gigavac relays in either a 12 vdc
coil.... OR a 26.5 vdc coil. Your stock +24 vdc relay supply will
easily speed up a 12 vdc coil. If a doubler is used.... the +48 to +50 vdc
will really speed up a 12 vdc coil. And again, put a 50-100 uf lytic
across the dropping resistor.
We used a small xfmr from the mouser catalog, ran a doubler on it.. to get +
120 vdc. The xfmr had enough taps to get a lot of different voltages.
Also, we used TWO RJ2-B's.. with all contacts in parallel... to handle more
RF on the output side...... yet we used a RJ1-A [ or gigavac GH-1] on the
input side. We also used a RJ1-A for the cut off bias. ALL 4 x
relay's sped up with +120 vdc. ONE drop resistor used for the paralleled
coils for the RJ2-B's.... and a 2nd [different value] drop resistor for
the paralleled coils of the RJ1-A's . On some configs, I use a single
RJ2-B on the input Rf side, and a pair of em on the output side.... and a
RJ1-A [ or a similar fast spst vac relay] for the t/r cut off bias... [
just shorts a paralleled pair of 100 k 3 watt mofs. ]
Some XCVR's like my yaesu- MK-V.... have a menu option for CW mode only..
that delay's RF from the xcvr from 0-30 msecs. [ I set it to 30 msecs].
No dit's, dashes gets truncated cuz it's a digital delay. What's going over
the air is delayed by 30 msecs. That gives the relay's in the amplifier, a
30 msec head start. Ok this is fine on CW.. but what abt ssb? On SSB,
there is RF coming out of a MK-V.. and also my 1000-D after 5 msecs. To
solve the SSB problem, I use the TX inhibit feature. I also use the...
'electronic grnd' from the band data jack of the mk-v /1000-D to key an opto
isolator [ P+B ODC-15A.] Output of the ODC-15A keys the vac relays in the
amp. [ODC-15A is rated for 8-20 vdc @ 10-15 ma on the input side... and
200 vdc @ 1A CCS on the output side. The ODC-15 is rated for 60 vdc @
3A on it's output side....both versions have a 100 micro second operate
time.. and a 750 microsecond RLS time] I als
o use the stock, 15 msec mech relay, spst, that's inside BOTH the mk-v and
and the 1000-D.... to supply a grnd for the TX inhibit lead ! TX RF gets
inhibited by 15 msecs !... [ regardless of mode] On any 1000-D... the
grnd from the RCA TX jack, is simply routed back into the 'TX inhibit
lead' pin on the band data jack. On any MK-V.... same deal.. EXCEPT a 1000
ohm, 2-3 watt mof has to be installed between the TX inhibit pin and the
+13.8 vdc pin... both on the band data jack. The +13.8 vdc can also be used
to sit on one side of the opto isolator's inputs.... and ...'TX electronic
grnd' on band data jack is used to sink the opto on TX. You cough into the
vox... vac relays trip in the amp... THEN the 15 msec spst relay in the yaesu
operates.. DEAD LAST.. and TX is no longer inhibited...and then RF comes out
of the xcvr..... NO hotswitching.
End result of all this is.... smooth VOX SSB/CW... when using RJ2-B/C's.. [
or RJ6's../ G-2... G-2 ham]. Smooth as a baby's bum .. and NO hot
switching. The trick here is... the RJ2/6, STOCK has a slow 18 msec OP
time.... so even with the 15 msec TX inhibit delay on SSB.... it's still
NOT fast enough.. stock. It HAS to be sped up. The 1000-D has NO
provision to delay RF on CW... like the 0-30 msec menu item the MK-V has.
The best you can do on a 1000-D is.. is to use the 15 msec mech delay.. and
use it in conjunction with the TX inhibit lead..[ALL modes]. You won't hot
switch any YC-156's [ or Yu-148's, 3x3's] with this setup. It's 100%
bullet proof.. and field tested.
As a side note, if you order a new Gigavac G-2 ham... get the version that
has threads on all 3 x cylinders. Then no soldering! They come with silver
plated machine screws, which makes installing either strap.. or round
'sta-kons'.. a snap.
IF you want high power [ YC-156 etc] QSK cw.... then you only have ONE
option... to use a PAIR of RJ1-A's , with all contacts in parallel, on the
output side.. [ and coils in parallel].. and also a single RJ1-A on the
input RF side. You may as well use a 4th RJ1-A for the t/r bias... and
simply parallel all 4 x coils up.... and speed all 4 x of em up. Again, if
gigavac GH-1 ham relay's used, get the 12 vdc coil version for all 4 x
relays, and they will just scream on operate. Then all 4 x relays will
operate in 1.8 msecs.
Sri for the diatribe, but I have extensive experience using the RJ-2 and
RJ-6 vac relays. Your RJ-6, as configured above, will last 25 x million
operations.... per jennings.
later.... Jim VE7RF
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