AMP TX delay setting for new LA-1K

Rich McCabe

I just took delivery on a new Palstar LA-1K amp.  I remember reading somewhere that HRO had some recommended TX delay settings and I thought I read it on this site.

Anyone remember seeing this thread or have any direction?

Rich

Chuck

According the the LA-1K data, it has a vacuum relay, so it "should" have a switching time of about 8mS, perhaps 6mS.  To be sure, I would ask Palstar for the specific relay switching spec.  Once known, then set the TX Delay to that value.  In the interm, a delay of 10mS or a bit more should be safe.
---
Chuck

Rich McCabe

Thank you Chuck.   I think I will drop Paul a message.

Rich

Mike Presnell

Rich, please post an update once you learn the answer.  Thanks!

Rich McCabe

I asked for some more clarification but this was his first response.

GM Rich
You can set the delay in your transceiver to
anything thats convenient as the LA-1K is
RF sensing and it will key the amp only after it reads
the freq of an RF carrier
Regards  Paul

N5BE

Rich, I just ordered one from HRO. Should be here Tuesday. What did you end up with on the delay? I'm running a HF-AUTO in front on my current A1000 so we'll see how that does with the LA-1K!

Thanks,

Lee

Rich McCabe

Have it at 140 because I cant stand the noisy relays of the LA-1K.

N5BE

Thank you for the quick response. Looking forward to playing with it.  I should have said the HF-AUTO is behind the tuner. Its physically in front of the amp on the bench but electrically behind it. 

Neil N4FN

Rich,
You are saying that the relay is noisy on the amp? Mine is as quiet as can be.

Lee,
I am a bit confused as to the statement "I should have said the HF-AUTO is behind the tuner. Its physically in front of the amp on the bench but electrically behind it."
Is the HF-Auto the last thing in the line? Perhaps I should say the HF-Auto is just before the antenna?
Neil  N4FN    BTW I have both Palstar products and they are a great combo.

N5BE

Radio-Amp-Tuner-LP100A-Antenna. I tried to make it better and i made it worse....

Rich McCabe

Neil, my LA-1K is very noisy. Big heavy relay clunk. Fan is pretty noisy too. Amp works fantastic but I would consider it loud.

Neil N4FN

WOW, not my experience. I would call Palstar and speak with Paul or Mark his chief engineer

Neil N4FN

What made it worse??
Neil   N4FN

Gene - K3GC

I guess noise is a very subjective thing.  I consider the relay noise  from my LA-1K to be definitely loud  - I can hear it over my Radiosport head set which dampens most noise.

 The fan is also, to my ears, a bit loud.  However, the fan noise compared to other amps I have owned is relatively quiet.  It is a bit louder than my 6500 fans,

I would love to get both fan and relay quieter.

Neil N4FN

Hi Gene,
Not to beat a dead horse to death but out of curiosity I tuned my 6400 on different bands back and fort in an attempt to hear any relay noise, but heard nothing?? If you are hearing noise could it be from the tuner if you are using one. Perhaps a call to Paul at Palstar if there is a problem with the amp. I have found the service from them on a par with Flex which IMO is outstanding. I hope the issue is solved to your satisfaction

Rich McCabe

Well I can assure you my relay clicking is coming from the amp. As I said it works great but its a noisy amp in my case. I have no complaints with it except noise and the high SWR spike when you first switch bands.

Gene - K3GC

I think I will have to call Palstar.  Have any of you talked to them?  If so, please share.

Neil N4FN

You will find that Paul the owner of Palstar and Mark (I believe the chief engineer) are extremely responsive and helpful. As I have stated before their service is on a par with that from Flex and that is outstanding.
Neil  B4FN

Rich McCabe

I have not  called about how noisy it is.

They really don't send the amp with an acceptable manual so I am sure you will have to call them with questions anyway.

Gene - K3GC

I spoke with Mark at Palstar and the answer is both.
Older units (somewhat prior to April of this year )will be a bit noisy.  Later models will have shock mounted relays and will will be quieter.

He said the only way to tell for sure is to take the case off and determine if the relays (back right of the amp) are shock mounted.

So it is entirely reasonable, likely even, that there are loud amps and quiet amps.

I, for one, am not sufficiently motivated to tear my shack apart to find out

Rich McCabe

I might someday but not motivated either.  Mine was purchased 4/16 so coming up on 4 months old.