[RTTY] AL-1200 arcing during QRO RTTY contesting

[Shelby Summerville]

As a "happy without any problem" owner of an AL-1200, I take exception to
your opinion, to which you are entitled! I have seen a HF-2500 exhibit the
same problem, unless the drive power was reduced! I believe that RTTY
operation requires a "little common sense", and rather than be mislead by
"advertising hype", I choose to run mine with a "lower than rated" output? I
have only been using the AL-1200 for 18 months, and with my "sensible"
approach to operation, I have never had a problem! Over the period of a
contest, using 1 instead of 1.5 KW, I may miss out on a few contacts, but I
won't be able to "cook out" on top of the amp!
C'Ya, Shelby - K4WW
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Turner <w7ti@dslextreme.com>
To: WA9ALS - John <wa9als@starband.net>
Cc: <rtty@contesting.com>; <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 6:42 AM
Subject: Re: [RTTY] AL-1200 arcing during QRO RTTY contesting


> On Thu, 4 Oct 2001 17:45:04 -0500, WA9ALS - John wrote:
>
> >Both times something like
> >this has happened, it's been after a long period of QRO contesting at KW+
on
> >RTTY.  I guess I don't really think it's the antenna system - I think
it's
> >inherent to the amp not being built for QRO RTTY contesting.
>
> _________________________________________________________
>
> You're right about the AL-1200 not being built for QRO RTTY contesting.
> I had the tank assembly get so hot it melted the solder connections,
> once on 80 meters and once on 160 meters.  When I asked the designer of
> the amp about it, he replied "well, who uses RTTY on 160 meters anyway?"
> Bad answer, IMO.
>
> After repairing it, I held it to 1000 watts on each band and had no
> further problems.  I later sold it and bought an Alpha 91b which worked
> fine for extended RTTY operation, and after that a Commander HF-2500
> which is also "brick-on-the-key" rated.  Either one is a better choice
> than the AL-1200.  Ameritron's advertising would lead one to believe the
> amp would handle extended RTTY operation, but it just isn't so.
>
> 73, Bill W7TI
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