Re: Remote use

#99

The big thing would be the ability to put the amp in standby so you can use the antenna tuner. The ability to power on and off would be a bonus as well.

Re: Remote use

Charles Scott

#98

开云体育

Guys:

What would you want it to do? The amp already does a pretty good job of band selection if you don't have a radio that will work with the band selection inputs. The only other thing would be to enable/disable the amp, and I don't think there's a way to do that other than to enable or disable the PTT line going to the amp. With RS-BA1 you can of course control TX power so you don't really need to switch the amp in/out.

Personally, I'd like to see more communication with the amp so you can get data to and from it. Perhaps some menu control and enable could be one of those. But I'm a hard-core geek and just like gobs of data displayed for me to gawk at.

Chuck - N8DNX

On 11/13/2018 9:18 AM, fletchbs@... wrote:

Show quoted text

Watching and interested also. Would be remote 7610 running RS-BA1 V2.?
_._,_._,_

Re: Remote use

#97

Please do. I'm on the website now. Sounds too good to be true.

Re: Remote use

#96

I just emailed trx manager, I'll report back if I get a reply.

Show quoted text

On Tue, Nov 13, 2018, 9:50 AM <fletchbs@...> wrote:

Watching and interested also. Would be remote 7610 running RS-BA1 V2.?

Re: Remote use

#95

Watching and interested also. Would be remote 7610 running RS-BA1 V2.?

Re: Remote use

#94

I'll check it out, thanks !

Show quoted text

On Tue, Nov 13, 2018, 9:18 AM Mike Coogan <mikegc5491@...> wrote:

Apparently can be done. Worked a Colorado ham recently, he was running his LA-1K remotely
using TRX Manager software.
?
Mike KB7ME
?
?
?
?
Sent from for Windows 10
?

Re: Remote use

#93

开云体育

Apparently can be done. Worked a Colorado ham recently, he was running his LA-1K remotely

using TRX Manager software.

?

Mike KB7ME

?

Sent from for Windows 10

?

Re: Remote use

#92

I guess not.

Remote use

#91

Now that I have my new Flex 6400 that I can easily remote into, I was wondering if there's anything in the works for remote use of the LA-1K ?

Re: LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

Neil Foster

#90

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I did download it from Peter's link and it came up as 1.02??
I will try it again
TNX Rich
Neil

On 25-Oct-18 2:21 PM, Rich McCabe wrote:

Show quoted text

I downloaded 1.03D yesterday and it installed 1.03D ??

?

?

?

?

Re: LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

Rich McCabe

#89

开云体育

I downloaded 1.03D yesterday and it installed 1.03D ??

?

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Neil Foster
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2018 1:19 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [la1k] LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

?

Pete,
Shalom,? I downloaded the link and it had 1.02E and not 1.03D
Nachum??? (Neil Foster?? N4FN)

On 23-Oct-18 11:19 AM, Pete Kovacs wrote:

Hello all,
?
LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released:
?
73,
Pete Kovacs
Webmaster
Palstar, Inc.

Re: LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

Neil Foster

#88

开云体育

Pete,
Shalom,? I downloaded the link and it had 1.02E and not 1.03D
Nachum??? (Neil Foster?? N4FN)

On 23-Oct-18 11:19 AM, Pete Kovacs wrote:

Show quoted text

Hello all,

?

LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released:

?

73,

Pete Kovacs

Webmaster

Palstar, Inc.

_._,_._,_

?

Re: LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

Rich McCabe

#87

开云体育

Thanks normal on LSB

?

Show quoted text

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Dennis McCurdy
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 6:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [la1k] LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

?

Question: I am transmitting on 3.950 on my 7300 and the Amp reads 3.949.?

?

I have not upgraded to V1.30D yet

?

Thanks

On Oct 23, 2018, at 11:19 AM, Pete Kovacs <engineering@...> wrote:
?
Hello all,
?
LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released:?
?
73,
Pete Kovacs
Webmaster
Palstar, Inc.

?

Re: LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

#86

开云体育

Question: I am transmitting on 3.950 on my 7300 and the Amp reads 3.949.?

I have not upgraded to V1.30D yet

Thanks

Show quoted text

On Oct 23, 2018, at 11:19 AM, Pete Kovacs <engineering@...> wrote:

Hello all,
?
LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released:?
?
73,
Pete Kovacs
Webmaster
Palstar, Inc.

LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released

#85

开云体育

Hello all,

?

LA-1K Firmware V1.03D Released:

?

73,

Pete Kovacs

Webmaster

Palstar, Inc.

Re: Low Power Output

Bob KU5J

#84

Thanks for you replying, Dennis.? Yes, it's very frustration and disappointing when? new piece of ham gear fails.? I appreciate your thoughts and suggestion. I hope to have it on the way back to Palstar tomorrow.

73

Bob

Show quoted text

On Fri, Sep 21, 2018 at 6:40 AM Dennis via Groups.Io <pegasus9000=[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Bob,
?? I tend to think you have a problem with the amp.? If you continued to run it with 40 watts of drive on RTTY it should continue to produce 1kw until it overheats and shuts down at 100 degrees C.? This will be proven if 40 watts drive on SSB only produces 500w peak.? Usually, when one of the two LDMOS chips fail hard, (usually short on the input side of the chip)? the output drops to near zero, but there could be a failure mode on one chip that still allows half output if the input isn't shorted.?? I would contact Palstar by phone and let them know that the unit is only putting out 500 watts in any mode regardless of drive power and I'm sure he'll make it good.? If 40 watts of drive (in any mode) is only giving you 500 watts then there is an issue. ? Typically, with any manufacturer of LDMOS amps, you will likely get an entirely new RF block rather than replacing just one transistor. (guessing here)?
?? Sorry you're having this issue.? It's always a disappointment when an exciting new piece of equipment has a problem.? I use mine daily and for the first time today I hit 100 degrees C on a long AM transmission.? Normally that wouldn't be an issue with the 260ish watts of AM carrier, but I live at 9,000 feet where cooling efficiency is severely compromised.? When the temperature came down to around 70C or 80C (about 30 seconds or less) the amp operation returned to normal.? It continues to run 1kw with 40w drive. ? I'm friends with a gal who runs a traffic net for 5 hours a day working it hard the entire time.? She has one of the first LA-1K's off the production line, it's still running fine.? Of course, this could be a defective chip from the factory for it to fail so soon.? All of the above comments are based on the assumption that one of the chips has failed, there could be an issue with a combiner, LP filter, combiner, relay, etc... even the coax used in the transformers.? They will be able to diagnose it quickly.
Good luck and let the group know how it works out.
Best,
Dennis

On 9/20/2018 at 1:19 PM, "Bob KU5J" <valentines.49@...> wrote:
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

Re: Low Power Output

#83

Hello there Bob,
Try Keying amp in RTTY , then switch to SSB.?
Idle Drain Current ( ID ) s/b 2.1A.
If it's ~.9A you have a blown LDMOS chip.
rgds & good testing, Mike N7KR

Re: Low Power Output

#82

Had something similar happen to my LA-1K after about an hour of use(it was just a few days old). One of the LDMOS's died. I called Palstar, we ran some tests and I was told to send it back. So I boxed it up and $45 later it was on the way to Palstar. With-in a week the amp was back in the shack. Palstar paid for return shipping. While I run mine off of 120v, it is used nearly all day long and has been cycled tens of thousands of times. I've even configured fans on both sides of the amp in a push pull configuration. I've only seen it hit 70c once. I guess what I am getting at is once they get yours working, you will not be able to kill the thing.

Good luck with it,
John / AI4FR

Re: Low Power Output

#81

Hello there Bob,
Try Keying amp in RTTY , then switch to SSB.
Idle Drain Current ( ID ) s/b 2.1A.
If it's ~.9A you have a blown LDMOS chip.
rgds & good testing, Mike N7KR

Re: Low Power Output

#80

Hello Bob,

?? I tend to think you have a problem with the amp.? If you continued to run it with 40 watts of drive on RTTY it should continue to produce 1kw until it overheats and shuts down at 100 degrees C.? This will be proven if 40 watts drive on SSB only produces 500w peak.? Usually, when one of the two LDMOS chips fail hard, (usually short on the input side of the chip)? the output drops to near zero, but there could be a failure mode on one chip that still allows half output if the input isn't shorted.?? I would contact Palstar by phone and let them know that the unit is only putting out 500 watts in any mode regardless of drive power and I'm sure he'll make it good.? If 40 watts of drive (in any mode) is only giving you 500 watts then there is an issue. ? Typically, with any manufacturer of LDMOS amps, you will likely get an entirely new RF block rather than replacing just one transistor. (guessing here)?

?? Sorry you're having this issue.? It's always a disappointment when an exciting new piece of equipment has a problem.? I use mine daily and for the first time today I hit 100 degrees C on a long AM transmission.? Normally that wouldn't be an issue with the 260ish watts of AM carrier, but I live at 9,000 feet where cooling efficiency is severely compromised.? When the temperature came down to around 70C or 80C (about 30 seconds or less) the amp operation returned to normal.? It continues to run 1kw with 40w drive. ? I'm friends with a gal who runs a traffic net for 5 hours a day working it hard the entire time.? She has one of the first LA-1K's off the production line, it's still running fine.? Of course, this could be a defective chip from the factory for it to fail so soon.? All of the above comments are based on the assumption that one of the chips has failed, there could be an issue with a combiner, LP filter, combiner, relay, etc... even the coax used in the transformers.? They will be able to diagnose it quickly.

Good luck and let the group know how it works out.

Best,

Dennis

Show quoted text

On 9/20/2018 at 1:19 PM, "Bob KU5J" <valentines.49@...> wrote:

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