Hope I am posting in the right place?
Put my radio in AM mode and get about 100 watts with carrier only, Upon modulating (talking) the power output drops?? Shouldn't the power increase??
Thanks
George KJ6TSX
The reason most of the newer radios modulate downwards on AM has to due with the fact companies like Kenwood and the other radio makers have the ALC's set to do that nowadays, but it's mainly for SSB. Unfortunately doing that screws them up when on AM. They actually have them regulated too far for AM and that's the problem. When you modulate on AM the power tries to go up until the ALC starts cutting it back so it drops backwards instead. It requires figuring out a way to internally disable the ALC when on AM. The ALC is only really needed for SSB operation and some of the other modes to protect the radio and they set those for that. Unfortunately they just forget about what it does when on AM.
I have the ALC on my TS-590SG disabled when on AM for example, but it required an internal modification across a resistor on one of the PC boards inside.
And yes like the other guy said, don't run that 100W radio at more than 25W carrier when on AM.