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?

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?

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?

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
>