|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Ameritron QSK5 |
|
You can
write your own review of the Ameritron QSK5.
|
KI0Z
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 28, 2008 20:46
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Beyond Excellent
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I wanted you to know the AL-1200-XQ is working flawlessly and the new 2.5KW Pin Diode QSK-5 PC internal PC is AWESOME ! It is seamless and silent, you can not detect any attenuation on or off and it is as smooth as if you were using the K C keyer, Perfect With the Icom. The new QSK-5 switch is far better than the old pin-5 switch as far as attenuation,swr change,loading and logic. the 12v jack on the back of the AL-1200 now has a lable called Handshake used for yaesu and Ten tec. Need Help?? talk to MIKE ENNIS @Ameritron he is great to work with....!
|
|
N4OI
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Apr 25, 2008 12:57
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
QSK-5 Internal PC Version -- So Far So Great!
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I just installed the QSK-5PC (this is the internal PC board version) in my Ameritron AL-80B amp -- and the results are better than hoped. Totally silent and I cannot tell the difference in my FT-920's FB QSK with or without the amp turned on. And losing the relay clack is a bonus! I rarely work SSB but when testing at zero power, I keyed the mike and thought something was wrong because there was no sound and I saw no change on the amp's meters. I then increased the mic gain and said something and whoa! -- I MADE POWER! The installation would be a little tough if no prior experience building kits, but took me about two hours working slowly. Bottom-line -- If you have an Ameritron amp, the internal QSK-5 PC is a worthwhile option. 73 de Ken - N4OI
|
|
WB9DLC
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Feb 2, 2008 07:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
After hook-up - Great QSK
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I started using a Ten Tec Omni VI+ in August ’07 and fell in love with QSK. I had QSK as an option before but it just seemed annoying to operate. The Omni made me love QSK. I now wanted to see if I could operate QSK with my Collins 30L1.
I purchased a used QSK-5 and Googled for info on the hookup to the QSK-5. Ten Tec had it covered in their FAQ section. Problem is, like some others have found, that interface doesn’t seem to work all of the time – I had dangerous timing errors. Ten Tec service insists that that is the correct hook-up. Good Luck and be careful if you hook it up that way. If you get flashing timing lights – STOP!
My first solution was to use the amp relay to switch the QSK-5 but I found the relay a little too noisy and maybe a little too slow – but at least it was safe.
I figured out a simple way to interface with a tiny mod to the Omni VI+ and use a small reed relay to key the QSK-5. I think other Ten Tecs can use a similar mod but I don’t know for sure. I also found a blog and a web page from PA0RCT that offers a similar and completely external connect – I haven’t tried his circuit but it makes very good sense that it will work.
So, now that it is up-and-working…. I find it works AWESOME. Full QSK at 500w out. Nearly Silent and the QSK-5 timing lights indicate a happy timing circuit.
I rate it 4 out of 5 because the manual is very confusing, at best. I read the circuit description over and over again. The schematic for the QSK-5 (not PC version) doesn’t seem to all be there (example : where’s the Power Supply?) After all this time Ameritron, should have been able to provide a proven interface diagram to the Ten Tec gear (or any other common transceiver, for that matter). They might be concerned about liability issues? They were responsive to emails.
My QSK-5 came with a fan. I’m not sure if the 120vac fan was the one that is optional or something that some found that fit and used it. Ameritron offers the fan in case you want to run legal limit or continuous duty modes. I do no not. The fan was the loudest fan in the ham shack – including rigs, amps, and computers. So I removed it.
So now – awesome QSK with the Omni VI+ and a Collins 30L1.
More interface info at :
http://wb9dlc.com/QSK-5.htm
http://home.iae.nl/users/reinc/scrapbk2.htm - PA0RCT site
|
|
N4OGW
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Aug 22, 2007 10:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
works well
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I have the internal QSK5-PC on two amps (one AL-1500, one Heath SB-1000). The AL1500 was factory installed, I installed the one in the SB1000 myself.
For me they work as advertised. I do not use any kind of "handshaking", I just connect the relay connection to the transceiver. I have used both a Ten-Tec Omni 6 and a Elecraft K2/100 with them. I run up to 1500W, antenna SWR's are not perfect but below 2:1.
I have blown the fuse lamps once on the AL1500 when the relay cable accidentally was unplugged. You have to be very careful never to transmit into the amp (with the amp out of "standyby" mode) with the relay cable disconnected. With the internal board it is a pain to replace the lamps.
Installing the board in the SB1000 was not difficult. The SB1000 is nearly identical to the AL80A. The instructions are not the clearest, but there was enough information there to figure it out.
|
|
K4ZNC
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Feb 18, 2007 08:59
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
What he said . . .
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
My experience is similar to W6FG, and I returned the QSK unit to Ameritron. The unit appeared well constructed, but will leave the adequacy of the circuit to technofiles. Documentation is confusing and not well written.
After several calls to Ameritron and speaking with two of their techs (nice people, good customer support), I just could not get the thing to play, and I really wanted it to work!
I have an Omni VI+ and an AL80B. When I was able to determine that the relay was switching, my receive audio was negligible. Switching the QSK unit off restored my receive audio. Can't have one without the other.
John K4ZNC
|
|
W6FG
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Feb 18, 2007 06:55
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Never could get it to play
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I liked the looks of the unit and *theoretically* it should really work great in most all amp-to-radio combinations. But I could never get my Omni V and AL-80B to work QSK despite calling Ameritron several times, going over the manual and trying many different ways of hooking it up to the amp and radio. I solved the whole problem by offing the QSK-5 and buying a Centurion ~ what I should have done in the first place, although I did like the AL-80B... if it only had fast break-in I'd still be using it.
|
|
N8KJG
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Oct 31, 2006 10:25
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Works OK...Support was great
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
|
This is an adendum to my previous review above. I was able to send it back for repairs and it finally worked well. I think it would be a good idea to replace the two "fuse" type bulbs inside, with a plug in type replacement since these bulbs/fuses blow easily. It would be nice to be able to simply plug a replacement in, instead of having to solder in replacements.
|
|
WIRELESS
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Apr 20, 2006 08:11
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Tempermental
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
These switches work very well but they can take a lot of time to get them there. I used the standalone version for about 5 years with a few different amps. It always took some experimentation. This product should not be considered plug and play except on Ameritron Amps. Even though they are virtually zero changeover time system, I built an external relay box using HC-3 vacuum relays (can hot switch) that switch in about 6 ms, it always works flawlessly. I sold the Ameritron unit and 6ms is fast enough for anything I do.
|
|
N8KJG
|
Rating: 2/5
|
Apr 20, 2006 04:03
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Not happy so far
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I am unable to get it to work properly so far (two weeks). Manual is VERY poor.
I'm calling this afternoon to see how their tech support is.
|
|
W4VD
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Feb 1, 2005 20:42
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
smooth qsk
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I was lucky enough to find a clean used AL80 with the internal unit factory installed about 15 years ago. It worked like a dream on all bands, no side effects whatsoever, very smooth, very quiet. Wish I had never sold the amp, I used it very heavy (was a dx station at the time) for 3-4 years in pileups and contests as well.
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
