flex 1500 low power 17m, why?

ik5sre

Hello,
i have a flex 1500,the power is more or less 5 watts output on all hf bands but  when i try to use it on 17m the power is very low,0.5 watts. The power drive is at 100% . A friend of mine ,with flex 1500, has the same problem testing with a dummy load. I working with powersdr 2.7.2 .
It's a software bug?
Thank you
73's de IK5SRE Frank

John

I have the same problem on 160m with 30w maximum. Other bands are ok. I will have to send it in for repairs but that will be some time next year as I am a pensioner.

Keith Flint

I just checked my Flex1500 on 17 meters into a dummy load. I get a full 5 watts out
Keith
W7ZAC

ik5sre

thank you for replies

ik5sre

Keith,your software is powerSDR 2.7.2 ?

K2CM

Check your power out into a dummy load as W7ZAC has done...see above comment. Antennas can cause funny problems causing high SWR.

ik5sre

i dont' have dummy load at the moment but with a yaesu ft 450d i have 5 watt output regular and not swr in the same freq. .

K2CM

1.  Check to see that you are running the current version of PowerSDR

2.  In the absence of a dummy load, use a low wattage light bulb as a dummy load.  Try the light bulb on 20 meters first to make sure that the 1500 will put RF into the bulb.  Then, if the radio shows output, switch to 17 meters.  A 220V bulb should work fine.  For my high power radios I use a 100 to 125 watt bulb, for my low power radio I use a 40 watt bulb.

While there are better ways to make a dummy load, this should work if nothing else is available. These bulbs will not light.

You can also use a  12V or 24V automotive bulb.  Make sure the wattage is greater than 5 watts. The bulb should light somewhat with a 10w bulb.

I am sure that readers on the list will critisize me heavily for suggesting this; but, I have used this technique for many years when I don't have a dummy load available.

ik5sre

thank you for info.

ik5sre

Hi today i done a new test with dummy load,0,5 watts on 17 meters and  5 watts on all others hf bands.

K2CM

Contact your dealer where you bought it for help. or open a help ticket with Flex.