[Amps] Alpha 9500 questions

[Mike & Becca Krzystyniak]

Hey OM Bob, long time to see...

I have an early model 9500, first production run with a low serial number
etc.
My 9500 just finished a service/update/repair sweep with Brad K0HM out in
Colorado Springs.

Many of these updates are robustness (replacing undersized resistors or
MOV's etc) and reliability (using all affect device for tuning alignment).  
Some were additional tube protection.  Some parts drifted out of spec (not
uncommon with higher value resistors in bleeders and voltage dividers).

Mine also received new HV diodes, proper spark gap and location, and all
PIC's firmware received update to 3.04.
To be clear, beside the main controller updatable via your PC, there are
several PIC's that need programming too.
I did not have the tools to do those so Brad did them for me.

I'm sure any updates and corrections were implemented after they were
discovered to be an issue. 
Given the current climate any chance of getting a chronilogical list of what
was done when is unlikely.
You might do better analyzing the reflector database to see if you could
build a timeline there.

73  Mike K9MK





-----Original Message-----
From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2020 12:21 PM
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: [Amps] Alpha 9500 questions

Thinking of acquiring a 9500. but first need to learn a few things. someone
help me with these questions? 

 

What are the "updates/upgrades have been done" that I often see along with a
"for sale" ad??   it seems to include (but not limited to): 

 

What is/are the xfmr/blower/hall effect upgrades made and why are/were they
done?  What do they fix/prevent?

 

What others besides the above are out there? 

 

When did they begin including these into production, at what serial
numbers/years? 

 

How important are they? 

 

How easily done are they ? 

 

Is the firmware archived somewhere to that it can be reproduced to replace a
controller if needed? 

The 87A I have seems to be crippled if this occurs, as I understand there
was no archive kept of the firmware and you can end up with a brick.
Apparently some of the devices used have limited write cycles as well and
are now beginning to crap out.

 

-bob, w9zv

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