And, if you change power output, you need to re-do your R.F. safety
calculations and expect some sort of RFI into something somewhere! <GRIN>
tom Fowle WA6IVG

On Wed, Dec 09, 2015 at 09:40:56AM -0500, Steve Forst wrote:
> Frank,
> 
> First, on a question you had posted on a similar thread:  The MFJ 
> autotuners will interface with your TS-2000.  I have one here and have 
> used it with my MFJ-998, before  using it with the 480, and later with 
> the 590.   The interface cable is about 20 bucks and plugs into the 
> little  6 pin molex connector on the back of the radio, next to the 2 
> meter antenna jack.
> 
> Others have used the LDG tuners (without interface) with no problems. 
> Jim's experience notwithstanding.
> 
> You would need  some sort of external tuner if you want to run an amp 
> and your antennas are not resonant.   If I remember right, you are 
> running some sort of vertical.  I don't know what bands it covers or 
> what your swr is on the bands you want to  operate.
> 
> Here is the deal with SS amps:   The final transistors are easily 
> destroyed  so the amps have  a number of protection circuits in them. 
> If it sees a high swr (usually over 2:1), too much reflected power, too 
> much drive from the transceiver,  wrong band selected, wrong antenna 
> selected, over heat, or some other internal problems, the amp will  go 
> into standby before any damage is done.   You would just flip a switch 
> and be back in operation, but you also need to address the problem that 
> caused the fault.
> 
> If the problem is high swr, the only options are to operate where your 
> antenna has a low swr, or use an external tuner.
> 
> The MFJ-998 being discussed is rated at legal limit.   There are auto 
> tuners made by MFJ and LDG that  are rated at less power.   Would handle 
> the 600 watt amp and cost less then the 998.
> 
> Don't forget, if you add an amp, everything downstream from the amp 
> needs to be able to handle the extra power: tuner, watt meter, coax, 
> balun, antenna, etc.
> 
> Good luck, 73, Steve KW3A
> On 12/9/2015 4:36 AM, Frank Ventura wrote:
> > Steve, thank you for the feedback. So if I understand it correctly I should=
> >   get an automatic tuner up and running and then think about adding the amp =
> > after that?
> > Frank
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] =
> > On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 8, 2015 7:12 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Blind friendly solid state amps
> >
> > Frank,
> >
> > A number of folks on this list have the Ameritron 600 watt SS amp, either t=
> > he Al-600 with linear supply, or the ALS-600 with the  switching=20
> > supply.   I think those that have them are happy.   It is probably the=20
> > best bang for the buck you will find in  a SS amp.
> >
> > The 1300 watt version is twice the power, and also twice the price.=20
> > Several thousand dollar units from Expert,  Yeasu, and Icom
> >
> > Another one to consider is the 500 watt  SS amp from Elecraft.   More=20
> > money than the Ameritron, but maybe more reliable and more features.
> >
> > Rumor a few months ago is that the next incarnation of the AL-600 will incl=
> > ude 6 meters and auto bandswitching.
> >
> > Any SS amp wants to see a SWR less than about 2:1.   You will probably=20
> > need an external tuner  rated for  the power you plan to run.    The=20
> > auto tuner in your rig won't help here.  Of course, you can run resonant an=
> > tennas for all bands of interest and avoid the extra cost of the external t=
> > uner.
> >
> > 73, Steve KW3A
> >
> > On 12/8/2015 6:46 PM, Frank Ventura wrote:
> >> Hi all, I am considering getting an amp for 10 to 75m SSB. I would=20
> >> like a s=3D maller solid state amp. Does anyone have any recommendations =
> > as to what may=3D
> >>    be easiest to use for someone who is totally blind. I have had one=20
> >> recomme=3D ndation of an Ameritron 600 but would like to hear other opini=
> > ons.
> >> Thanks
> >> Frank
> >>
> >