1.10.8 problems updating, first impressions

Ria

A few details seem to be missing here, nevertheless this is how I have mine setup.

Flex to SPE
Ant 1 to Input 1
Ant 2 to Input 2

USB A to Cat A
USB B to CAT B

RCA TX1 to RY1
RXA TX2 to RY2
ALC not connected (not needed)

USB control cable from SPE to windows PC (this is just to control the amp if I need to)

Example of how I have each USB cable configured in SmartSDR:



I also set up two TX profiles, one enabling relay 1 and another enabling relay 2, adding whatever delays you need. I call them SO2R TX1 and SO2R TX2. They are assigned to each panadapter. 





And then the rest of setup in N1MM+ per the K9CT/Flex document.

Hope this helps.

Ria

Tim VE6SH

Thanks Ria. I think I have all the connections set up correctly. It may be just my bad on setting up the two TX profiles. I will also add a delay as well and see if that helps.

I find it odd that setting power levels on the SPE makes absolutely no difference on the drive level at any of the three power settings.

73

Tim

Ria

It probably is, so it's going through the wrong antenna input. That could be bad as it is transmitting through the SO2R port. 

Do you have the USA version of the amp? 

Tim VE6SH

Yes, the USA version (although I ordered from the US dealer I should confirm it is not an export version).. The amp works fine using DDutil and setting CAT for Kenwood. I will keep playing with it. Unfortunately my operating time and time to play radio lately has been limited to sporadic weekends.

Thanks for your help. Will let you know how I make out.

73

Tim

Mark Erbaugh

Ria, What antenna is connected to the SO2R port? How is it isolated from the Tx antennae?

Tim VE6SH

I am not using the SO2R port, but rather Ant 1 and 2. I have the 4O3A tri-plexer and bandpass filters.

Tim VE6SH

Tim VE6SH

Ok. Well I thought I could use ANT 2 for SO2R. I gather not and one has to use the SO2R port for the second slice.

Ria

I have either a multiband vertical or a dipole connected to the SO2R port, through a switch. I believe for the SO2R capability you must use the SO2R port. I have one 5B4AGN filter set in use, and I'm building another. It works well enough to pick off mults. Probably not as good for dual CQing.

You can also assign TX antennas per input. For example, on Input 1 on 20m, you can assign output 1 and on input 2 you can assign output 4 for example. 

They are coming out with the "full" SO2R switch unit soon where it will be more or less like having two amps with two inputs and outputs. 

Ria

Tim, ANT1 and ANT2 will always be your inputs. Think of the SO2R port as a RX antenna port which is on the inactive radio. So if you are transmitting through ANT1, the other radio will be switched to receive from the SO2R port. That is why they recommend a multiband antenna for that. Hope I've made sense. 

Tim VE6SH

Thanks Ria. I must admit i am struggling to find how to assign TX antennas to each input. Could you point me to where I would find that? I thought I could assign input1 to Antenna 1 and input 2 to antenna 2, but when I try to do make the changes when I am on the input 2 setting the antenna output changes also are made for input 1. Tnx Tim

Tim VE6SH

The other issue is the SPE does not change the input selection when I change Slices. I have Slice A on Flex antenna 1 (going to input 1 on the SPE) and Slice on Flex antenna 2 (going to input 2 on the SPE). The SPE does not follow when I change TX focus from Slice A to B. Tim

Ria

There is no way for the amp to know you changed focus. You have to key up (PTT) even momentarily for that to happen. 

As for making the changes for Ant 1 vs ant 2, switch to ant 1, assign the antenna ports. Save. Switch to Ant 2, make the changes. Save. It will work that way. 

Tim VE6SH

Got it. Thank you for your help. I will try to set the antennas again. Tim

Ria

Btw I may have confused you a little. What you need to do in setup is enable the antennas for that band. For example if 1 and 4 can work on 20, enable both on 20. Save. Switch to input 1, select the antenna you want to use. Switch to input 2, select antenna. Switch back to 1 and it will be the other antenna you selected, switch back to 2, same thing. Pretty versatile and not bad for builtin capability.

Tim VE6SH