I just acquired a new LA-1K yesterday, and put it in service that evening.? At first, with 35 watts drive in RTTY, the unit showed output on the LA-1K watt meter plus an MFJ watt meter that I have of near 1000 watts. In fact, with 40 watts drive, the unit was showing well over 1KW output.? Over the next ten minutes, I ran some on the air tests, and the unit performed perfectly, showing output of 1KW or more.? However, after that short time, it quit putting out the higher power. Instead, with 40 watts output using RTTY,? the output dropped to only 500 watts on? both meters. I tried using two different radios on several different bands, and the result was the same.? SWR as shown on the LA-1K was in the 1.2-1.6 range. I do use a tuner after the amplifier to keep SWR in control.? I did all these tests with the ALC line unplugged.? With a voltmeter, I verified the supplied operating voltage was? 235-240 volts. Vd on the LA-1K stayed steady at 50, and Id varied a little, but was always near 23.? I tried turning the amplifier on and off and all sorts of other "tests" to see if it would start to read 1KW again, but it never did go higher than 500 watts.? I also tried transmitting with a straight key on CW, and on CW key down, it showed the same output as RTTY did. At no time did I drive the amplifier with over 50 watts.?

I email Paul at Palstar, and he told me RTTY output is only 500 watts, so that's what I should expect it to show.? But, the unit was showing a solid 1KW when I first powered it on.? And, on CW, the specifications in the manual indicate the output is 1000 watts, not 500.? Yet, in both RTTY and CW, I am only getting readings of 500 watts.

My question is, do I have a problem?? Why would the amplifier first show 1000 watts out, and then moments later, drop to half that?? I did email Paul at Palstar back, but so far, no response.?

Thanks,

Bob KU5J

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