[TenTec] Solid state amps

Adam Farson farson at shaw.ca
Mon Dec 8 10:23:02 EST 2003


Hi Jim,

I have never had that problem with either of my solid-state amplifiers, an
Icom IC-2KL (1989 - 1998) and a Yaesu Quadra (1998 - present). The Quadra
has a reflectometer at the ATU output, which takes the PA stage out of the
signal path if SWR > 3:1 at the antenna socket. I have never seen this
happen during any of the frequent rainstorms we encounter up here in
Lotus-Land.

Cheers for now, 73,
Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Jim
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 09:15
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Solid state amps


Glad I don't have that problem with my year old ALS-600.

73 Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Westerman" <Rick at dj0ip.de>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 11:54 AM
Subject: RE: [TenTec] Solid state amps


Here's why I stopped using a solid state amp.  I had an
Ameritron.

The problem is, they have safety circuitry that switches them off
if the swr of the antenna is too high.
Fair enough.  Use a matchbox if needed.  (I do all the time
because I use open wire feedline).
However, even when properly tuned, in bad weather with lots of
wind and snow or rain, the antenna blows around a lot and the swr
goes up and down in short bursts.  This is enough to trigger the
safety circuitry.  Without an acoustical alarm, you don't even
notice that you are suddenly running only 100w!  Yeh, the amp
shows a red light to indicate "fault" but when contesting, the
eyes are always on the computer.  I switched back to 3-500z and
simply forgot about such problems.

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Rob Atkinson,
K5UJ
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 4:20 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Cc: k5uj at hotmail.com
Subject: [TenTec] Solid state amps

Besides the no-tune allure, what is so wonderful about a solid
state amp?
(Maybe good for mobile.) They are expensive, and the ones I have
seen will
not go over 1 kw.  Aren't they kind of delicate?  Do they heat up
the shack
in the winter?  : )

Rob Atkinson
K5UJ

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