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Keying Relay Buffer Debate
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Would like to get a discussion going on if it is necessary to use a Keying Relay Buffer when using the Palstar LA1K Amp. I called Palstar this week and talked with one of their technicians and told him I was planning on getting an LA1K amp in the near future.? I told him that I am using an Icom IC-7300. My question to the tech was do I need to use a Keying Buffer in between the LA1K and the IC-7300.
Palstar told me it wasn't necessary and that I just needed to use one RCA cable and connect it to the PTT connection. He also said to keep the transmit power on the exciter to 40 watts. Comments, suggestions greatly appreciated. Mike. |
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The PTT cable is enough, I use one for my 7610 and 7300 (when I have it set up). I have a data cable between the amp and the transceiver as well in which case you don't need the PTT. 40 watts is usually the most I use. I think you can go to 60. Depending on the band you can get 1200 out of the LA-1K but I don't like to do that. Are you going to have 220 VAC to power it?
-- 73, Jerry |
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Thank you. On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:58 PM <davenlr@...> wrote: Palstar is correct.? Make sure the RCA cable is well shielded (use a video cable) |
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Yes, I will be supplying 220 volts to the LA-1K On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 2:00 PM JERRY <JERRY@...> wrote: The PTT cable is enough, I use one for my 7610 and 7300 (when I have it set up). I have a data cable between the amp and the transceiver as well in which case you don't need the PTT. 40 watts is usually the most I use. I think you can go to 60. Depending on the band you can get 1200 out of the LA-1K but I don't like to do that. Are you going to have 220 VAC to power it? |
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开云体育Yes. IM using 220v ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of JERRY
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2020 2:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [la1k] Keying Relay Buffer Debate ? The PTT cable is enough, I use one for my 7610 and 7300 (when I have it set up). I have a data cable between the amp and the transceiver as well in which case you don't need the PTT. 40 watts is usually the most I use. I think you can go to 60. Depending on the band you can get 1200 out of the LA-1K but I don't like to do that. Are you going to have 220 VAC to power it? |
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开云体育Mike . . .The tech told you correctly, especially if you are using RF-sensing to change bands. But remember, the LA-1K is not a QSK amplifier. If operating full CW break-in is what lies behind your question, then in order to prevent hot-switching and avoid deterioration of the amplifier's relays you would need an external electronic T/R switch, such as DX Connections QSK-2500 ().? But perhaps your question relates to something else. The only issue I am having with my LA-1K at this point does not concern hot-switching or relay deterioration, but intermittent faulting to BYPASS SWR of which Palstar is aware and a solution is being worked on.? The QSK-2500 is not generating the spike (we don't think), because the faulting still occurs with the QSK-2500 removed. Good idea about having this (or any) discussion about owner's problems. 73, Kent? K9ZTV On 7/11/2020 6:41 AM,
mmang2758@... wrote:
Would like to get a discussion going on if it is necessary to use a Keying Relay Buffer when using the Palstar LA1K Amp. I called Palstar this week and talked with one of their technicians and told him I was planning on getting an LA1K amp in the near future.? I told him that I am using an Icom IC-7300. My question to the tech was do I need to use a Keying Buffer in between the LA1K and the IC-7300. |
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开云体育Hi Kent, ? I am having the same issue intermittent faulting BYPASS SWR and my SWR is totally fine. Drives me nuts. I didn’t know Palstar was aware of this issue. They didn’t tell me that. Seems its always on CW. FT8, RTTY, SSB is totally fine. I am direct to my Yaesu. No QSK mode here. It happens when Im solid down on the PTT and while sending CW, cuts out during the sending. ? Barry VE6UM ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kent Trimble, K9ZTV
Sent: July 11, 2020 9:51 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [la1k] Keying Relay Buffer Debate ? Mike . . . On 7/11/2020 6:41 AM, mmang2758@... wrote:
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开云体育I am in total agreement with that statement and said as much to Palstar that perhaps the protection circuits were too protective for the real world of antennas.? I also said I didn't spend $3600 to laud how well the LA-1K performed into a dummy load.I'm confident that this will get fixed.? Palstar is a good company.? These LDMOS amps just need further refinement. When it does, I'll focus my energy on the SPE Expert 1.5K-FA which has the exact same problem. 73, Kent? K9ZTV On 7/11/2020 11:58 PM,
davenlr@... wrote:
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开云体育Interesting that there is an admission that these amps are going into bypass mode like this. I have spoken to Mark about ?it and he says his amp never does that. Others who own their amps say theirs have never done it either. And as far as the dummy load goes, it even does it into a dummy load. I was told to send my amp back in for repair as it shouldnt be doing this. These amps should never go into bypass mode when Operating within the specs. Eg not overdriving and not having some sort of antenna or cable short. Whos right and whos wrong here? I just finished the iaru contest and on every band, using seperare antennas i had the amp 200- 800 watts out And had it swr bypassing on all bands 10-160m. When it bypasses it makes me look like a bad operator during a contact and could sacrifice a multiplier. 99% of the time its fine. Its the 1% drives me nuts. Im actually worried about sending it back for repair as if thats the way these amps are would be a waste of shipping costs as the next one wont be any better.Another thing i noticed with the amp is if i was on 10m cw about 2khz or closer to 28.000mhz i would get instant bypass. Is that some sort of protection so cbers dont use this amp for 11m band. So much im learning here in the forums but not sure whats true and what isnt.? Palstar has never said or admitted to me this issue and that a solution is in the works.? ?All they said is it shouldnt be doing this. Bp On Jul 11, 2020, at 11:42 PM, Kent Trimble, K9ZTV <k9ztv@...> wrote:
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Same angst when operating as NCS or passing traffic.
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Kent K9ZTV On Jul 12, 2020, at 10:28 AM, Barry <barplo@...> wrote: |
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Fyi I never had this issue on CW, SSB or Digital.? However not sure if this is an effect, I checked my rise time on CW.? The default in the ICOM 756 Pro3 was way to short which can really cause key clicks out of the band.? I lengthened it and made a much cleaner signal and happy stations around me.? And no LA-1K issues. 73 Paul NO0T On Sun, Jul 12, 2020, 9:28 AM Barry <barplo@...> wrote:
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Interesting. I am also having the same bypass issue, but only when I am using fldigi to send some message. 80m is the worst example, and is totally useless. In addition I am using the HF-AUTO tuner, which is always showing an SWR in the range 1.05 to 1.1, and the amp is showing SWR in the range of 1.2 to 1.3 when things are working correctly, but it does jump up to 1.8 and then instantly goes into bypass mode. Major PITA. Discussions with Mark did not elicit any comments about this being a known problem, basically stated it had something to do with my antenna, but I could always send the units in to be checked out. Also I tried adding a Palomar (?) choke balun to see if that helped (I already have a loop of coax at the antenna and many beads at both ends) and that made no difference other than to increase my normal SWR about .02 or so. Tried skipping the HF-AUTO and my antenna is natively about 1.6, and it still kicks out.
Sadly I have stopped recommending this equipment to others because of this issue. They are good units, and as this group has shown they are not the only ones that do this, but denying the problem will not help get things solved. SSB works fine here with no issues of this nature. Also my local HRO has sold the identical equipment (2 set-ups!) to another ham, and he has no problems, but I am not sure if he is doing any digital modes. Al? KD2PNR |
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开云体育Hi Al,?Thanks for your post. The jumping of swr up to 1.8 is not a good indication btw. I would do some investigation on that 80m antenna or connection. This amp seems solid for the most part and i am hopeful that all of this will be resolved somehow. Hoping all the quirks will eventually be looked at and fixed as time passes. Narrowing down the issues can be difficult for sure. In my experience so far with this amp, i have gone from 50% to 99% reliable. Soldering all connectors and ensuring good connectivity and cabling has been important. And the most crucial component of all this was the serial cable going to the radio. Rf detection was way too hokey for my liking. Just by eliminating the rf detection and going direct to radio improved reliability by 40%. I can live with 99% but sure wish someone could let me know why its only going into bypass on cw. Ftdx5000. No full break in and happens while sending cw without breaking the ptt.? If more people let Palstar know of these issues, the more importance will be placed on them resolving it. Ignoring the issue doesnt get anything done. I also might add, if it wasnt for contesting (where alot of tx per minutes are made) i would say my amp had no issues. Contests push my gear to its limits. And thats not a bad thing. Bp On Jul 12, 2020, at 11:17 AM, Al Womelsdorf via groups.io <ahw609@...> wrote:
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开云体育Hi Barry . . .If enough complaints flow to Palstar, I'm sure they'll take it seriously, if they haven't already. Thanks for the note -- you're not the only one driven nuts! 73, Kent? K9ZTV On 7/11/2020 11:38 PM, Barry wrote:
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开云体育Contesting and making several key ups per minute (around 15 per minute) for at least 15 minutes would be the best way to tell. Im also using the latest firmware 1.07b. My amp was purchased 3 months ago. ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Shep ? I have just had my amp since Friday. I have used it quite a bit. I have yet had is go to swr bypass. Maybe im just lucky. It has firmware version 1.07b? Wonder if they made changes. |
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On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 08:28 AM, Barry wrote:
Another thing i noticed with the amp is if i was on 10m cw about 2khz or closer to 28.000mhz i would get instant bypass. Is that some sort of protection so cbers dont use this amp for 11m band. So much im learning here in the forums but not sure whats true and what isnt.?I just tested it,? It truly does go into bypass at 28.002 instead of 28.000.? Guess they dont want any splattering out of band? |
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I see some of you are running firmware 1.07b. How did you get that version? The latest version on the web site is 1.05k, which is what I have.
Also as to the comment about my antenna, note that it is usually running through the HF-AUTO, which continuously shows a matched SWR of 1.1 or better, and never something like 1.8. And I use a direct connect cable from my FT-DX3000. I am rapidly loosing confidence in the so-called great support by Palstar. I wish I had the ability to put up a completely different antenna to try, but I do not. |
Jerry Raia
Paul