Anyone else fried their AG?

LA9AKA Hans Chr.

I am well aware of the 6m 800W limit for digital modes for my AG 8x2 switch. Was enjoying an opening on 6m to the U.S. here the other day and was running 750W FT8 for about 1 hour. Suddenly the SWR started jumping around and my PGXL gave me a warning as well. Stopped transmission and went into my shack the next day to check. It smelled like it had been a fire in there. Opened up the back lid on the AG and I could see burn marks on the housing and some copper tracks on the circuit board has curled up. SWR on my 6m antenna is 1,12:1 and my TGXL is in bypass mode.

Why did this happen when I transmitted well within the 800W limit? The only reason I can think of is that I have transmitted earlier above 1KW before the power limit was reduced. And maybe this has damaged the unit.

Pretty frustrating for me as a 6m DX'er to suddely have the power handling reduced on the antenna switch that was bought with an inititally much higher power rating on 6m :(

73 de LA9AKA

Erik Carling EI4KF

I do not want to hijack Hans Christian's thread regarding his sad tale (for which I am sorry to hear about).

But it caused me a sudden jolt and I need clarification. I have been waiting for the AG 8:1 to come back into stock at a European supplier. It is advertised as 160m to 6m at 3000W. I have also read the user manual which states

Power handling → 3,000 Watts ICAS (SSB/CW) for 5 minutes @ 1.5:1 VSWR @ 30 MHz
→ 3,000 Watts ICAS (SSB/CW) for 3 minutes @ 1.5:1 VSWR @ 50 MHz

Is the advertising a misrepresentation or does 3000W ICAS mean 800W on FT8 or does the 8:2 switch limit not apply to the 8:1? If would be grateful to be advised in case I need to cancel my pre-order.

Erik EI4KF.

LA9AKA Hans Chr.

Erik,

You are more than welcome to hijack my thread! I am quite curious myself if the 6m limitation applies to the 8x1 switch as well. Had a relay issue with mine earlier, 4O3A was supposed to send me a new relay. That was probably over a year ago now. Never received a relay and no replies to emails either. So I'm close to giving up the switch. I have not yet opened a ticket for the latest issue.

Hans Christian LA9AKA

Erik Carling EI4KF

I also emailed 4O3A but no reply so far. If no answer here or from the manufacturer I will also give up on the switch. That will mean also cancelling my PGXL order because, as attractive the PGXL is, a switch usable per its claimed specs and with no extra risk on 6m compared to other bands is required owing to the amp not having a one of its own.

Frankly I am totally dismayed, not only at what has happened to you but also at the thinking behind this. Do they think PGXL owners will never do contesting on 6mtrs? Whilst I would never use my 1500W FT8 licence limit on that band, I would certainly want to retain 1000W in 6m contesting which my tube amp with its on-board switch provides. I'd been saving up too…..

Erik.

km8v

The difference between a KW and 800W is .. negligible.

Erik Carling EI4KF

I do not understand the comment from km8v as it seems completely irrelevant given that the discussion is about actual specification versus claimed. To that end I have learned that ICAS is no longer quoted by 4O3A in their AG specs but that their distributors' advertising and the user manual still quote ICAS without noting any 6m band limitation. 4O3A now use CCS as in constant carrier RTTY / FT8 which is far more informative from my point of view. Maybe ICAS and CCS are the same, I am just a prospective user and not well versed on the nuances. It would therefore go too far so say that the the advertising is misleading but it sure is peculiar. For the 8x2, the 800 watt limit on 6m applies as we know. The 8:1 however is claimed to be "Capable of 3000W @ 1.5:1 VSWR CCS (e.g. RTTY) duty cycle for five minutes" with no noted 6mtr restriction.

I have actually cancelled the 8x1 order, being a little dubious that the spec of the 8x1 really is so superior to the 8x2.

I sincerely hope Hans Christian that you get a satisfactory reply from Flex / 4O3A and that a no cost repair is forthcoming.

Erik.