Hi Dick,

I have heard that same thing from AL-80 users for years. It makes no sense to over drive a tube, ruin it's IMD and shorten it's life. One can argue that it does not shorten it, but it does, I have seen way too many AL-80 owners looking for tubes. This is far from normal with a 3-500Z. The last time I changed my SB-220's tubes was 6 years ago. The tubes I pulled out were the original Eimac's shipped with the kit from Heathkit. About 34 years of regular use and they still make full power (ie normal output 1KW to 1.2KW) . I would love to see that done with 1KW out and one 3-500Z.

I owned an AL-80A for a number of years while living in El Salvador. While it was a nice little amp, the manual on mine recommended 550 ma of plate current, which is way over the Eimac's recommended 400ma any way you cut it.  With 3300 volts on the plate and running the tube within specs on the plate current, 1KW ain't gonna happen. And the funny part of all of this is there is no ear on this planet which can tell the difference between 1KW and 800w, unless it's the guy just down the band from you noticing the increased splatter.

Bill K4FX

PS Unless you are running a quality watt meter, like a Powermaster, Telepost or a Bird, who knows how much you are running anyway? Contrary to popular belief, a reasonably accurate watt meter will cost you considerably more than 100 bucks.

There is a second place on that rig to key an amp if needed. There is a jumper inside the rig that can be moved to make the ACC jack a send jack. It has ALC on the tip and the ring has, by default, TX Request meaning you can transmit a CW carrier by grounding the ring. Move the jumper and the ring becomes another TX GND, providing the same function as the TX GND in the CAT/TUNER/LIN connector. I have never seen this mentioned in the manual, but rest assured it is there. Like the "relay cleaning" routine, there are a few undocumented tricks in this little rig.

If you don't have one of those mini-DIN connectors it would be a lot easier to move the jumper and use the ACC jack, and a heckuva lot easier to solder than those teeny pins on the mini-DIN.

I am not sure about what the current draw on that amp is, but you could use a little reed relay or the like to key the amp and key the relay with either of the Yaesu's TX GND's to provide peace-of-mind and protection to the rigs keying circuit for just a few bucks, or you could buy an Ameritron buffer for a lot more.

You could just hook up a foot switch to the amp, but I prefer to let the PTT do all the work, one less thing to worry about.

Good luck,

Bill K4FX

PS Mine is a 857D, but the 897 has the same feature, just look for the jumper, it is very close to the ACC jack,

 

Hi,

I tried the remoteham.com software and it does work well. I had it up and running in minutes. For a newbie this would probably be your best best for a fast, easy-to-setup remote solution.

I did notice a slight delay (I could hear the station in the other room), completely understandable considering it is taking a much longer route than on my VNC/IP-Sound local network setup. The interface with my Pro II was impressive.

If I were to need to connect to my station from a location outside of my LAN RCForb would be the way to go.

73

Bill K4FX

Mark,

I have IP-Sound and it works great here. I use VNC for sharing desktops and IP-Sound for Audio,

According to the user manual, when the icon is red, the remote is off-line or unreachable. Make sure you DCHP server has not assigned another IP to one of the PC's......that is what it sounds like.

Good luck

Bill K4FX

Very true  about the homebrew paddle. I bought a used external keyer many years ago and the guy included a homemade paddle, it works great, It is all I have used for the past 10 years or so. I just can't see spending the money on a "store-bought" one.

In a pinch on the 857D you can turn on the mickey function (menu #26) and the up/down buttons  on the mic double as "dit and dah" controls like a paddle. It is pretty rough over about 10wpm but it works.

Bill K4FX

Todd,

Buying a new amp is sorta like buying a new car. It will depreciate as soon as you set it on your desk. You can buy a used AL80 and save a considerable amount of money. For instance I paid 1900 for an AL-1500 over 2 years ago, I contest with it a least 2 times a month and it has never given a minutes trouble. Runs and looks like a new one.

You could probably get an AL-82 for about 1400-1500 used.

The AL-80 is a tough amp. Buy one used from an honest ham and you will save a lot of money. I see they range on QTH.com from 600 to 900 dollars. Even if you have to retube it, you will still save a lot.

Good luck

Bill K4FX

I got all my QSLs from ST0R via LoTW on Aug 14, 2012.

K4FX

It depends on how serious you get into contesting. As a previous poster noted, if you want to run SO2R, you will need somewhat newer rigs. The rigs you have a good rigs, their biggest downfall for contesting is the inability to connect the rigs to the PC. To be competitive you will need a good contest logger and radios interfaced to the PC. Of course you can do it the old fashioned way, but your competition will be way ahead of you. Even if you don't care about the competition, the PC will do most of the work and make the experience much LESS like work, and much more like FUN ;-)

I did not care much for contesting. But I was a PC enthusiast. I had connected my rigs to the PC long before for day to day logging. Then one day I downloaded N1MM's logger for kicks and was amazed at the things the software did to make contesting more efficient. So by way of my interest in the N1MM software, I got into contesting and have been ever since. Every weekend I am off work, contesting is where you will find me :-) I especially enjoy RTTY contests. Look forward to seeing some of you in the Russian RTTY contesting this weekend!

73
Bill K4FX

Does anyone know of a source for Ham M or equivalent pots?

I just got a quote from Norms Rotor service for 48 dollars, wow that seems steep to me.

Any ideas would be welcomed

Bill K4FX

I agree with that, and also I can't count the times I have moved off a run freq only to see a big blip appear where I had just been, I have gone back and sent "QRZ?" and worked many QSO's that way.  At least one of my SO2R rigs would have to have a scope. Important tool in contesting.

Man oh man, am I ever looking forward to it. It is a blast even when the conditions are bad, but with the improved band conditions, we will be in for some good times.

I have to say this contest is in the top 2 or 3 for me. I love RTTY contesting, that is what got me into contesting to start with. but there is something very special about the ARRL 10m......

I will be looking for you all there!!

73

Bill K4FX

That is true Gene, that is the secret to success with a computer, hardware and software, I keep the PDF version of the N1MM manual on my desktop. I have used this program for probably 6 or more years and I still find new stuff, especially since i just recently started SO2R with it.

73

Bill

You won't go wrong with N1MM, I have used it for years.

1- It is free.
2- Outstanding support, updates come out very regularly.
3- Supports a ton of contests. I have looked at other programs, and most do not have nearly as many contests as N1MM.
4- If you can think of it, this software probably does it. If not, you can tell the people who support it, and it will probably happen.

It supports SO2R, multiple PC's networked, you can record and playback voice messages quite easily. Supports Winkey, Outstanding RTTY with the popular MMTTY engine.

This program definitely makes contesting a lot more fun, it will give you a big advantage. Be sure to go to the trouble of connecting your rig to the PC, and run the cluster when allowed. You will so wonder how you operated without it. Just take your time, download the manual and read it. Something that does as many things as N1MM's program is going to take a little effort to become proficient at, but it is well worth that effort.

73

Bill K4FX

I agree, key words "contest rig" which a FT-101E ain't

K4FX

I also use a Pro 2, it is a pretty nice radio. Outstanding on RTTY too.

There is a lot of difference in day-to-day operations versus serious contest conditions. If you look at the Sherwood Engineering numbers, a lot of radios that are normally very well thought of, are way down in the ratings when it comes to contesting. Other than the FT-5000 (which is number 1 at this time) there are few Yaesu's in the top half of the listing.

Like I told a friend of mine, if you don't contest, you will never need or use the extra receiver performance in the higher end radios most of the time. If you do contest, you will miss it sorely most of the time.

I have had the ProII for almost 4 years, I want to get something a little nicer, maybe an Orion 1, or a bare-bones K3 and build it up over time. Then the Pro 2 could be the second rig in my fledgling SO2R setup. Right now it's a FT-857D, which when I get another rig, the 857 will go to dedicated mobile operation.

See you all next weekend in the CQWW RTTY

K4FX