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[KD1I]

I'll try this in Amplifiers although it could go into tuners or even misc. Here goes:
I have a Flex 6500 release 3.3.33 and added a Mercury IIIs amplifier which works great. Nice combo. Today I received the matching Mercury AT auto-tuner. One of the possibilities for convenience and safety is to provide a signal from the radio to the amplifier and tuner to block the amplifier during a tune condition. Keying the radio in tune outputs a low level signal to allow the auto-tuner to tune at a safe level. Always a good idea. The alternative is to make certain the amplifier is in a standby condition. This is an added manual step and can be sometimes overseen.

I don't see the possibility of an output from the 6500 during tune. Has anyone encountered this? Any thoughts on a workaround? My Thanks for any ideas, Jim KD1I

[KA4WJA]

Jim,
Not having a Flex nor Mercury amp (nor Mercury tuner), I'm just going to take a generic stab at it.

Would not your amp keying line from the Flex (that WAS going to the Mercury amp), now simply go to the Mercury AT tuner, and then the Mercury AT Tuner have an amp key line output that goes to the amp?
That way the amp will not key when the tuner says "no" (like when it's performing a tune cycle).

Again, this is how I generically understand this concept....but not having a Flex, nor any Mercury products, I could be wrong here for your specifics?

Hope this helps.

73,
John,  KA4WJA

[KD1I]

Thanks for the reply, John. That line will be inhibited to the amp and only signal the tuner if there is an "interrupt" to another line. That line is from the transceiver and goes low on tune.   I don't know how many radios are capable of that. Mercury sells interface cables for all common brands for this purpose.... but apparently, not for Flex. Wish I were wrong about this. it is a great combination and that feature would be really swell.    73, Jim

[KA4WJA]

Jim,
Okay...I just assumed that you had a normal "keying" line (make/break) from the Flex to the amp?
And, that the Mercury AT tuner also had a "keying" input?
So, that you'd simply put the tuner "in between" the amp and Flex, in terms of the key line of course (not the RF coax feed)

But, I guess the Mercury AT tuner does not have such keying line out?
So, does the Mercury amp have a "key line interrupt"?  (where the Mercury amp accepts an "interrupt" signal from the Mercury At tuner?

Also, all "12vdc" Icom HF rigs made in ~ 30 years have this ability to send a 10 watt tune carrier, usually from a front panel "TUNE" button....so, have a look see of the Mercury manuals (amp and tuner) and see if they mention the Icom "TUNE" function?
You never know?


That's the extent of my generic thoughts...
Hope it is of some help?  If not, just send an email to Kenny in Miami, and he'll get back to you, I'm sure.  (that's the advantage of buying a Mercury, rather than MFJ, or for that matter a SPE, Flex, etc....from what I hear, Kenny actually cares about his customers!)

73,
John,  KA4WJA

[KD1I]

John. There is a line from the transceiver to the tuner and then on to the linear. The tuner can interrupt the linear during a tune mode but the tuner requires a signal from the transceiver to indicate it is tune and not a regular request to transmit... eg, PTT.
I did ask the Mercury folks and Kenny got back to me on a Sunday night !!! It seems only Icom has this feature. Would be nice if the Flex folks could allow on of the PTT lines (TX1,2 or 3) to be programmed as a tune request line.    Thanks again for your reply es Best 73, Jim

[K0CWO]

Jim,

The Icom tuner control jack is nice feature in that it will initiate a one button press low power tune cycle for automatic tuners which have this interface capability.  My Flex 6400 does not have that tuner control capability like Icom does as far as I know.  When it comes to the PTT disconnect lines in the Mercury amp/AT tuner setup (which I have), the process to initiate the tune process requires one extra step which is hitting the tune segment on the MercuryAT display.  When pushing the tune button on the Flex a 10 watt carrier is sent to the tuner and from that point you can have two outcomes:

1. The Mercury tuner finds a match and displays “tuned”, or

2.  The tuner goes through its tuning cycle and displays “tuning not suitable for high power”.

During the tuning cycle the PTT circuitry in the tuner inhibits the amplifier from being keyed.  If you end up with a “tuned” solution, the PTT circuitry will allow the amplifier to be keyed.  If you end up with a “tuning not suitable for high power” solution the PTT circuitry will inhibit the amplifier from being keyed (protecting the tuner), and will continue to do so until you do something to where the tuner can find a match.

So with my (and your) setup I would call it a semiautomatic tuning cycle whereas with the Icom interface the process is automatic.  In our case we have to hit two buttons and with the Icom setup one button.

Hope this helps you.

73, k0cwo

[N4PY]

My N4PY software for the Flex has an option to not turn on TX1 outputs during a tune option.  This will fix your issue.

[KD1I]

Thanks for all the replies. I have been practicing with the setup but it seems there is not a possibility to use this in "full auto" operation. The extra step I have to take is to put the Mercury amplifier in standby manually and then press tune on the autotuner and then the tune button on the Flex itself. That works just fine. Pressing tune on the Flex with the amp enabled does not inhibit the amplifier and it does go to high power.  I looked at using FRSTACK but that feature only works for the Flex PGXL amplifier and the SPE amplifier.
I can send a low level tune signal from the Flex but there is no automated way to disable the linear during the tune cycle. Back to the drawing board.    Many Thanks, Jim     KD1I

[K0CWO]

No need to put the amplifier in standby if the PTT disconnect cables are hooked up correctly.  If they are it is a fool proof system but it does not have the one button push tuning cycle like you would have with the Icom tuner control connection.

k0cwo

[KD1I]

K0CWO, you are exactly correct, Sir.   I misunderstood how the system operates in a significant way. It is more automated than I thought.  The amplifier can indeed be left in the operate position for a tune sequence.
Just press 'tune' on the Mercury AT, then 'tune' on the Flex. It runs through the tuning sequence and when finished, enables the amplifier.....So, no need to switch the amp each time.
Thanks for clearing this up.  Actually, not having a signal to the Flex to place it in 'tune' from the auto tuner is not a big deal. Nice but not necessary.  Thanks to all that replied.    73, Jim   KD1I

[K0CWO]

Good deal Jim, you’re welcome.

In addition I have made it a habit to leave the amp in auto band switching mode. This way there is no chance of driving the amp with a different frequency than the band selected on the amp.  Band switching occurs near instantaneous and works like a charm when you are band hopping.  I’m really enjoying my MercuryAT tuner!

73, BJ

[KD1I]

It is a great combination and reasonable price for a near legal limit amp and tuner.       Best 73, Jim