[AMPS] Alpha 89 Pin Diodes

Bill Coleman n2bc@stny.rr.com
Thu, 30 Mar 2000 18:51:50 -0500


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Hi John, I am not an Alpha owner - but my buddy is (he's got an 87A)... =
He routinely uses his on plain vanilla ungrounded 160 & 80 & 40M =
dipoles. I have logged many hours with it to similar antennas during =
contests.   I know my buddy has a very high opinion of Alpha service and =
support, but it sounds to me like they are pulling your chain.

Oh, it is fairly easy to DC ground the antennas....  a husky RF choke to =
ground.  Actually, I'm surprised the Alpha doesn't have it incorporated =
internally if it's that susceptible to static...   Hmmm...  I'd ask them =
about that!

There's my 2 cents... add another $1.50 and you got yourself a large =
coffee!

Best of luck,  Bill  N2BC
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: John C. Kimbrough=20
  To: amps@contesting.com=20
  Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 6:36 PM
  Subject: [AMPS] Alpha 89 Pin Diodes


  Hello all, I just received my new Alpha 89 and after using it about 3 =
hours it would intermittently attenuate RX signals through the amp, =
after cycling the operate-standby switch it would work fine for a while =
then do the same thing again.
  I called Alpha and they said it was the RX pin diodes caused by a =
static build up on my not DC grounded 80 meter wire. If any one could =
help me I have a few questions...

  1-Is this going to be an on going problem?
  2-Do I need to DC ground all of my wire antennas?
  3-I have time left on my 30 day refund, should I get my money back?
  4-Has anyone else had this problem?
  5-Is using Pin Diode switching reliable?
  =20
  Thanks, John

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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi John, I am not an Alpha owner - but my buddy is =
(he's got=20
an 87A)... He routinely uses his on plain vanilla ungrounded 160 &amp; =
80 &amp;=20
40M dipoles. I have logged many hours with it to similar antennas during =

contests.&nbsp;&nbsp; I know my buddy has a very high opinion of Alpha =
service=20
and support, but it sounds to me like they are pulling your =
chain.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Oh, it is fairly easy to DC ground the =
antennas....&nbsp; a=20
husky RF choke to ground.&nbsp; Actually, I'm surprised the Alpha =
doesn't have=20
it incorporated internally if it's that susceptible to =
static...&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
Hmmm...&nbsp; I'd ask them about that!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>There's my 2 cents... add another $1.50 and you got =
yourself a=20
large coffee!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Best of luck,&nbsp; Bill&nbsp; N2BC</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A href=3D"mailto:wr3s@bellsouth.net" title=3Dwr3s@bellsouth.net>John =
C.=20
  Kimbrough</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:amps@contesting.com"=20
  title=3Damps@contesting.com>amps@contesting.com</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, March 30, 2000 =
6:36=20
  PM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [AMPS] Alpha 89 Pin =
Diodes</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Hello all, I just received my new =
Alpha 89 and=20
  after using it about 3 hours it would intermittently attenuate RX =
signals=20
  through the amp, after cycling the operate-standby switch it would =
work fine=20
  for a while then do the same thing again.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I called Alpha and they said it =
was the RX pin=20
  diodes caused by a static build up on my not DC grounded 80 meter =
wire. If any=20
  one could help me I have a few questions...</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>1-Is this going to be an on going =
problem?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>2-Do I need to DC ground all of my wire=20
  antennas?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>3-I have time left on my 30 day refund, should I =
get my=20
  money back?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>4-Has anyone else had this problem?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>5-Is using Pin Diode switching =
reliable?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2>Thanks, =
John</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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