Tune Button

Dennis Wage

Tune button should not key the amp. I have to have a separate transmit profile for tuning. It works but it adds a step.
Who tunes with their amp keyed?
DW

KD0RC

Hi Dennis, I agree. I would like to see it as an option in the TX Band Settings dialog box so that you could have it either way by band.

Erik Carling EI4KF

Who tunes with their amp keyed?

It depends of whether you mean ATU tuning or use of the Tune button. But as the question is posed, yes I do. I use the Tune button to set the TRI scale on my Acom amp to aid its change to a new band.

David Decoons, wo2x

Some amps like the Acom 2000a and Alpha 87a require a carrier for the amp to tune. And the tuning of the amp changes depending on carrier level applied, so tuning an Acom 2000a at 10 watts then operating at 40 watts drive is not as efficient as tuning it at 40 watt carrier.

Since there are different scenarios for using the tune function there is no “right” choice (TX1 bypass vs enabled). Your idea of having a setting to choose the behavior of the tune button has merit.

Dave wo2x

https://community.flexradio.com/categories/new-ideas

Bill AB7AA

Dave,

I have several Harris RF-601a military antenna couplers that require 150 watts carrier to auto tune. To do this requires the amplifier to be keyed to supply enough RF power. To keep the SWR below 3:1 to preclude rollback or tripping, a three db pad must be switched into the transmission line until tuning is complete. It is then switched out for operation at 1.5 KW. These couplers will tune a 35 foot whip from 2-30 MHz and were rated by the Navy at 1KW continuous. They are overbuilt, low loss, and probably can take 10KW for reasonable mismatches.

I need the key line to work with the tune button.

Bill Hickey

AB7AA

Dennis Wage

I meant ATU tuning and also agree that the on/off option per band is best.

David Decoons, wo2x

@Bill AB7AA

you could do this with two external coax relays and control using the Flex TCP API.

73

Dave wo2x

Bill AB7AA

Dave,

Thanks for the tip. It turns out that Dow Key makes a double pole relay with the N/C contacts already connected for throughput. They are ideally suited for the job, but require 24V. I have several on hand ready for the project.

73,

Bill

Rick_KJ5WO

It appears we need different setups for different arrangements. The addition of another option in the TX Band Settings table would be nice so we don't have to create hardware fixes. Perhaps with V4!

73's

Rick...