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6600M with BLA350+ issues

brucew2024
brucew2024 Member ✭✭
edited March 7 in Peripherals & Station Integration

I'm getting to love the 6600M w/ Maestro but running into a difficult issue. I got gifted a RM Italy BLA350+ ~300w amplifier. Got it working with just the PTT Send circuit but for some reason the BLA;s input protection circuit keeps tripping above 8w output from Maestro. I did some troubleshooting and found that when the amp is on the SWR on the 6600M would rise from 1.2:1 to 3:1 which will trip the BLA's protection circuit. Then I switched out all the coax patch cables and replaced with KMR-400 with compression PL-259 connectors. Didn't help.

So, I removed the 6600M and installed an IC-7300 and I can crank up the output to 15w without tripping the BLA's protection and the SWR is solid.

Thoughts?🤔

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Comments

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    I think your 8W output is from the radio, not the Maestro. :) But, I know what you mean.

    The SWR issue is what the radio sees as being reported by the Amplifier.

    What is the TX Delay set to on the 6600M? Try setting it to about 25ms. This is delay will slow down the RF being sent by the radio to the amplifier.

  • brucew2024
    brucew2024 Member ✭✭

    Yes, correct. Thanks for picking that up. Ah, TX Delay.👍️

    That may help but now I have a more serious problem😫. I decided to remove the amp from the equation altogether. I powered everything down. Removed amp power wiring to the Astron VS-35M PSU and antenna connections then reconnected just the antenna connection to the 6600M directly. Then reconnected the 6600M power cable to the power Astron PSU. As soon as I did that the PSU voltage dropped to 2VDC before I could turn it on. Just plugged it in and got that result. The 6600M didn't power up, show any lights or make any noise. Immediately unplugged it, checked all the wiring, etc. Power cycled the Astron PSU, replugged the 6600M and same results. Unplugged it again and did a smell test. Nothing burning. I then benchtested the Astron PSU and it's working fine. I tried to power the 6600M up with a Powerwerx PSU and same results. Output drops to 2VDC.

    Would this be a blown fuse situation? External inline fuse is okay. I've read the fuse is on the internal power amp board.

    Please help and advise. Thank you!

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    Not a blown fuse, but some sort of TX short. You’ll need to open a support ticket.

  • brucew2024
    brucew2024 Member ✭✭

    Opened a support ticket.

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