Thank you very much. That is very good information. Is there any accessible documentation or tutorials for the MFJ 998 to help set it up and get it working?
Thanks
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 9:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Blind friendly solid state amps
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
>>
>
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