My Ameritron 811 (one year old ) passed away today after working with my new flex 6300.....cause: unknow....reason why I`m began a search for a new one (don`t need more than 1K). I`ve been think in Acom 1010 & 1000; but after Ameritron I feel afraid of tubes and my flex...reason why I look to Acom 600S. Anyone knows if its easy to connect flex6300 and Acom 600s?
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Posted 4 years ago
Looks like it requires 100 watts in:
http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ame-al-811
Interesting read about the 811-A:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/protected/Group/Members/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9604051.pdf
k3Tim
http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ame-al-811
Interesting read about the 811-A:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/protected/Group/Members/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9604051.pdf
k3Tim
It requires 70 watts......could go to 100...but its not recommendable by manufacturer
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Yes, driving them at 100 Watts when they only need 70 is why I see so many really wide signals on the bands...
Accidents happen, as in your case, bu some folks do it on purpose because their meters say they are getting out better.
By the way, I hear good things about the ACom 1010, it is relatively forgiving, easy to tune, tolerates up to 3:1 SWR. I wish I had one. Maybe someday....
Accidents happen, as in your case, bu some folks do it on purpose because their meters say they are getting out better.
By the way, I hear good things about the ACom 1010, it is relatively forgiving, easy to tune, tolerates up to 3:1 SWR. I wish I had one. Maybe someday....
(Edited)
The Flex really shows non-linearity in a linear amplifier. The most notable of improper use is when the base of the signal spreads out on voice peaks. I see this problem on about half of all the signals on the various bands.
I use an Elecraft KPA500 and matching KAT500 tuner with my 6300 and they work fine. It is the 2nd picture on my QRZ page: http://www.qrz.com/lookup/kq1q
Wow! Joe!! Amazing Pictures.....I saw you`re photographer too!...picture from your Flex, KPA500 and KAT500 is Awesome!!
I will take a look to Elecraft-..... Thanks for your suggestion....
George
YV5WZ
http://www.qrz.com/db/YV5WZ
I will take a look to Elecraft-..... Thanks for your suggestion....
George
YV5WZ
http://www.qrz.com/db/YV5WZ
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It's amazing you are still alive after looking at the first picture,
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Lol, Burt! We have all let reason and safety go out the window a time or two when we were young and excited (read that foolish!) I managed to get my hand across the plate cap of a 2e26 tube, about 600 volts, when I was 16 years old. I have been living on borrowed time for the past 40 years. BTW, I ALWAYS double check the power supply twice before working on equipment, even with 12 volts!
@Joe, that is precisely my environment with my 6500.
We share very similar interests, I got emComm certified via the ARRL courses, and hold a commercial multi-engine license. I am very impressed with the 3D storm images...really nice!
We share very similar interests, I got emComm certified via the ARRL courses, and hold a commercial multi-engine license. I am very impressed with the 3D storm images...really nice!
(Edited)
So....Radio Ham Amateurs....Photography. ...and Aircraft Pilots....let's add motorcycles ... :)
I sold my Honda 350 to a cop in Reston, VA in 1979. I think that was the last time I was on one. However, it wasn't the last time I thought about buying another.
Royal Star 1300 ;-)
Many hams are social pariahs but it looks like this one has his act together! Wonder if a hair transplant and new chopper would help me?
I sold my TL-922A and ALS600 and am now running the ACOM 1000 with my 6300 one year now. VERY happy I did.
I have tune power set to 20watts and power out set to around 60 watts in each band profile otherwise the amp' s micro complains of overdriving when I tune. The Acom 1K will run 1200 watts but shines at 1000 watts all day any band any mode 6-160. 1K on RTTY is nice! Also will tune up to 3:1 SWR. Would do it again, price point is right for me any way.
Solid amp!
I have tune power set to 20watts and power out set to around 60 watts in each band profile otherwise the amp' s micro complains of overdriving when I tune. The Acom 1K will run 1200 watts but shines at 1000 watts all day any band any mode 6-160. 1K on RTTY is nice! Also will tune up to 3:1 SWR. Would do it again, price point is right for me any way.
Solid amp!
(Edited)
I second the Elecraft KPA500 amp and KAT500 tuner. It will literally turn your 6300 into a 500-watt transceiver. Changing bands is effortless.
The Acom 1000 won't work on 120v?
I also use the Elecraft KPA500/KAT500. Very effortless and forgiving.
Or, you could repair it? do the tube filaments light up? Is there any B+ (high voltage) ? A new transformer is not that expensive..
JM2C...73
JM2C...73
Tubes looked OK...but something went wrong an spark burned meters lights and led light turn off...i will send to repair...but don't wanna expose my flex on risk connecting it.
I use a Yaesu Quadra. It works seamlessly and gives a solid 1K.
If I were looking today I would probably look hard at the Expert 1.3K-FA.
Jon...kf2e
If I were looking today I would probably look hard at the Expert 1.3K-FA.
Jon...kf2e
Can they handle the duty cycle of AM?
The Quadra manual says it can do 500 watts continuous for 1 hour. It doesn't specifically mention AM.
Generally speaking, a linear is capable of approximately 1/4 continuous power of a SSB linear. Also remember that the peak power of an AM signal is 4 times the average carrier signal for 100 percent modulation.
Jim
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I use both a Heathkit SB-200 and an SB-220 (not together obviously) with great results.
The KPA500 manual says 500 watts key down for 10 min, followed by 5 min stand by, etc. For most applications that would work, but it might cramp the style for AMers to restrict a single transmission to only 10 minutes :) Of course if they could fit within 10 min they'd have plenty of time to cool down before the next transmission.
Key down with continuous carrier does not imply you can run 500 Watts on AM. For 100 percent modulation a carrier of 500 Watts key down would have to be able to run 2000 Watts peak power. If the amplifier was rated at 500 Watts was modulated at 100 percent there would be distortion. One has to keep the power to approximately 1/4 the rated key down power to avoid this distortion.
Jim
(Edited)
I am not an AMer that goes more than 10 minutes. I currently also have an IC2KL I run at 100 watts on AM but the fan sounds like a jet taking off
Just to be clear, as Jim said due to the 4:1 ratio between AM PEP and carrier power, the unmodulated max key down for the KPA500 in AM might be about 125 watts. In AM you'd still be getting 500 watts on a fully modulated signal. Due to the intermittent nature of that modulation, I'd expect the KPA500 could continue an AM phone transmission for quite a while -- certainly longer than 10 min. although I haven't see any spec.
I bet at 2 minutes a fan would come on that sounds like a jet
The KPA500 has a VERY LOUD fan. If you key up for any length of time on AM or any digital mode, the fan will kick into high and you can literally hear it all over the house! It is obnoxious........ I'll be replacing mine sometime this year.
Thanks for the update I hate fans.
Amplifier: Transistor vs. Tube Question
Since I'm shopping for an amplifier and am looking at the ones mentioned here, I've been following this thread with great interest. My major concern is the transistor vs. tube question that YV5WZ raised at the top. I've had tube amplifiers in the past (including one I built from scratch in high school back in the early 1960's) and never damaged a tube.
On the other hand, I've blown the output transistors in my 6300 twice. (Fortunately it was under warranty both times.) I don't know how much these transistors cost but FlexRadio support said they were very expensive. (No one at FlexRadio seems to know what caused them to blow. FlexRadio finally said that their ATU was not able to deal with my antenna's reactance and suggested I buy an external ATU. I bought the Palstar HF-Auto antenna tuner and haven't had any problems since.) Furthermore, I can replace tubes myself but probably not the transistors.
As I see it an RF transistor amp has these advantages: 1) No warm up required, 2) usually have protective circuits, auto tuning, and auto band switching, 3) lower power consumption and generate less heat.
Tube RF amplifiers have the advantages of: 1) User replaceable tubes (Adcom's warning notwithstanding), 2) tubes can be purchased from several vendors, 3) cost per watt is lower, and 4) high power tube RF amplifier design is well tested with many decades of use.
As much as I'd like the instant-on and CAT features of the Adcom 600S, my fear of blowing output transistors and paying high repair costs have me leaning toward the similarly priced but higher power Adcom 1000. Is my reasoning flawed? Is there any data on high-power RF transistor vs. tube reliability and lifespan?
Since I'm shopping for an amplifier and am looking at the ones mentioned here, I've been following this thread with great interest. My major concern is the transistor vs. tube question that YV5WZ raised at the top. I've had tube amplifiers in the past (including one I built from scratch in high school back in the early 1960's) and never damaged a tube.
On the other hand, I've blown the output transistors in my 6300 twice. (Fortunately it was under warranty both times.) I don't know how much these transistors cost but FlexRadio support said they were very expensive. (No one at FlexRadio seems to know what caused them to blow. FlexRadio finally said that their ATU was not able to deal with my antenna's reactance and suggested I buy an external ATU. I bought the Palstar HF-Auto antenna tuner and haven't had any problems since.) Furthermore, I can replace tubes myself but probably not the transistors.
As I see it an RF transistor amp has these advantages: 1) No warm up required, 2) usually have protective circuits, auto tuning, and auto band switching, 3) lower power consumption and generate less heat.
Tube RF amplifiers have the advantages of: 1) User replaceable tubes (Adcom's warning notwithstanding), 2) tubes can be purchased from several vendors, 3) cost per watt is lower, and 4) high power tube RF amplifier design is well tested with many decades of use.
As much as I'd like the instant-on and CAT features of the Adcom 600S, my fear of blowing output transistors and paying high repair costs have me leaning toward the similarly priced but higher power Adcom 1000. Is my reasoning flawed? Is there any data on high-power RF transistor vs. tube reliability and lifespan?
I have a Kenwood TL-922, instant on, and a IC2KL, my concern is duty cycle.
Anyone know what the duty cycle of the TL-922 is?
I used my TL-922 with my Flex 5000 and I'm using a Dentron MLA-2500 with my 6300. Works dandy. Jim WU7G
I never felt it get warm
A friend and I have been using a ALS-600 with MRF150's for many years without any problems. On the other hand I ended up selling a AL-82 (3-500's) that was hardly used at all because the finals had to be replaced twice. Never heard of a 6300 having final problems so obviously everyone's experience varies.
Flexradio support told me that 6xxx output transistor problems were rare. I guess I just had very bad luck .... twice .... in one month.
Is there any reason to believe that today's final amplifier tubes are less reliable or don't last as long as tubes made several decades ago? (I'm trying to avoid manufacturing location references.)
Is there any reason to believe that today's final amplifier tubes are less reliable or don't last as long as tubes made several decades ago? (I'm trying to avoid manufacturing location references.)
In a word, yes.
How about a used Drake L-4B?
Instant-on
low-speed (quiet) blower
1500 PEP out (or more)
Cheap
Instant-on
low-speed (quiet) blower
1500 PEP out (or more)
Cheap
Drake L-4B: No 160, 17, 12, or 6 meter bands. I'd only miss 17M, though.
The real bottom line is how much $$$$ do you want to spend.... I have ran tube amps from heathkit, dentron, Ameritron to Alpha...and in all the years I have never blown a tube.... I would not have an amp that didn't at least cover all the HF ham bands..( no offence to the boat anchors mentioned here). There are lots of good amps out there to chose from.... rather than ask whats best and get 20 different answers...(from old boat anchors to brand new). chose three or four venders and do a good research of each one and narrow it down to 1... IMHO that's the best thing to do....At least that is what I would do...
This is good advice. :-)
73, Bill, N5TU
73, Bill, N5TU
I just acquired a new KPA500 and using it with a Palstar Auto. I love the linear. It gives me clean 500 Watts remotely at my cabin in Big Bear. Very very happy with it.
Jim, K6QE
My Courier Service already received package from Elecraft, and it will be on its way to Venezuela on Tuesday...so I guess I`ll have to wait a week while it`s clear at local custom
Maybe that will give you time to ease things over with the XYL.
Hahahaha I not much radio since Ameritron went down.....Cheers!!!
I'm using the 1K-FA with my 6300, seems a pretty good combination, it tunes my 18m/54ft wire antenna on all bands above 40m, I use a home-brew remote manual tuner on the lower bands.
I live in the UK so the Expert is easy to purchase here.
I live in the UK so the Expert is easy to purchase here.
Thank you Chris for you recommendation ...!!! Sadly 1K-FA was not my choice although I`m sure its amazing Amplifier....I went for Elecraft KPA500....I could tell It works wonderful
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/atomic-combination-for-daily-flex-6300-use
Hope to see you on bands
George
YV5WZ
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/atomic-combination-for-daily-flex-6300-use
Hope to see you on bands
George
YV5WZ
I have an ALS600 that I run with my 756 Pro3. I am getting the Flex 6300 and am wondering what cable will I need to run the amp with the flex? Is it the same type of remote control cable I need. I also have the Ameritron ARB-704.
VA3KBC
I have the same setup here, just use the same cable. The ARB-704 is not required however if you have it go ahead and use it, I don't and have no issues.
Many thanks!!
VA3KBC
VA3KBC
YV5WZ
Jim Gilliam
When you get the 811 amp repaired, please let the group know what went wrong and the probable cause.
Jim
James Kennedy-WU5E
I used a ALS-600S with my Flex 6500 the only I can't use to is the ARI-500 the amp works like a champ.
Jim
WU5E
YV5WZ
Ameritron 811 amp fault was one of the three tubes, technician told me he think was a tube fail, not cause by overdrive it, he suggested to write to Ameritron....however I dont want to waste my time.....Ameritron its already fixed with all 3 brand new Taylor tubes
Greetings
George
YV5WZ
Venezuela