OOPS...Double post.....

First one needs to be deleted....
I realize that you gave tuning instructions....I was comparing the info from Ameritron to yours...

Brain got too far ahead of the typing!

SOORRRRY!

If a moderator could delete that one...
Thanks

Wendy

Thanks...

But..I have another question..

You said that the Pulse tuner was a great way to tune up..

But then you said not to tune in CW then go back to SSB.

The pulse tuner is a CW tuner..It plugs into the CW key plug on the rig.

Ameritron told me to:(I called them on the phone to clarify).
1) Tune the antenna with the ATR-15 with @10 watts barefoot from the rig.
2) Set Plate and Load to ref. settings for the band in use.
3) Using the pulse tuner (CW) Tune the amp while raising the exciter drive to Max (100 watts from my Ft-990).Obviously making sure to watch the Grid and Plate!
4) Once I had tuned plate and load set for max output, I could lower the exciter to obtain the desired output without re-tuning the amp.
5) If I moved Up or Down the band..I might need to "Touch Up" the plate and load.

They said "Always tune at max exciter output then go Down to reduce power output, NEVER tune at a Lower drive and then go higher."

Funny..they never said what voltage to set the ALC SET while tuning up...
I have been using 10 volts for tune-up then 18 volts for SSB (the way my Mic is set it seems like the proper settings)


From what you wrote...They gave me some Bogus Info.


If I tune in SSB...How to I drive the output?
Key up won't produce much output...and the AL-80B is supposed to turn off the tube between WORDS in SSB.


The Rig is an Yaesu FT-990
Amp is Ameritron AL-80B
Antenna Tuner is Ameritron ATR-15
Antenna is Aplha-Delta DX-EE
Ameritron Pulse Tuner ATP-102

I thank you for all the info Thusfar.
I'm a fast learner!

Wendy

Thanks...

But..I have another question..

You said that the Pulse tuner was a great way to tune up..

But then you said not to tune in CW then go back to SSB.

The pulse tuner is a CW tuner..It plugs into the CW key plug on the rig.

Ameritron told me to:(I called them on the phone to clarify).
1) Tune the antenna with the ATR-15 with @10 watts barefoot from the rig.
2) Set Plate and Load to ref. settings for the band in use.
3) Using the pulse tuner (CW) Tune the amp while raising the exciter drive to Max (100 watts from my Ft-990).Obviously making sure to watch the Grid and Plate!
4) Once I had tuned plate and load set for max output, I could lower the exciter to obtain the desired output without re-tuning the amp.
5) If I moved Up or Down the band..I might need to "Touch Up" the plate and load.

They said "Always tune at max exciter output then go Down to reduce power output, NEVER tune at a Lower drive and then go higher."

Funny..they never said what voltage to set the ALC SET while tuning up...
I have been using 10 volts for tune-up then 18 volts for SSB (the way my Mic is set it seems like the proper settings)


From what you wrote...They gave me some Bogus Info.

Since you know what I'm running now...Could you tell me the PROPER tuning procedure?

The Rig is an Yaesu FT-990
Amp is Ameritron AL-80B
Antenna Tuner is Ameritron ATR-15
Antenna is Aplha-Delta DX-EE
Ameritron Pulse Tuner ATP-102

I thank you for all the info Thusfar.
I'm a fast learner!

Wendy

Thanks...
I had my Husband Submit a request...
He is a Manufacturing Engineer by trade...and we thought it would look better if an Engineer was asking for the chart rather than "Just Another HAM".

Thanks again!

Wendy (W1DY)

Almost forgot!
The fan in the AL-80B seems like it doesn't move a lot of CFM...

Is there a Plug in replacement HIGH Pressure/Volume fan that I could swap the factory fan with?
My fan is setup to blow across the tube...
That combined with the size of the tube suggests that the side opposite the fan isn't getting cooled very well at all!

The added noise isn't an issue...
The rig is in a room with 2 servers and 5 workstations!


Thanks again!

Wendy (W1DY)

WOW..Lots of great info!

Thanks...

I have an Eimac 3-500z in the amp right now..
I bought the amp used..but in AWESOME condition...
The insides were SPOTLESS...I don't know how there could ne so little dust in an electronic device!

The band switch had only lost the New Glimmer of silver!

Problem is, I have no idea how the tube was treated ..or how many hours is on it.

I ordered a new RFP tube..and planned on putting the Eimac on the shelf as the spare...(I KNOW IT WORKS)

Right now..tuning in 20 meters..I can see almost 1200 Watts on voice peaks..and get CLEAN reports on the signal...

(I don't push the amp that hard..only as a test)

This is my first amp...

I got the new RFP 3-500 ZG Friday...
Broken into little bits of glass!!!!!
A call to RFP to report that the tube didn't make it..got some serious action started there...
They did all the footwork to get the tube back....and to BAG UPS for being idiots with a package that had FRAGILE WARNING TAPE all over it!

RFP is one class outfit!
JOE in customer service has been on my side throught the whole ordeal!

Anyway...I plan on putting the RFP 3-500ZG in NOW (2 year warrantee..1st year full replacement..second year prorated is hard to argue with!)

I have bought the optional Grid protection board from AMERITRON and that will be here this week...
I also tune with an Ameritron ATP-102 Pulse tuner!

My biggest fears with this amp is blowing something EXPENSIVE!...
The tube..while not cheap..I can replace..but if something else Blows..My trouble shooting skills will be put to the test...!!
Just the fact that the voltages in the amp could kill me before I realized I made a BOOBOO..is enough to make me just send the unit to Ameritron for repair!

If anyone has a "Shop" manual for this amp...with some well defined trouble shooting routines...I would be forever greatfull!
If you could e-mail a copy to me...

wquinn2@yahoo.com

Lastly...the filiment voltage.....
Are you referring to the heater voltage or the "Plate".
The plate I have control over..but the filiment..well that was set at the factory..


Thanks again!
73
Wendy (W1DY)

I just got my AL-80B up and running this weekend.

All I can say is WOW...What An AMP!
You know..you don't realize just how big those things are until you try to make room for one in the shack!

I have been getting great reports from all over the world this weekend.
Makes me wonder why I waited so long to make the jump!

Anyway...I would like to keep a spare tube on the shelf.
Just incase I loose the Eimac 3-500z that is in it now.

I like the sounds of the ZG tubes...and have a brand question.

I have found a source for NOS (new Old Stock) Eimac 3-500ZG tubes...but at 390 a pop It seems kind of steep...

RFP has a great price...but I wonder about quality.

Amperex seem to require @10-20% more input for the same output....

Taylor tubes are also in the loop.

So...Now..what tube to buy?

I am leaning towards the RFP...I read that they have gotten the quality issues under control here in the product review section.

SO what do you think???

Thanks
Wendy

That Sounds like it!

How do I get through to them...

Thanks..

And I think I remember getting My old one from Omega....

I also got a whole BOOKCASE worth of catalogs as well.

Thanks

Wendy

I had a beautiful FULL COLOR wall chart that depicted the entire EM spectrum.

It looked like a "3d" bar chart like the kind you can run from an EXCEL spreadsheet.

It was measured in frequency and had "Lines" that depicted the "bands" i.e "X-rays" "ELF", "VHF" "Visible light" ect..ect...

Mine was a HUGE wallchart that was laminated.

It made an awesome addition to my shack.
I got more comments on it than I did on the "Rig".

I don't know what happened to it..but think It was lost in my move to Oklahoma From Connecticut.

I've been looking for the source of that particular wallchart as well as a good source for other kinds of charts and maps. "World maps", "Amateur freq allocations" ect..ect..

Thanks to all that respond!

Wendy

I also was looking at the Skywalker KW solid state kit and building it myself.

But when I added it all up.. 250 for the plans and case..500 for parts..then needing (2) 70 AMP power suplies... it didn't make any sense.

So I think I have decided to start the search for a Good used Ameritron AL-80B.

Now here in Oklahoma City, I'm going to have probs finding one local. So it's off to the classifieds.

I just hope I can find one in good shape for a decent deal!

If I need to replace a tube ...no sweat...but I won't know if the amp has been abused until after I have bought it.


Thanks again for the help...

Any leads on a good al-80B that you'd like to share??

W1DY

Actually you answered the question yourself about the first 500 watts.


Going from 100 to 500 is only adding 400 additional watts.
This yealds almost 7 dB to the signal.

Adding another 1000 watts only gives an additional 4.7 dB.

Diminishing returns when you think of the actual Dollar premium you pay for that extra 1000W.

Extra money...go fo it....

Trying to maintain a budget for what is really a "Hobby" is another thing.

Would I like to have the 1.5 KW amp....Yup...but it's not gonna happen...

Wendy

How do you all feel about the solid state Ameritron ALS-600.

Would that be a better way for me to go?

I do drop down to 600 watts...but after all it is the first 500 that count.

The extra 400 of the AL-80B is nice to have...but if I start routinely pumping out 1KW I know I'm going to have "Neighbor Issues"

There are no tubes to worry over in a solid state amp...and if I do something stupid..the chance of doing damage seem minimized.

being a Computer Mode Junkie...is this just the smarter move for me?

And..Thanks to everyone that has responded here..and to my e-mail address..

I have learned that this hobby seems to bring out some of the nicest people!

Thanks again
W1DY
Wendy

I contacted Ameritron about this same amp...
I told them I was into RTTY contesting and they said that the 572 tubes were MUCH PREFERRED for the longer transmit cycles of the "Computer" modes.

The cost of the tubes (about 50 dollars for a 572 verses 14 dollars for a  811) was a consideration...

The tech I spoke with was trying HARD to tell me to go with the 572's.

Hope this helps

W1DY

I will be getting an AMP soon...
And within my price range I'm looking at either a Used Ameritron AL-811H
Or
A Used Ameritron AL-80B

My rig is a FT-990...

I really love Contesting....and contest MUCH more than Rag Chew (RTTY IS MY FAVORITE MODE!!!!)

This will be my first amp...and I have had a lot of success with the 100 watts the FT-990 puts out on it's own.

I'm leaning toward the AL-80B ..But really need some help with this decision...

Help me spend my money!

Wendy
(W1DY)

please feel free to contact me direct on my yahoo e-mail..that way I can read it wherever I may be....(actually it's my husband's account)But let's not tell him were using it

larryq99@yahoo.com!