The button is used when firmware upgrading, and that is why it is right next to the USB connector.?? That procedure in outlined on page 8 of the (online)? manual under "How to Update."

Make sure the touch screen "Mode" in in 'OPR' not 'STBY.'
Make sure the RCA cable you are using for PTT is good.

Ron?? WA2EIO

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Raul ...

I should add that a band-data line is not necessarily required.? The first application of RF will set the correct band change in the amplifier.? Band-data capability is there, however, because some users prefer to have the amp change bands before RF is applied.? In order words, when the transceiver changes bands the amp changes bands, too.

Also note that DIRECT KEYING requires a band-data cable be connected to the RADIO INTERFACE jack (DE9).? If no cable is connected, the amp reverts to NORMAL KEYING.

73,
Kent
K9ZTV

?

Raul ...

Are you sure you have your cabling correct? ?

If there is a PTT line in the interface cable coming from the 7300, it must be connected to pin 7 (Amp Key In) of the amp's RADIO INTERFACE jack (DE9, sometimes called DB9). ?

If that is the case, then you neither need nor can you use a separate line to the PTT jack on the rear of the LA-1K. ?You must have one or the other PTT lines, but you can't have both connected at the same time.

If you want the amp to follow 7300 band changes, then the?band-data line coming from the 7300 must be connected to pin 5 of the amp's RADIO INTERFACE jack.

When tuning the HF-AUTO, make sure the amp is in STNBY and use only 15-25 watts (misprints in the manual suggesting higher) of AM, FM, or RTTY. ?After one shot of RF finds an initial match, it takes a second shot of RF to complete the solution. ? After a good match, put the amp in OPR to operate.? At that point I change to MANUAL mode so the HF-AUTO won't try tuning in the middle of my sending.

For CW, use only the amp's DIRECT KEYING mode, not NORMAL mode which truncates the first character.

73,

Kent

K9ZTV

On Aug 10, 2023, at 7:24 AM, Raul J Pla <planet95x@...> wrote:

?

I just set up the radio desk with a 2022 LA-1K and HF-Auto both purchased used, pristine. This was 2 months ago.

I connected?to the IC-7300 via the 13pin plug and the PTT RCA connector?on the amp. It wont key up to TX mode, I tried the IC-7300 on RTTY with 30-50W. The?meter sees the?power so does?the tuner.

I then shorted the PTT connector on the amp to ground hoping to hear the click to TX, nothing.

I tried both modes selectable on the screen, nothing.

I tried with the gray button (on the front) both in and out, nothing helped. BTW, I cant?find any mention of that button anywhere. Whats it for?

I wrote a message to Palstar but I figure it will take a week for a reply.?

Looks like a fantastic amplifier?and I cant?wait to start using it. The HF Auto is working fine.

Anyone out there know whats?going on? I hope its my mistake not a defect. The user manual sure needs to be a lot better.

73

W4AWI

On Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 08:24 AM, Raul J Pla wrote:

I just set up the radio desk with a 2022 LA-1K and HF-Auto both purchased used, pristine. This was 2 months ago.

I connected?to the IC-7300 via the 13pin plug and the PTT RCA connector?on the amp. It wont key up to TX mode, I tried the IC-7300 on RTTY with 30-50W.

Hi Raul,

I have just paired my LA-1K with my IC-7300 to let you see and hear them in action on 20M via this short video clip .? Btw, I don't normally pair my IC-7300 with the LA-1K for reason (and solution) Joe WW8X cited in his 25-Jun-2023 post /g/la1k/message/1372.

As you will see, Raul, I was using VOX with the IC-7300 power setting limited to just 35% RF Output as a workaround for the LA-1K compatibility issue Joe pointed out in his post, dated June 25, 2023.

I have attached two (2) photos here so you can see the connections made between the LA-1K and my IC-7300.? The yellow RCA goes from "SEND" of the IC-7300 to "PTT" of the LA-1K.? "ANT" of the IC-7300 coaxed to "RF INPUT" of the LA-1K.? Working like a champ using just RF Sensing.

Oh, in case you are wondering about the "REMOTE" connection on the back of my IC-7300, it is a simple audio cable to put my Elecraft KPA1500 amplifier working in "Enhanced Mode" with my IC-7300 as the exciter.

Have fun!

73,
Ray
KJ5MI

Photo attachments redo; didn't send correctly previously,

Raul,
Kent brings up a good point; you can only have one cable connected, either the PTT line to the rig or the 13 pin DIN line.

?
If I may suggest a simple troubleshooting suggestion, in case you have not already done so:

Connect the amp to AC power.
Connect ONLY an RCA cable to the amp's "PTT" terminal.?
Touch the screen? button to put the amp into "Opr."?
Physically short the other end of the RCA cable to see if the relay clicks.

?If not, then your cable or the jack on the amp are the problem, or there is an internal problem with the amp.? I would then try to short the RCA jack on the back of the amp directly with a short jumper of wire.? If any of these work, then the problem is elsewhere"

See if when you key the rig, it actually brings the Key line to ground;? possibly there is a defect in the rig.

Good luck!??? Ron? WA2EIO

On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 10:36 AM, Raul J Pla wrote:

I was avoiding that route because the 7300 book says I need a diode across the PTT line.

Just curious, Raul, which of the IC-7300 books mentions the need of a diode across the PTT line, when using the "SEND" jack?

The IC-7300 Basic Manual mentions on page 2-5 under Warning!: "The maximum signal level of the [SEND] jack is 16 V/0.5 A DC. Use an external unit if your non-Icom linear amplifier requires a control voltage and/or current greater than specified."

I could have missed it elsewhere in that manual saying the need of a diode?

73,
Ray
KJ5M

Raul,

So sorry I got confused.. now I can clearly see you were referring to "SEND" (requiring a switching diode) within the ACC socket that I'd connected nothing to it as can be seen in the photo I posted yesterday, and am reattaching it here today for ease of reference.? Instead, I was referring to the jack labeled "SEND" (requiring no diode of any kind) that I'd connected to it a yellow RCA plug, as can be seen in the same photo.? It's simple just like you said.

Btw, after getting tired of people not hearing me too well running my IC-7300 (bought brand new in 2016), I acquired a brand new Ameritron ALS-600S (think of it as a well-designed pair of shoes) so I don't have to run barefoot anymore.? At that time, I used an Ameritron ARB-704 (that uses the ACC socket of the IC-7300) as the interface device hooking the IC-7300 (think of it as flatfoot, because of its greater than 70W RF output power transient) to the ALS-600 solid-state amplifier that has a stated drive-level of 100W maximum, and has no compatibility issues whatsoever with the flatfoot IC-7300.

When I emailed Mark Ward (Palstar Technician) last week about their LA-1K having compatibility issues with the exceedingly popular ICOM IC-7300, and whether or not Palstar has the ability or even willingness to improve transceiver compatibility of their LA-1K amplifier, Mr. Ward insisted that "It is an issue with the IC7300 SPURTING OVER 60 WATTS of drive power on voice peaks."? Subsequent to his remarks (hopefully isn't Palstar's official position on the matter) I responded by saying "So why blame flatfoot, when the poorly designed pair of shoes (i.e. LA-1K) just not being right for the job."

Oh btw in one of his email responses, Mr. Ward asked me "Have you tried my suggestion of connecting the ALC cable and setting the LA-1K ALC for minimum level?"? I advised Mark that the IC-7300 Basic Manual states, in part, "Non-matched ALC and RF power settings could overheat or damage the linear amplifier."? It suffices to say I have never used any ALC connections with my IC-7300.

Raul, just thought I'd share the additional information with you since you want to use your IC-7300 with the LA-1K.

73,
Ray
KJ5MI