[Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

Wed Nov 22 20:00:06 EST 2017

Confirmed, the rocker switch has been known to fail stuck in the STBY
position BUT with Alphamax you should be able to switch OPR <----> STBY via
software only

73

Jerry, NY2KW

From: Charlie Young [mailto:weeksmgr at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 7:54 PM
To: Jerry <jsternmd at att.net>; frank.kirschner at gmail.com; amps at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

The two amps I repaired did not have Alphamax, so the software may be able
to put it into operate mode without the mode switch being in operate.   I
don't know.  No experience with Alphamax.   

73 Charlie N8RR 

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  _____  

From: Jerry <jsternmd at att.net <mailto:jsternmd at att.net> >
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 7:50:17 PM
To: 'Charlie Young'; frank.kirschner at gmail.com
<mailto:frank.kirschner at gmail.com> ; amps at contesting.com
<mailto:amps at contesting.com> 
Subject: RE: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key 

Frank,

Send the terminal command "OPER" only returns the current state.  To have it
switch to OPR you have to enter 'OPER ON'

73
Jerry, NY2KW

-----Original Message-----
From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Charlie Young
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 7:05 PM
To: frank.kirschner at gmail.com <mailto:frank.kirschner at gmail.com> ;
amps at contesting.com <mailto:amps at contesting.com> 
Subject: Re: [Amps] Alpha 87A Won't Key

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

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________________________________
From: Frank Kirschner <frank.kirschner at gmail.com
<mailto:frank.kirschner at 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 at hotmail.com
<mailto:weeksmgr at hotmail.com%3cmailto:weeksmgr at hotmail.com>
<mailto:weeksmgr at 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 at contesting.com
<mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com%3cmailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com>
<mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com>>
on behalf of Frank Kirschner
<frank.kirschner at gmail.com
<mailto:frank.kirschner at gmail.com%3cmailto:frank.kirschner at gmail.com>
<mailto:frank.kirschner at gmail.com>>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2017 4:28:37 PM
To: amps at contesting.com<mailto:amps at 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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