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Anyone keying a SPE amp with a Flex 5000

Member ✭✭
edited January 2020 in FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios

I am trying to get my SPE 1.3K amp working with a Flex 5000.  Direct connection from the radio to the amp does not work.  Inserting a Ameritron ARB-704 does not work.  Manually shorting the RCA center pin to the shield successfully keys the amp.  Also, the red TX light on the ARB-704 would indicate it was getting a good TX PTT signal from the Flex 5000.   Other radios (Flex 6500, Flex 3000 and KX3) key the amp fine with a direct connection but not with the ARB-704.

I am not interested at this time to control the amp with CAT so I have it setup with CAT of NONE.  I am only trying to figure out how to get the Flex 5000 to put the amp in TX.

Is anyone doing this and if so how are you accomplishing it?

John

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Answers

  • Member ✭✭✭
    edited July 2018
    I would start with my ohm meter checking continuity first at the rca on the radio when keyed and down the line/cables. Strange that the arb shows keyed but it may not be closing, check with ohm meter.
  • Member ✭✭✭
    edited February 2018
    Connect To Tx1, and select it in the radio setup.
  • Member ✭✭
    edited September 2017
    Hello John,
    It's in the Antenna Menu. You will see check boxes for all 3 TX jacks. TX1, TX2 TX3. Enable them here and you are good to go...
  • Member ✭✭
    edited April 2018
    I assure you the TX selections are properly made in the software.

  • Member ✭✭
    edited April 2018
    I appreciate the troubleshooting help.  However, my basic question was.....Is anyone doing this and if so how are you accomplishing it?

    I cannot tell from the responses if you are only helping with troubleshooting, doing it with a different setup or do not own this combination of radio and amp.
  • Member ✭✭
    edited September 2017
    Yes, I have a 2K-FA and I had a Flex-5000.  I had an RCA to RCA from TX1 to the amp keying input for the #1 Input of the amp.  I made sure that the TX1 was checked for all for the bands that the Amp supported.   I had no issues.   

    I do not remember having an issue for the four years that I had the pair unless I accidentally unchecked the TX1 box in the antenna setting. 
  • Member ✭✭
    edited September 2017
    Paul TU for the details.  I do not know if there are any keying differences between the SPE 2K-FA and the 1.3K.  But then again I would not have thought there were any keying differences between the Flex 3000, 5000 and 6XXX series but have found out that is not the case.  I did hear back via another forum from a ham who has had exactly the same issues I am seeing and he purchased a isolation keying relay from another source that uses a relay to provide the switching and it worked fine so maybe that is the direction I need to go.

  • Member ✭✭
    edited September 2017
    I'm keying a 1K-FA using just an RCA/RCA jumper. With those items checked on the antenna tab I'd guess maybe there's a problem in your RFIO board. Check with Dudley, he will know for sure.
  • Member ✭✭
    edited September 2017
    No problem on the RFIO board.  It can key other amplifiers.  It seems the SPE1.3K requires a very low resistance path to key the amplifier and the ARB-704 does not provided a hard ground.  Looks like a real not solid state relay interface will be required.
  • Member
    edited September 2017
    I use the same set Flex 5000A with SPE and work fantastic, I also have the CAT so works even better that i recommend you to do, no relay box needed if you lioke I can share pictures but I need to take it first :)

  • Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Have had intermittent problem with another amp. Generally solved by reseating RCA plugs.

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