Richard,

As Lloyd suggests, manual band switching is not the end of the world. 
Most hams do it, and have been doing it since Marconi was in short 
pants.   You can certainly get it up and running and see if it all works.

I'm fairly sure the Y cable will work for you  but can't swear to it.  I 
know others use a Y in some situations and have heard of other 
situations where it didn't work as expected.   Probably dependent on 
what the particular radio and other piece of gear involved is.  MFJ can 
probably give you the best answer.

I would guess the radio and amp also need to be on the same baud rate, 
but have no idea how that would be changed in the amp if need be.


BTW, in case I never mentioned it, don't take any of my advice as 
Gospel.    Two heads are always better than one.  Just ask any pair of 
Siamese twins.

73, Steve  KW3A

On 1/9/2016 1:00 PM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
> Hi Steve!
>
> Right, I will use the slower menu setting, "2."  And, that settles it - I am
> going to use the amp enable in/out jacks on the 998.  You are correct that I
> use a "virtual" COM port sharing program for two programs (JJ Radio and AC
> Log) to share the one TS-2000 COM port, but you are also correct that the
> virtual port thing cannot solve the problem of the 1306 needing to see the
> TS-2000's COM port - easily anyway.  So, I am going to "split" the TS-2000's
> sole COM port with the following:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Your-Cable-Store-Serial-Splitter/dp/B002I9VWWQ/ref=sr_
> 1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452355368&sr=1-2&keywords=serial+port+splitter
>
> Shoot : (  This sets me back a few more days until I can get my amp up.
>
> 73,
> Richard KK6MRH
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 7:55 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Necessity to Use MFJ-998's "Amp Enable In/Out" with Kenwood
> TS-2000 and Ameritron ALS-1306?
>
> Richard,
>
> I will put  my answers  preceeded by a * in the spaces after your
> questions.   Also remember that you must enable the amp keying in the
> radio menu: menu 28 sub menu a.   Default is off and choices are 1 or 2.
>    Set it at 2 and be happy.   Setting 1 has a very fast delay time and
> may be too fast for your amp.  I've used setting 2 on both a tube and SS amp
> with no problem.
>
> Again, see other answers below.
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 1/9/2016 10:18 AM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
>> Hi Steve!
>>
>> Yeah, I am sure I am being a little paranoid about this.  It being the
>> first time I have ever had an amp, I just want to try not to blow it
>> up right from the start ; )  Well, please let me confirm a few things
>> you said, as follows.
>>
>> 1) I did do a "Total Reset" on the 998, and I have indeed confirmed
>> that the amp SWR threshold is at 2.0.  However, I do not think I like
>> the requirement of having to put the amp in standby each time I tune.
>> To avoid this requirement, I must use the 998's amp enable in/out
>> jacks, right?  In this way, each time I tune the 998 would a) put the
>> amp into standby, b) tune and then c) return the amp to operate all by
> itself, right?
>>
> * You are correct. If you decide not to use the amp line jacks on the tuner,
> you will have to  put the amp into standby each time you tune, otherwise the
> tuner will go into protection because you are  hitting it with too much
> power, and the amp will probably go into protection mode as well.
>
>
>> 2)  I think you are saying that the 998 will put the amp into standby
>> even when not tuning anytime it sees SWR greater than 2.0 (because of
>> the 998's amp SWR threshold).  If I do not connect the 998's amp
>> enable in/out jacks, will the 998 automatically put the amp back into
>> operate whenever the SWR falls below 2.0?  Or, must the amp enable
>> in/out jacks be used for such functionality?
> * If you want the protection  offered by the tuner, you have to connect
>    the rca jacks and enable the switch on the amp as described in the
> instructions you got from MFJ.  If connected, the tuner will break the
> keying line when it sees a swr higher than 2.0.   This would be the same
> as putting the amp into bypass.    So you would retune the tuner, and
> when swr drops below the 2.0 threshold, the  amp will go back online as
> the relay in the tuner closes.   This is all automatic, but you get none
> of it if  you don't use these jacks.
>
>>
>
>
>> 3) OK, I get it about where the DIN (round) connector goes.  However, are
> we
>> saying that the other connector (the rectangular a.k.a. DB9) goes into the
>> far bottom left (when facing the rear of the TS-2000) serial port?  That
> is,
>> it goes into the sole serial port used for PC control?  This means I have
> a
>> problem because I am already using that port to connect to my PC for rig
>> control/monitoring (JJ Radio) and logging (AC Log) purposes.  I wonder if
>> this means that I must use some sort of a "Y" splitter (1 > 2) adapter so
>> that both the amp and my PC can use this port?  Maybe, instead of a
>> splitter, I could plug this DB9 into the PC and just "share" the same COM
>> port there which is already being "virtually" shared by both JJ Radio and
> AC
>> Log?
> * Yes the db9 goes into the only serial port on the radio.  (You should
> have bought a 590 - it has 2 ports.  Just kidding).   This connection is
> how the amp knows what band the radio is on and so the amp knows what
> band to switch to.
>
> I think a Y cable can be used here, but I have never had to do this.  A
> query to MFJ is probably your best bet.
>
> I remember the problem you had a time back getting both software
> packages running at the same time, but I'm not quite sure how you solved
> it (software I think) and I really can't  tell you what to do about
> this.   The amp needs to talk to the radio through the serial
> connector, perhaps connecting to the pc on a shared comm port as you do
> with the other software will work.  Maybe a Y cable would be better.  If
> you have to do  some sort of keyboard switching  between JJ Radio and
> your logger anytime you change between programs, this  probably wouldn't
> work well for the amp.  I honestly  don't know how your shared commport
> works.
> 73 Steve KW3A
>>
>> Well, it seems I have some more work to do on this.  Steve, thanks again
> for
>> your help!
>>
>> 73,
>> Richard KK6MRH
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
>> Sent: Friday, January 08, 2016 4:56 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: Necessity to Use MFJ-998's "Amp Enable In/Out" with Kenwood
>> TS-2000 and Ameritron ALS-1306?
>>
>> Richard,
>>
>> Not as big a deal as you are makeing it.  First you don't have to use
>> the jackson the tuner if you don't want.   The amp has protection
>> circuits in it, but the relay in the tuner adds another level of
>> protection.   Just like a car has brakes, but also has air bags.
>>
>> As you noted, the cable with the Y end goes to the radio.  The db9 end
>> connects to the serial connector on the radio.  The one you said looks
> like
>> a mic connector is a 7 pin DIN plug.  It connects to a jack on the
>> rear of  the radio.   There are 3 connectors that have plastic dummy
>> plugs with  little pull handles on them. If I remember right it is the one
>> farthest to the right, when looking at the rear.  Pull out the little
>> plastic plug and  *carefully* insert the 7 pin DIN plug.  You
>> will feel a notch on the outside of the plug.    The notch goes down (6
>> o'clock) position.   It only goes in one way, you can screw it up if you
>> try and put it in wrong.
>>
>> The other end of the Y cable goes to the jack on the amp.  Don't have that
>> amp so can't tell you where it is.
>>
>> The amp would work like this, but if you want the extra protection of the
>> tuner's relay, you need to connect it.
>>
>> Just follow the instructions MFJ gave you.
>>
>> RCA cable from the out jack on the amp to the in jack on the tuner and RCA
>> cable from the out jack on the tuner to the relay jack on the amp.
>>     Turn the switch on. Not sure where that switch is, but perhaps near the
>> RCA jacks on the amp.  Nothing on the tuner needs to be turned on, but
> since
>> it is a used tuner, you should confirm that the amp threshold
>> swr is the default 2.0.   If you reset the tuner after you got it, it
>> will be at the default.
>>
>> SS amps don't like high swr and the tuner will take the amp off line if
> swr
>> is above 2.0, or while you are tuning.  If you don't use the line through
>> the tuner, you will have to rely only on the amp's protection, and also
> will
>> have to  put the amp into standby each time you use the antenna tuner.
>>
>> Another grand pontifacation.  If I got paid by the word, I'd be rich.
>>
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>> On 1/8/2016 6:49 PM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
>>> Hi!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This is not a short, simple or easy (for me, anyway) question.  I will
>>> not be miffed if nobody grapples with it.  On the other hand, if you
>>> do contemplate this I will be forever grateful.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have a Kenwood TS-2000, an MFJ-998
>>> <http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-998>  antenna
>>> tuner and an Ameritron ALS-1306
>>> <http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=ALS-1306>  amplifier.
>>> Both the 998 and the 1306 are connected to the TS-2000 with their
>>> specific interface cables.  My question is if it is additionally
>>> necessary to connect the 998's amp enable in/out cables?  Below is a bit
>> more information.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The 998 has two jacks: 1) "amp enable in" RCA phono connector and 2)
>>> "amp enable out" RCA phono connector.  Presently, I am not using these
>>> amp enable in/out jacks.  However, the 998 is connected to the TS-2000
>>> with the MFJ-5114K
>>> <http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-5114K>
>>> interface cable.  The 998 manual does say though: "Note: MFJ
>>> *recommends* [emphasis added] that a transceiver-specific interface
>>> cable be used between the MFJ-998 and your transceiver, and that an
>>> amplifier enable/bypass connection be used between the MFJ-998 and
>>> your amplifier, to *ensure* [emphasis added]e that tuning only occurs at
>> low power."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The 1306 is connected to the TS-2000 with the Ameritron DB-DB7DK
>>> <http://www.ameritron.com/Product.php?productid=DB-DB7DK>  interface
>> cable.
>>> Basically, this cable is like a "Y."  On the end with the two
>>> connectors (both of which connect to the TS-2000), one of the
>>> connectors is rectangular and similar to a serial connector and the
>>> other connector is round similar to a mic connector.  The other end of
>>> the cable has one connector which is rectangular similar to a serial
>>> connector; which connects to the 1306.  The
>>> 1306 manual describes the relevant rear panel connectors as follows:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -          ALC: Optional connection. Connects to radio ALC input.
>>>
>>> -          RELAY: Connect to radio amplifier keying [relay] line.
>>>
>>> -          KEY LOOP SWITCH: Switch to turn on and off the KEY LOOP
>> function.
>>>
>>> -          RADIO INTERFACE: This connector is for use with Ameritron
> radio
>>> interface cables. *It also provides amplifier actuation in transmit
>>> mode with some radios.* [emphasis added]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Again stating that the ALC is optional, the 1306 manual says "In
>>> general, transceiver internal ALC is all that is necessary. The ALC
>>> monitors the RF output power and reflected power supplied by the
>>> ALS-1306 to the load."  The
>>> 1306 manual goes on to provide the following:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "When using an automatic antenna tuner that has the capability to
>>> inhibit the amplifier from operating either during tuning or when
>>> conditions are outside of the tuner's capability[as does the 998]; and
>>> when the radio interface has the Amplifier Relay line included (not
>>> using the RELAY jack); the KEY LINE can be used. The KEY LOOP Switch
>>> is used to route the key signal from the interface to the amp directly or
>> out the KEY LOOP jack.
>>>
>>> a.    If the KEY LOOP is not used set the KEY LOOP Switch to OFF so the
>>> Radio Interface Cable can key the amplifier.
>>>
>>> b.    If the KEY LOOP is used with an automatic antenna tuner switch the
>> KEY
>>> LOOP Switch to ON, run a cable from the KEY LOOP connector on the amp
>>> to the AMP ENABLE IN connector on the tuner, and run a cable from the
>>> AMP ENABLE OUT connector to the RELAY connector on the amp."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I emailed Ameritron about all this.  They said "The radio gets the end
>>> with two plugs on it. The DIN plug has your relay key line and your
>>> ALC while the
>>> DB-9 connector has your band data.  The round plug is a DIN plug and
>>> the other is a DB-9 plug. The DB-9 plug connects to the COM port on
>>> the radio and the DIN plug connects to the REMOTE port on the radio.
>>> See page 13 of the TS-2000's manual."
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Seriously?  I have no idea what all the above means : (
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Many thanks &73,
>>>
>>> Richard KK6MRH
>>>
>>
>