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updating my station to 8600M with Mercury LUX or other amps

James Kennedy-WU5E
James Kennedy-WU5E Member ✭✭✭
in Peripherals & Station Integration

does anyone think the Mercury Lux can do Adaptive Pre-distortion?

other amps looking at are OM-2000A+

The problem having I is money to get a new amp that follows the radio, the Flex 8600M and bust my budget. I kicked myself in the **** selling my PGXL. I watched the Hamvention video Flex engineer today where it can be done but it will take more info to follow.

thanks

Jim

WU5E

Comments

  • N5NHJ
    N5NHJ Member ✭✭✭

    You would like to think about SPE 1.5K or the new 1.5K Taurus. They are ADP ready.

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    HI Jim, the capability for APD lies primarily in the radio. If your amp has an RF sample tap (like the PGXL), then you just plug that port into the radio that supports it (like the Flex 8000 series).

    If your amp does not have the RF sample tap, one can be purchased or built at a reasonable cost (there are several YouTube videos on the topic). My guess is that a -50 or -60 dB tap would be appropriate. You want a tap that will handle the power levels that you expect to run.

  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    it is not 100% clear on exactly how the new 8000 series radios will get the RF sample back to the radio. It may require a Flex specific coupler. That is still to be determined.

    Dave wo2x

  • N4VFR
    N4VFR Member ✭
    Dave,
    I asked that question to a Flex Engineer during Hamvention. Here's that video.

    https://youtu.be/wKOlLoqbW5c?si=T8pZp0YiB3znz7fa

    73 Darren
    N4VFR
  • Gord-VA7GP
    Gord-VA7GP Member ✭✭✭
    edited May 2024

    If you have a Non-APD amplifier, you could build your own sampler. But there are a couple of commercial options, especially if you have a classic amp you want to keep using (eg Collins 30S-1):

    VK3AMP in Australia:

    https://www.vk-amps.com/products/a-55-db-rf-sampler-2kw-1-8mhz-80mhz-so-239-connectors

    Xtronic (their home / website is un-helpful garbage, hence retail):

    https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-015644

    CleanRF adjustable sampler:

    https://www.cleanrf.com/products.html#RF-S2K

    But then the sample has to get into the Flex8000 (or Flex6000 😁 like this:

    image.png

    )

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    @Russ Ravella

    No, you don't have to give up an RX port.

    We will be building a sampler box that is a T/R relay that will allow you to use the port for an RX antenna while in RX and an RF sampler port while in TX. N5AC showed a picture of what it would look like during the banquet presentation. (I don't have a copy of that slide deck, so I can't grab the picture).

    However, my guess is that it is a very small list of people who may use all 4 possible options on an 8600. I come close with my home station with 2 transverter ports being used for Satellite work and 1 RX port being used by a DX Engineering active antenna.

    It is good news that for those that might be fully populated, there will be an option.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited May 2024
    This content has been removed.
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    It was more cost effective to build an external device for a few people rather than all the rework and tooling required to add a dedicated port.

    You are a 1%'r on the ports stuff. :)

  • N3AML
    N3AML Member ✭
    > @"James Kennedy-WU5E" said:
    > does anyone think the Mercury Lux can do Adaptive Pre-distortion?
    > other amps looking at are OM-2000A+
    > The problem having I is money to get a new amp that follows the radio, the Flex 8600M and bust my budget. I kicked myself in the **** selling my PGXL. I watched the Hamvention video Flex engineer today where it can be done but it will take more info to follow.
    > thanks
    > Jim
    > WU5E

    Mercury has an an RF sampler... It is in the KM3KM Online store its 140 bucks plus shipping
  • James Kennedy-WU5E
    James Kennedy-WU5E Member ✭✭✭

    To make simple Flex 8600M and PGXL have been ordered

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