Unfortunately, many modern radios have issues with their ALCs.  For example, 
I believe the 590 has a problem with the ALC failing to kick in quite fast 
enough when the radio is keyed, which causes a power spike that can cause 
your amp to go non-linear.  From what I've heard, the solution is to run the 
radio with low enough output that the ALC doesn't have to be used.  In other 
words, as Kelvin has said much more succinctly, don't trust the ALC, but use 
it as an additional safety measure.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kelvin Marsh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2014 08:34
Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio


> Hi Lou and All,
>
> Interesting that Elecraft don't think ALC need be used with their amps.
> I've also heard a similar recommendation from a Kenwood user running a
> ASL-600.
>
> Personally, I would suggest that ALC should  always be used when running a
> solid state amp.  Even more so when being operated by a blind op.  It is 
> far
> too easy to be distracted by a phone call or something, and switch on the
> amp with far too much input power.  In my case, I use a 200 watt radio, 
> and
> without the ALC, I risk making a mistake one day and damaging the amp with
> excessive input power.
>
> The strategy Alan adopts is very sensible, by always limiting the output
> from the rig.  Although I have the ALC correctly adjusted, I try to never
> exceed the needed input power to the amp.  Relying on the ALC to cut back
> excessive  power is likely to cause distortion and you shouldn't rely on a
> safety device all the time.
>
> So, I suggest the ALC should always be used, just in case, but input power
> should be manually set to avoid the ALC from being activated.
>
> Best wishes, Kelvin Marsh - M0AID
>
> Working to improve accessibility for radio amateurs with disabilities
>
> www.active-elements.org
>
> For accessibility evaluations of amateur equipment and MP3 manuals
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Lou Kolb
> Sent: 09 March 2014 00:24
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
>
> Alan,
>
> Pretty cool! I know Elecraft recommends not even using the ALC with their
> amp or, I think any other as well. And once you get it set you can read 
> the
> mic gain settings with the hampod so you always know where to go. No amp
> here so I don't have to worry about it yet but that box does sound pretty
> slick.
> Lou Kolb
> Voice-over Artist:
> Radio/TV Ads, Video narrations
> Messages On-hold:
> www.loukolb.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 7:10 PM
> Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
>
>
>> Ok, I wasn't aware of the ALC issue.  I don't use ALC the way most people
>> do.  I have a box with a pot on it and an on/off switch.  The box has a
>> wall
>> wart for power, and a RCA cable that connects to the ALC jack on the back
>> of
>> my Icom.  I can set the ALC voltage with the pot on the box.  I do this
>> because on several occasions I had used my Icom barefoot and cranked the
>> drive output up to 200 watts.  The next morning I forgot about using the
>> rig
>> barefoot, and start talking with my Henry.  I was driving it with 200
>> watts,
>> which is ok as far as the Henry is concerned, but I was outputting over
>> 4900
>> watts.  I didn't hook the ALC up to the Henry because each band requires 
>> a
>> different setting, and the only way to adjust the ALC adjustment on the
>> back
>> of the Henry is to lean over the damn thing and reach down to where the
>> knob
>> is located.  This amp gets unbelievably hot, so it isn't pleasant leaning
>> over it.  With my ALC adjustment box I don't have to get anywhere near 
>> the
>> amp.  It works slick as snot.
>>
>> Alan/KD7GC
>>
>>
>>
>> Alan R. Downing
>> Phoenix, AZ
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators 
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Lou Kolb
>> Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 3:49 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
>>
>> Alan,
>>
>> That's 99 per cent true.  Unfortunately, what you can not do with the K3
>> and
>>
>> Hampod is set the ALC. Not Rob's fault but Elecraft's as they haven't 
>> made
>> that reading available through the serial port. Last I heard, they were
>> swamped with requests for other updates and stuff for the KX3 so it might
>> be
>>
>> a while before they get to it.
>> Lou Kolb
>> Voice-over Artist:
>> Radio/TV Ads, Video narrations
>> Messages On-hold:
>> www.loukolb.com
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Alan R. Downing" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2014 1:03 AM
>> Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
>>
>>
>>> Butch, You have one of the best rigs ever made.  Many sighted hams
>>> consider
>>> the 990 to be the best rig ever produced, and from the perspective of a
>>> blind operator, no other radio has ever been more accessible.  Of course
>>> the
>>> K3, thanks to Rob Santello, is as accessible as the Kenwood 990.
>>>
>>>
>>> Alan/KD7GC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Alan R. Downing
>>> Phoenix, AZ
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>> On Behalf Of Butch Bussen
>>> Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 8:46 PM
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: need to find a replacement radio
>>>
>>> I don't find the 2000 all that hard, there are good front pannel
>>> descriptions around as well.  Talk about a complicated radio, lmy 990 
>>> has
>>> I think 106 knobs and buttons on the ront.  Quite a rdio though.
>>> 73
>>> Butch
>>> WA0VJR
>>> Node 3148
>>> Wallace, ks.
>