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[TowerTalk] Re: AL1500 problem

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Subject: [TowerTalk] Re: AL1500 problem
From: José de Sá" <ct1eeb@mail.telepac.pt (José de Sá)
Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 18:27:09 -0000
Hello Jari and friends,
I have just done as you said and put in a ferrite
in the relay line (4 turns).
I still have the problem.
It is curious that when I had a setup with an FT-1000MP
connected to this Linear I had the same problem in reception,
at that time I told Martti OH2BH (because the FT-1000MP was his
radio) that the radio had a malfunction, now I see I was wrong because
the TS-870 behaves in the same way.

Iam still trying to figure out whats wrong, but Iam glad because I got some
replies
and I will try to check out.
Here are my conclusions:
- Spite it looks very much to be a radio problem (radio relay maybe)
   Iam confused because the Yaesu FT-1000MP also had the same problem
   as my TS-870 is now (with the same Linear), nevertheless when I turn the
   Linear OFF completelly the problem remains until I press PTT and then it
   doesn't returns if the radio is ON with the Linear OFF. (once again the
same
   hapenned with the FT-1000MP).
- The Linear Amp (AL-1500) relay and fast QSK board are brand new.

---> Something that I will check-out now are the PL connectors, but I solder
        every connector (I don't cramp them).

By the way I also used an Acom 2000 Linear amp. before and this lowering
in reception strength was NOT a problem.

Any further ideas about how to get this problem solved will be most welcome.
For those of you that haven't got my original mail please read it below.

73


Jose  CT1EEB



Hi,
I have purchased a Ameritron AL-1500 amplifier 4 years ago and
for the last year it has developed a problem that I hope
you can help me solve.

A) When transmitting and returning to reception, the
reception signal strenght in the radio lowers dramatically and it
only returns to normal after I press the radio PTT switch for
several times.
I do have this problem for some time now (probably over an year)
and thinking that it could be the AL-1500 open relay, I
purchased a new relay (a couple of months ago) and
installed it along with a fast QSK board (one of this Increasing
Amplifier Relay speed boards by K6XX),
NEVERTHELESS THE PROBLEM REMAINS.

So, its not the relay.

I don't know if this is a common problem for you and I really
hope you can help me troubleshoot the problem and fix
it.

In order for you to better understand the problem here is a
description of the setup working along with the
AL-1500:
Radio: Kenwood TS-870 (driving the AL-1500 with a max of 70
watt).
All antennas show a SWR lower that 1:1.5
All equipments have got a good ground.

Note 1: I noticed that after I installed this fast QSK board by
K6XX the problem got a bit worst as reception gets lower
in strenght even when the amp is ON but I'm not transmitting,
could I be mistaken ?

Note 2: Another thing is that when this happens I tryed to turn the
amplifier
completelly off (no power) and the radio reception is still low until I
press the PTT, then it returns to normal and never happens again
while I'm using only the radio, if I start using the amp again the problem
returns.

Looking for your reply.
Best regards,


Jose E. Ribeiro Sa   CT1EEB
http://www.qsl.net/ct1eeb




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