CARrier control on Flex-6300

Gust2

Hi everyone,
I'm playing with my 6300 only since a few weeks and like it a lot. There's 1 item however that makes we wondering.

The Flex-6300 goes up to 95 Watt out on some bands but only to 85-90 on some others. Isn't there a button or slider somewhere to make sure the finals can produce the 100 Watt out they are supposed to?
I found nothing in the documentation. We OT's are used to having a carrier button on our transceivers.

73, good DX
Gust ON6KE

 

Steve G1XOW

Hi Gust,

You might need to give 14.5 - 14.8v PSU input to get 100W out on all bands. There is a big volt drop on the power cable, connectors and internal fuses (even with the standard factory cable).

Also, check 100% power out can be achieved in to a good dummy load, using a quality external power meter...just to make sure you don't have antenna problem as the F6k high SWR back-off is a little too sensitive in my opinion.

73 de Steve G1XOW

Gust2

Hi Steve,
I hooked the 6300 to a 1kW wet dummy load, with and without the ATU in the circuit, I makes no difference power wise on any of the bands.

Next I measured the input Voltage before (13.70 V) and after (13.58 V) the fuse. That is a significant difference coming from an of course stabilised 13.8V source.

I can raise voltage to 14.5V or slightly higher but won't give it a try just now, got a lot hooked up to that power supply now. That extra half a Volt might very well make it a full 100 Watt transceiver.  :-)

Cheers
Gust ON6KE

Gust2

I forgot, so I understand there's is no such thing as a CARrier control on the 6300. Of course you don't need it if the end stages are sufficiently broad-banded impedance wise.

73
PS
They take just about everything away from you these SDR's..

Steve G1XOW

Gust,

There is another fuse internally as well. This means that when you add the series drop of the power-pole connectors, the cable, the external fuse, and internal fuse 13.8v only results in about 13.1-13.2V at the PA. You could also shorten the factory cable but that really should not have been necessary.

I run my PSU at 15Vdc (output at the PSU terminals) and all is fine for over 2 years now. The fan does get a little louder though.

73 de Steve G1XOW

Ross - K9COX

Just so there is no confusion SmartSDR does have sliders for RF power, Tune power, and AM carrier levels.

Gust2

Yes that I know Ross.

Thanks
73, good DX (in these difficult miserable conditions lately)

Gust ON6KE

HCampbell WB4IVF

Gust -

Your question comes up repeatedly for Flex and other manufacturers’ radios (I’ve seen it in Icom’s and ANAN’s FAQs).   

Check out this thread, and Flex’s official reply:

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/6500-power

Howard

Gust2

Thank you very much Howard, your input is much appreciated.
Interesting URL.

73, good DX
Gust ON6KE