PGXL Noise mitigation + Power ON/Off switch

Sergey KN7K

Doug

Bill -VA3WTB

I was almost going to say the same thing. It seems that no matter how amazing this amp may be, with the high performance, Meffa and the harmonic filter and great build. all people talk about is the fan noise. But nice project Serg.

KF4HR

Bob Needleman

Rick N4RZ

I commend Sergey on his efforts to make the amp work better for his situation!  His solution helps to mitigate the noise issue with this amp and gives one a method to turn the power off to the amp without having to access the rear panel which may be a problem for those whose access to the rear panel is not easy.  As for all, solid-state amps being noisy, my SPE 2K-FA is quieter than nearly all of the other amps I have owned recently most of which used tubes.        

AH0U

My PGXL noise is so loud in the shack you can not talk over it to an operator sitting next to you... the PGXL is over 7 feet away but the noise on FT8 will drive you out of the shack.. it was designed as a remote device and that may be the only solution for the noise which is like standing next to a 747 at take off.

BC

Butch

Perhaps someday we'll see liquid cooled solid state HF amps. For now, perhaps the FT8 mode will push PG-XL users back to SSB and having real conversations again? Many times the voice and CW sub-bands really are open, just no one using them.

Butch, KF4HR

Mike VE3CKO

Butch I agree. The whole FT-8 one button click computer QSO, even worse those using the fully automated version requiring no human to operate, just nuts. FT-8 or digital hopefully will not replace my DX hunt on SSB but my hearing is getting worse becoming more difficult to pick out conversions even with expensive hearing aids. As much as I mock digital, in the future if my hearing continues to deteriorate, it maybe the only way for me to continue in the hobby.

When the PGXL was on my desk a few feet from me it was somewhat distracting but when I moved to to a rack mount in one of my gig boxes, on the ground to the left of the desk, it dramatically reduced the fan noise factor. Not an issue at all.

Butch

Mike - I tried FT8 just to see what it was all about but after a few QSO's, (uh, I mean data exchanges) I grew bored of it quickly. I wasn't aware FT8 had progressed to a version requiring no human interaction, but as semi-automated as it already was, I guess a fully automated version was inevitable. Having my PC log data exchanges from other PC's would make FT8 even less desirable to me, but, of course, each to their own. I heard one ham say (tongue and cheek), You meet the nicest people on FT8. :D

Since the latest PG-XL firmware upgrade came out I rarely notice fan noise anymore, unless I'm running SSTV or RTTY. And when the fans do come on, I find the noise tolerable, especially when I'm wearing noise canceling headsets. hi

Butch, KF4HR

Rick N4RZ

Mike - I have a major hearing issue as well. What I do to help hear better on the radio is to plug the TV connector device for my hearing aids into the phone jack on my 6600M. It then sends the radio audio to my hearing aids over a Bluetooth connection. Another advantage to this method is that my hearing aids mute the room noise to a great degree when in this mode. This sort of works out like having noise-cancelling headphones tailored to your hearing loss.

Mark_WS7M

I've owned: ALS 600 which was desktop sold state and it was so noisy it was horrible. Then I got an SPE 1K FA which was great but the moment I pushed it towards its 1k limit it was noisy too. Then I opted for the SPE 2K FA thinking the head room would make it quieter. It did but FT8 can really work an amp and it too will get real noisy after some time.

I still have the SPE 2K FA as it is a great amp. I purchased the PGXL and from the start I "remoted" it meaning it and my Flex6600 are in my HVAC room which is 20 feet from my op position. The antenna cables come in there anyway.

I ran shielded and choked cables for key, stereo speakers and a few other things into the op position. So at the op position, audio from the 6600 come into a small mixer and to either head phones or speaker. I key the radio directly using the hardwire line as well.

I don't do much voice but decided that I can use the USB mic best so I don't have a directly wired mic.

I put my PGXL in contest mode so the fans work a lot. Assuming they don't fail this is the best solution ever as I sit in total quiet while all the noisy stuff is out in a shed that maintains a good temp due to the A/C unit being in there.

I realize not everyone can do something like this but in all honesty this is really a great solution. Since everything is on the LAN I can run this station from the op position or my laptop from just about anywhere.

W7NGA

I love hearing these horrendous noise stories. I can run my Alpha 89, key down full legal limit, all day and night, and all it speaks is a barely audible whisper. A Summer's morning breeze. And that is with the additional optional fan running. After playing Neil Young rock 'n roll guitar licks all day in the recording studio it is nice to have the peace and quiet of the ham shack to soothe the soul. 🤪

Larry _ NY8T

It took me a few months to realize I could use the PGXL meffa feature on ft-8, the amp runs way cooler which equals less fan speed/noise.

Butch

Larry - Thanks, that's good to know. I think I'll start using meffa on SSTV and RTTY.

KF4HR

Kevin_1969

My experience after one day with the PGXL is a mixed bag. The loud fans are way too much for my shack. The amplifier is a remote amp in my opinion. It's a work horse, makes power very easily. But so far the trade off isn't worth the noise when I have an OM Tube amp that can produce 4,000 watts at a fraction of the noise. If you can get about 15' too 20' away it's close too tolerable.

I'm really surprised at how well it integrates with the 6000 series flex. I was really impressed with how easily the amp produces such copious amounts of power. 45 watts gave me 1500.

Be ready for the noise when you buy one. In my opinion it's way over the top unless you can remote it.

Mike-VA3MW

I just want to mention this if you are reading this thread.

Loud is different things to different people. I have friends who have fans on their PCs that I can’t hear but they say it is loud. Loud is really a subjective measurement and it affects different people in different ways.

We have many customers who have their PGXL in the same place their previous amplifier was located. And, if you want to remote it, it is easy to do and in fact it can be used to increase RF out by limited the length of coax runs and maybe getting the amplifier closer to your 240VAC connection in case you don’t have one in your shack.

It is for this reason that we sell product that allows you to try for 30 days in your own hamshack and on your own antennas. And, you also get to test the 3 fan settings. Yes, Contest mode and Broadcast mode are Loud, but for the most part, the normal setting is more than adequate.

I am not sure what version of the PGXL Firmware that Kevin is on, but newer versions are quieter. It is the power supply fan that is the noisiest.

73 all

Jerry

I currently run a Plaster LA-1K and considering a PGXL. Does anyone have a "Fan Noise" comparison of those two amps? My LA-1K sits on a shelf directly in from of my operating position 1.5 feet from my PR-40 boom mic. On SSB the noise from the LA-1K is not an a problem and especially with properly set DEXP.

Bob KC9RF

I have had my PGXL for about 2 months now the amp works fine but the fan noise is loud compared to the SPE 1.5FA amp. I like good audio when transmitting and with the amp in the shack there is noticeable fan noise that shows up in the mic audio. To solve this I moved the amp to the basement just under my current 1st floor shack. That has solved the problem with the exception of running the fan in broadcast mode as it's really loud and I can hear it plainly through the floor below.

Bob KC9RF