Hi,
Just got this amplifier, the version with band sensing, and their cable kit for FT-817.
Working conditions:
- Yaesu FT-818nd (TX) -> Neptune 50W (AMP) -> Diamond SX600 (EXT. METER) -> Diamond HF20CL (ANT)
- Diamond HF20CL is mobile antenna for 20m installed on a balcony rail w/ some radials. At worse parts of bands the external meter shows SWR 1.8
Initial observations and questions for those that may have this already working:
- The green lights are very strong… I happen to have this amp close to power/swr meter and while doing the initial tests, it was hard looking anywhere near the amp
- The amp mains cable are very short and to make it longer, I had to build an extension cable using 15A Anderson Powerpole connectors
- On the amp mains wire, why is that black and red wires have different thickness/awg?
- When my external meter shows 1.8 SWR, the radio meter shows something around 1.1… I love this fact, just want to know if this an expected behaviour
- Yesterday night, I tried to answered some calls on 20m, using power levels of I, II and III bars (1W, 2.5W and 5W) to drive the amp and noted the following two strange behaviours among TX attempts:
* When I press the PTT button, the TX indicator on the amp would turn ON for brief seconds and then turn OFF - the ext meter would also consistently indicate no significant power (amp disengaged)
* Other times, when I press the PTT button, the TX indicator on the amp would turn ON and stay ON, but as soon I speak to the mic, it would turn OFF - the ext meter would also consistently indicate no significant power (amp disengaged)
Email sent to maker, while waiting, any comments/idea about this?
(non-native English from this end, sorry for spell/grammar errors)
73,
Anaxi
Anaxi