Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
To the original poster: Exactly as Ken says, FT8 is a digital mode and as he states- it is full carrier mode and most FT8 operators limit to under 30 watts or 25-28 percent power on 100 watt rigs ?such as the IC-7300. ? Sometimes lower! It is a weak signal mode.
I also recommend a second SWR monitor (5% +- accuracy) ?between your tuner and radio. ?If it rises above 1.3:1, note that the tuner and the radio will heat faster and more if SWR rise above that and it means run less power can be used. ?Past 1.6:1 I would stop transmitting and work on my antenna until it presents a better match to tuner.
I am sure the original poster has seen some of this info before but I wanted to stress the benefit of having multiple SWR checks in place.?
Original poster: Ask for help! I am sure local hams experienced with FT8 would have helped you. ? Stop working FT8 until you know everything. ? Phil Laird, WI5O
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On Mar 21, 2023, at 07:50, Kenneth Bandy <ken.kj9b@...> wrote:
? W2INF:? As others have asked, what power level were you running during your FT-8 session?? The Z-100A is rated for just over 100 watts on SSB and CW but for only 30 watts on digital modes.? Before you start trying to trash the reputation of the Z-100A, that many use successfully, be sure you are trying to operate it within its specifications. ? 73, Ken, KJ9B ? ? Dunno ¨C maybe you should get a refund on all the gear and invest in stamp collecting or something. ? ? On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 02:38:44 PM EDT, wa1tej via groups.io <wa1tej@...> wrote: Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
I use my Z-100 Plus on 20/40/15/10 (dipoles) and 6M Moxon FT-8 100W no issues. My antennae are all tweaked for 1.0 SWR for FT-Freqs. Its what I do.
Still shopping for a good corkscrew system for POTA for my 2012 Tacoma and the FT-891 or FT-900 that each have tuners.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 08:49:41 AM EDT, Kenneth Bandy <ken.kj9b@...> wrote:
W2INF:? As others have asked, what power level were you running during your FT-8 session?? The Z-100A is rated for just over 100 watts on SSB and CW but for only 30 watts on digital modes.? Before you start trying to trash the reputation of the Z-100A, that many use successfully, be sure you are trying to operate it within its specifications. ? 73, Ken, KJ9B ?
From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Mike Olbrisch Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 10:58 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [ldgelectronics] Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service ? Dunno ¨C maybe you should get a refund on all the gear and invest in stamp collecting or something. ? ? On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 02:38:44 PM EDT, wa1tej via groups.io <wa1tej@...> wrote: Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
W2INF:? As others have asked, what power level were you running during your FT-8 session?? The Z-100A is rated for just over 100 watts on SSB and CW but for only 30 watts on digital modes.? Before you start trying to trash the reputation of the Z-100A, that many use successfully, be sure you are trying to operate it within its specifications. ? 73, Ken, KJ9B ?
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From: [email protected] < [email protected]> On Behalf Of Mike Olbrisch Sent: Monday, March 20, 2023 10:58 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [ldgelectronics] Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service ? Dunno ¨C maybe you should get a refund on all the gear and invest in stamp collecting or something. ? ? On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 02:38:44 PM EDT, wa1tej via groups.io <wa1tej@...> wrote: Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
Dunno ¨C maybe you should get a refund on all the gear and invest in stamp collecting or something. ? ? On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 02:38:44 PM EDT, wa1tej via groups.io <wa1tej@...> wrote: Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
What power level were you running during the 8 hour operation ???
Steve? K4ELI
On Monday, March 20, 2023 at 02:38:44 PM EDT, wa1tej via groups.io <wa1tej@...> wrote:
Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
running FT8 I run the power level at no more than 40 watts. Remember it is a weak signal mode of communication. No sense in beating the rf amp to death. If you want to run more power invest in an amplifier that can be cooked and is designed to operate at full throttle. I ran a Henry 2K Ultra and it would run all day long with no problem. Any transceiver running FT8 is the same as constant key down solid carrier with very few rest periods especially if your operating in a automatic cq mode like FT8-Z.
On Mar 19, 2023 7:05 PM, "wa1tej via groups.io" <wa1tej@...> wrote: Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
Thanks. I think that was the source of the problem. I was misled by the green SWR LED. I got this read also from Guy K5TGS at DX Engineering. I'll know more when I hear from Matt KD8ZB at SAR.?
If there is an internal tuner, do I need the Z-100A at all? I'm obviously new to operating FT8 with this radio. But I have managed to work 98 countries with it on FT8, mainly on 10M. That's the read from the counter at QRZ.com.
I'm planning to erect a new antenna in May & have several members of the Warminster (PA) club interested in helping as my right arm got broken last year. I just noticed this: Par-EndFedz end-fed half-wave antenna 28.0-29.7 MHz at 16.7 feet is exactly the length I have on the fence in my .25 acre suburban lot. It gets rave reviews as to low SWR. Then I can eliminate the external tuner hopefully.?
Ten meters has been great. Working HI late afternoon was an experience. And it should only improve as we approach the Solar Max.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, guys!
73 de
Jack
W2INF (my late Dad's old call)
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
Jack,
I doubt that it was the fault of the tuner.??
Apparently your antenna was beyond the tuning range of the tuner.
Z-100A Specs & Ratings:
??? Input Impedance: 50 ?
??? Tuning Range: 10:1 SWR
A few suggestions that can help:
1) If the antenna system is not within the tuning range, adjust it
until it is.
2) Initially tune with low (~10 watts) power.?? Never with high
power or you may destroy both rig and tuner.
3) Watch your SWR/Power meter as you apply RF power and if you see
high SWR (over 3:1) shut down and correct the issue.
Have that tuner checked out.?? It is very likely that it was also
destroyed.
I have two LDG auto-tuners and they both have given me excellent
service over the years and I have used them with vertical, dipole,
& 135' doublet.
73,
Ed - ad7gr
On 3/19/2023 8:05 PM, wa1tej via
groups.io wrote:
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The high SWR
along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter.
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Re: Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
You did turn off the internal tuner for the IC-7300, yes?
You cannot have two on at the same time.
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Z-100A sending my ICOM7300 to ICOM Service
Local ham club member warned me about potential damage from transmitting with too high an SWR. So I called DX Engineering & bought a Z-100A.
In operation, parts word whir & the green SWR LED would go on. But on 10 meters it would give me the following SWR readings: 0, 3 & 6. On FT8 I saw the efficiency drop to the point where I worked only 7 stations (including 3 in Ukraine) in 8 hours of both calling stations & sending various CQs. After working? SQ9ZAX the 7300 died & could not be restarted. However the next morning it started up but shut down when I tried to transmit. Since cooling off fixed part of the fault, the problem looks like it's thermal. The high SWR along with 8 hours of transmitting fried the transmitter. So off to ICOM service where Matt KD8ZB gave me great service with another ICOM radio.
A club member was puzzled why this piece of junk didn't give an acceptable SWR.
I'm calling DXE tomorrow to get an RMA. The refund will pay for at least part of what this repair will cost.
Any similar experiences?
73 de
Jack
W2INF
|
Good afternoon. I wrote to support gave the firmware of the main pic controller. the tuner came to life, but the display is not lit, you need to change the display controller - you need firmware for it. I couldn't count from the other one. The request to send was answered - that everything is there and that's it.
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Re: Any good trouble shooting articles?
They did the same thing for me. Outstanding customer service. ? Sent from for Windows ?
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From: JohnSent: Thursday, March 16, 2023 5:12 PM To: [email protected]Subject: Re: [ldgelectronics] Any good trouble shooting articles? ? My LDG AT1000 Pro II was acting up, amongst other symptoms, the most frustrating one was that to turn the unit OFF with the Power switch, I had to hold it pushed in. While I was doing this, some of the relays would cycle then the unit would power OFF. After a year of this I finally sent it into LDG. About four or five weeks later it came back, repaired (I suspect the circuit board was replaced)... NO CHARGE!!? NOT EVEN RETURN SHIPPING!! ? On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 4:05?PM Earl Lizardi <wb6amt@...> wrote: Are you not getting support from LDG? ? On Mar 16, 2023 1:50 PM, Kent K9EZ <kwinrich@...> wrote: I am working at reviving? 600 and 1000 Pro II tuners.? The 1o00 just has some fried Caps.?? The 600 has fried caps and I need to change out a cap near the bridge.? Weird? is that it is still not showing any power through the bridge to the meter and sice the bridge is not seeing anything the tuner will not tune. ANYWAY.... are there any good troubleshooting articles out there.? A search on this group yields only one article ?
?
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Re: Any good trouble shooting articles?
My LDG AT1000 Pro II was acting up, amongst other symptoms, the most frustrating one was that to turn the unit OFF with the Power switch, I had to hold it pushed in.
While I was doing this, some of the relays would cycle then the unit would power OFF.
After a year of this I finally sent it into LDG.
About four or five weeks later it came back, repaired (I suspect the circuit board was replaced)...
NO CHARGE!!? NOT EVEN RETURN SHIPPING!!
I live in Canada.
John VE7KKQ
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 4:05?PM Earl Lizardi < wb6amt@...> wrote: Are you not getting support from LDG?
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Re: Any good trouble shooting articles?
Are you not getting support from LDG?
On Mar 16, 2023 1:50 PM, Kent K9EZ <kwinrich@...> wrote: I am working at reviving? 600 and 1000 Pro II tuners.? The 1o00 just has some fried Caps.?? The 600 has fried caps and I need to change out a cap near the bridge.? Weird? is that it is still not showing any power through the bridge to the meter and sice the bridge is not seeing anything the tuner will not tune.
ANYWAY.... are there any good troubleshooting articles out there.? A search on this group yields only one article ? Thank you in advance!
Kenty K9EZ
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Re: Any good trouble shooting articles?
I have fixed one of these where I did not have a high voltage high current cap by using a piece of coax of the right length to replace the cap.
Also LDG is pretty god about repairing their tuners or at least have been very good in the past.
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Re: Any good trouble shooting articles?
You¡¯ll find the schematics under the file section, and tubes and has caps. You may not find the exact values but they¡¯re close.
On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 5:10 PM Kent K9EZ < kwinrich@...> wrote: I am working at reviving? 600 and 1000 Pro II tuners.? The 1o00 just has some fried Caps.?? The 600 has fried caps and I need to change out a cap near the bridge.? Weird? is that it is still not showing any power through the bridge to the meter and sice the bridge is not seeing anything the tuner will not tune.
ANYWAY.... are there any good troubleshooting articles out there.? A search on this group yields only one article ? Thank you in advance!
Kenty K9EZ
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Here is copy of the text I received from LDG regarding a problem with my AT-1000ProII tuner:
Hi Roy,
I just found out and wanted to let you know that after looking at the data the decision was made to makethe current change permanent on our high-powered tuners for safety reasons.
The interface and meter port on all our high-powered tuners will now be disabled.
I hope that this helps.
Thanks again and I¡¯m so sorry for the inconvenience,
Mark
Roy *KW4G*
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On 3/15/2023 2:06 PM, Manuel Maseda wrote: I have been told by LDG this is not true. All 1000 tuners support the M-1000 meter. ?Have you been told otherwise by LDG?
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Here is the response I got from LDG when my new
AT-1000ProII would not tune with the tune button on my IC-7300:
I
just found out and wanted to let you know that after looking at
the data the decision was made to make
the current
change permanent on our high-powered tuners for safety reasons.
The
interface and meter port on all our high-powered tuners will now
be disabled.
I
hope that this helps.
?
Thanks
again and I¡¯m so sorry for the inconvenience,
Mark
Roy KW4G
On 3/16/2023 2:34 PM, Manuel Maseda
wrote:
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Here is the response I got from LDG on this subject. ?I wrote to
them and told them I purchased a new tuner and my meter no longer
worked. ?I said I heard the meter would no longer work with the
newer tuners.
Hello,
?
We¡¯ve not heard of that. If it doesn¡¯t
work, the tuner and meter can be sent in for a
checkout. Here is the return form.
?
Dwayne Kincaid
WD8OYG
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Any good trouble shooting articles?
I am working at reviving? 600 and 1000 Pro II tuners.? The 1o00 just has some fried Caps.?? The 600 has fried caps and I need to change out a cap near the bridge.? Weird? is that it is still not showing any power through the bridge to the meter and sice the bridge is not seeing anything the tuner will not tune.
ANYWAY.... are there any good troubleshooting articles out there.? A search on this group yields only one article ? Thank you in advance!
Kenty K9EZ
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Re: Cable for FTDX10 + Z11-Pro 2
Yes. I wrote that in my previous message because I knew inevitably someone would ask. :-)
¡±And yes - we both have the External tuner option selected in the DX10 menu - and the radios have been restarted (multiple times)¡±
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Mike Olbrisch
Stephen Walls
Earl Lizardi
Ed - ad7gr
Roy Jackson
JeffH - W4JEW