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Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

To: "frank.kirschner@gmail.com" <frank.kirschner@gmail.com>, "amps@contesting.com" <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key
From: Charlie Young <weeksmgr@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2017 00:04:46 +0000
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Frank, you have to manually put the switch from standby to operate.   If there 
is a fault, the software will kick it back to standby mode even though the 
switch is in operate, but to get it in operate mode you have to push the switch.

It will not go to operate regardless of the switch position until the warm up 
timer does its thing.

At least, this is the way it worked on the 87A I repaired.

73 Charlie N8RR



73 Charlie N8RR

Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10

________________________________
From: Frank Kirschner <frank.kirschner@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 6:49:37 PM
To: Charlie Young
Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

Charlie and Jerry,

Thanks.  That clarifies the situation.

When I enter "OPER" into the Alphamax software, it returns STATE = STANDBY, so 
there is something keeping it from going into the operate mode.  The software 
should put it in operate mode regardless of the operation of the STBY-OPR 
switch, so there is something more fundamental wrong.  I may try a call to 
Alpha on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving.

73,
Frank KF6E

On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 6:24 PM, Charlie Young 
<weeksmgr@hotmail.com<mailto:weeksmgr@hotmail.com>> wrote:

Frank, the amp should go to operate mode after the warm up delay if you push 
the mode switch to operate.

It should go to operate mode regardless if the amp is keyed or not.  It won’t 
go to operate mode unit the timer interval is up.



When it is in operate mode but not keyed, it is feeding through the antenna to 
the receiver through the pin diodes. When you close the keying circuit , the 
pin diodes switch the amplifier to transmit mode.  If it won’t go into operate 
mode the amp won’t key to transmit.



There are a number of things which will keep the amp from going to  operate 
mode when the mode switch is changed from standby to operate.



The amp must be in operate mode before closing the input keying line will do 
anything.  If it is not going into operating mode, there is some other issue.



That no faults are showing is a good thing.



The 87A is known for having contact resistance issues on the molex pins which 
connect the wiring harness to  the various boards.   This is a very common 
problem.  I would start by opening up the amp and unplugging each of these

plugs and reinserting it on the male pins a few times.   A bit of Deoxit spray 
on each connection might help.



73 Charlie N8RR







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________________________________
From: Amps <amps-bounces@contesting.com<mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com>> on 
behalf of Frank Kirschner 
<frank.kirschner@gmail.com<mailto:frank.kirschner@gmail.com>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 4:28:37 PM
To: amps@contesting.com<mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

The Alpha 87A I got in the ARRL auction won't key up.

I connected to the RS-232 port satisfactorily, and it showed no faults.  I
have the transceiver RF out connected to the RF input of the amp, the RF
output of the amp connected to an antenna (TH-11), and a relay connected to
the keying relay input.

I checked the relay input, and it does short to ground when the transceiver
goes to transmit.  But the amp stays on SDBY, and the OPR light doesn't
come on.

Is there something I just don't know to do?  I've never used a
microprocessor-controlled amp before, so there may be a trick to it.

I'm on 20 meters, so I assume it isn't a 12-10 meter lock-out thing.

Thanks.

73,
Frank
KF6E
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