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Re: [Yaesu] FT-990 Folds Back Power on 40M

To: Yaesu@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] FT-990 Folds Back Power on 40M
From: <w1nk@cox.net>
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:08:46 -0400
List-post: <mailto:yaesu@contesting.com>
Here's a brief update....

While on my lunch break (my office is close to home) I decided to do a quick 
test on the rig, covers on, as I only had about 20 minutes before I had to get 
back to work.

I keyed the rig in RTTY on 40 (into a dummy load) for about 30 secs, 3 or 4 
times.  As before, power out started at 100W.  Then very subtly the power began 
to creep downwards on susequent keyings.  I then immediately switched to SSB 
and gave a few good whistles and got 100W out.

I guess we can pretty much rule out excessive heat, because the rig was on for 
all of 10 minutes prior to my "testing" .... I had to do a little DXing.

The next step will be to repeat the "test" with the covers off and look for a 
poorly seated board.

As always, thanks for the input

Frank, W1NK
---- GGLL <nagato@arnet.com.ar> wrote: 
>       Please see below:
> 
> w1nk@cox.net escribiÃ:
> > Yes... all the other bands and modes (well, except AM) show 100W output.
> > What strikes me as strange is that it's *only* on 40M RTTY that the power
> > drops.
> > 
> > The more I think about it, I wonder if heat has something to do with it.
> > In both instances over the weekend, I was on 40 RTTY after being on 20 RTTY
> 
> So if you were operating, that leaves fqcy. instability out .
> 
> > for about a good 60 to 90 minutes.  Then after letting the rig "rest" (even
> > overnight) the power out would slowly creep back up (after a night's rest,
> > I got a full 100W out).
> 
> Indeed, those facts lead one to say "high temperature somewhere", but why CW 
> 100w?. Did you also test, whistling at mike, your pep in SSB?.
> 
>    Even if heat was a factor, should I see a fairly
> > consistent power drop on all bands/modes??
> 
> Must be, take in care that rtty is a "heavy duty" mode, more if you work at 
> full power. The problem, if due to foldback related to a high temperature 
> condition may be reproduced at all bands, but worst at rtty mode. What keeps 
> me "head scratching" is the fact that after foldback of power output, if you 
> switch immediately to CW you get full output power!, so, at first glance for 
> me, that situation  would be not temperature related, because the main 
> protection sensors against high temperatures are located in the PA stage.
>       Perhaps another course of action would be to operate the rig with the 
> cover 
> off (top first, just to say one) wait for the failure and move some board 
> connectors to see what happens. Could be a solder problem.
> 
> Let me know what happens.
> 
> Best regards
> Guillermo - LU8EYW.
> 
> > 
> > Frank, W1NK
> > 
> > 
> > ---- GGLL <nagato@arnet.com.ar> wrote:
> > 
> >> Yes, because the trimmer capacitor failure could lead to a frequency
> >> shift well outside the filter passband. An erratic "note" monitored in
> >> another receiver is heared when this kind of failure happens. This is the
> >> one thing I guess is your problem because you mention that CW power out
> >> is fine (do you obtain the same pep in SSB?).
> >> 
> >> Best regards Guillermo - LU8EYW.
> >> 
> >> w1nk@cox.net escribiÃ:
> >> 
> >>> When you ask if the output frequency is stable, I assume you mean am I
> >>> noticing any VFO drift?  If so, then no, the VFO is stable.
> >>> 
> >>> Thanks though,
> >>> 
> >>> Frank, W1NK ---- GGLL <nagato@arnet.com.ar> wrote:
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>>> Is the output frequency stable in that mode?.  I suspect a defective
> >>>> part in the related oscillator; perhaps a trimmer cap.
> >>>> 
> >>>> Best regards Guillermo - LU8EYW.
> >>>> 
> >>>> w1nk@cox.net escribiÃ:
> >>>> 
> >>>> 
> >>>>> This has me truly puzzled....
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Last night and tonite during the CQWW RTTY contest, I noticed that
> >>>>> my FT-990 is folding back power only on 40M RTTY.  I've watched my
> >>>>> watt meter indicate 50, then 40 then 30 watts out.  Switch to CW,
> >>>>> 100 W out.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Any other band is fine...100W out on RTTY (or any other mode for
> >>>>> that matter).
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> The rig is running cool to the touch, the fan is kicking in 
> >>>>> appropriately... so I assume heat is not an issue.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Operating time seems to be a factor....in other words, prior to
> >>>>> switching to 40 I had been on 20 for about an hour or so.  This
> >>>>> morning after the rig had "rested" overnight, I had 100W out on 40.
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Thoughts??
> >>>>> 
> >>>>> Thanks, Frank, W1NK _______________________________________________
> >>>>> Yaesu mailing list Yaesu@contesting.com 
> >>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/yaesu
> >>>>> 
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>> 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________ Yaesu mailing list 
> > Yaesu@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/yaesu

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