[RTTY] Amertiron ALS-1300

[Ben Antanaitis - WB2RHM]

Bill,

I run an ALS-1300 in HP RTTY contests,   I specifically asked Hy-Gain 
tech support about power limits,  they advised running 500 - 600 
watts at most in RTTY mode (that advice, only run at 50% applies to 
any of the Hy-Gain No-Tune FET amps, the ALS-600s and the 
ALS-500s).    It can hit the limit, but the 4 muffin fans inside 
start whining and pumping out very warm/hot air, and after a short 
bit, the internal thermal protection circuit cuts the amp off an it 
runs pass-thru till things cool down again (requiring a manual 
reset).    I don't know if more powerful fans, externally mounted, 
would let me run longer at full output, but that is risking  $800 - 
$900 of FET replacement cost for what? one or two S-units?   500-600 
wts cuts a path to anywhere in the world for me.    But, overall, the 
ALS-1300 is a sweet piece of equipment, I have designed an automatic 
band switcher circuit for my Orion that makes using it totally 
transparent during contesting or DXing.    One thing to pay attention 
to, though, is the depth of the case.  It won't fit on a 12" book 
shelf without sticking out several inches.

73,
Ben - WB2RHM