6600 + Maestro driving New SPE 1.5-FA which suddenly says 1w PEP output ! :-(

WC6Y

Thanks, I looked over the presentation. I guess I have a quiet station, my noise levels are typically S1-S2 on 20 & 17, sometimes under S1. Sometimes S1 on 40, depending upon atmospherics. I didn't see any mention of how to actually measure the impedance of my ground system. Ideas?

WC6Y

Thank you Salvador for your comprehensive response and many suggestions. I think you may have put your finger on it!! I do not have *any* TX delay set up. Do you think that could explain the erratic behavior?

EA4GLI

While the relays on the SPE are extremely fast  (7 ms) it doesn't hurt to add a bit of protection by adding a few more ms before sending any power through the amp, just in case the flex relays are even faster.

You can easily go up to 250 ms without noticeable delay, but try anything between 50 ms and 100 ms at least. Just to be safe and go down from there. For SSB is fine but depending on your CW speed and operating style you might not want to add so much.

To add insult to injury, my extremely reliable 6700 decided to fail on me as well. I am getting the TIMEOUT error. Already contacted Flex super support and I seem to need a new SD CARD which should arrive any day now! 

So no amp and no transceiver.... I guess is time to talk to the family! 

Bill -VA3WTB

At least with a new SD card that will not likely give any problems for the rest of your life..lol

Paul - K6HR

Yes. You can see some details and references here:  http://k6hr.com/index.php/2018/02/08/grounding/

EA4GLI

Thanks!

Erik Carling EI4KF

In my opinion, the SPE 1.5 can certainly have the problem described by Salvador. Mine is on its way back to Italy after owning for only one month. No output power, having failed today, but not operated beyond its normal parameters in any way. Luckily I still have the SPE 1.3 that it was to replace. 

WC6Y

Erik Carling EI4KF

Hello Ken. I am in Ireland and bought the amp from a UK dealer. So I have had to return it to them for onward dispatch to Italy. You are lucky because in EU, even though I have owned it for a month and it is a warranty repair, the SPE quoted repair time is a minimum of 70 days. As for overdriving, I do wonder if there is a problem with some 1.5 amps. My radio output is restricted to 25 to 29 watts depending on band to get full output. Yet I did 3 times get the over-driving warning. Even so, 'protection' should prevent damage. I have since learnt of quite a number of 1.5s having the LDMOS replaced recently. In the marketing hype, the device is claimed to be 'indestructible'. Obviously not.

Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB

Ken  call me at 4093519228  tnx

WC6Y

Will call tomorrow. Just got amp back today.

WC6Y

EA4GLI

Jim Runge

I had the same problem with my spe 1.5 second gen.  The amp died.I sent it back to Bob and he said that I must have been driving it with 100 watts.  Wrong.  I also have a SPE 2K and have never had a problem with it.  It cost me over $600 to fix my brand new amp as Bob said it was my fault and not covered under warranty.  I would not buy another 1.5 that is for sure.  They have a problem and they are aware of it.

EA4GLI

I really hope they don't come back with that argument with me as well. I have had 3 Expert amps and both the 1k and 1.3k keep on going (I am in touch with the current owners), so I know my way around the amp.

EA4GLI

Then, on the other hand, I really do hope this new profile approach by Flex has nothing to do with it......

Jim Runge

I was not using a flex when my 1.5 died.

EA4GLI

That narrows it a bit.....