ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

mark1161
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ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:08 am

Good Evening All,

It appears that I now have a delay in switching from TX to RX with my ANAN 100d and my ALS 600 amplifier. The rig is using the standard interface, using the PTT out, from the radio to the amplifier. Sometimes it will delay about a second and sometimes I actually have to switch the amp to Standby to release back to RX. This happens in both CW and SSB. My RF Delay is set to 30. Are there any other settings that might mitigate this issue. I have stopped using the amp, for now, until I figure out the problem.

73's
Mark
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w-u-2-o
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby w-u-2-o » Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:37 am

Mark,

Had this been working for a while and now is broken? Or was it broken from the beginning?

Can you put a scope on the PTT output and see what's going on? You need to do this while it is attached to the amp, so you will need some sort of appropriate Y or T cable.

I'd be willing to bet it's a problem with the amp.

73,

Scott
mark1161
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:31 am

Scott,

It had been working for a while and then it started hanging up in TX. I have come to the same conclusion that the problem is somewhere within the T/R relay circuit in the amp. I did upgrade the firmware in the ANAN and I posted the question to see if that might have, somehow, been the root of the problem.

Thanks

Mark
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby N9VX » Tue Aug 15, 2017 5:26 pm

Mark,

Relay problems in the ALS-600 are common. It has an open frame relay and needs to be cleaned form to to time. I replace mine with a AD5X mod... look it up.

Joe N9VX
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby W1AEX » Tue Aug 15, 2017 8:32 pm

Hi Mark,

As Joe mentioned it is not uncommon to have the open frame relay hang up a bit and cause a long transition back to receive. My ALS-600 used to do it all too frequently. I found that the pivot arm of mine had "walked" to the edge of the pivot points which caused it to hang momentarily due to a small burr on the end of the pivot point. The link below has my easy "fix" for this issue that has worked since it was done nearly 2 years ago. I also purchased the AD5X mod which is very nice but the problem has never returned so I have not installed it.

73,

Rob W1AEX

http://www.w1aex.com/als600/ALS600.html#relay
"One thing I am certain of is that there is too much certainty in the world."
mark1161
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:45 pm

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the reply. Looks like a simple no solder fix. I will inspect the relay tonight. The relay used to return, after a short hang-up, to RX. Now, it does not seem to be returning at all after a few seconds. I will take a look and let you know. BTW, I did use your instructions for the various wallpapers for the radio.

Mark
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mark1161
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:46 pm

Hi Joe,

I did download the QSK mod as you directed. Hopefully, the mechanical solution, as detailed by Rob, will solve the problem. Not too good with the smoke and solder.

Thanks to all

Mark
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:28 pm

Just took off the case and inspected the relay. It seems to be well seated in the tabs. I did, however, gently slide the pivot arm off a few times. Powered up the amp and the problem continues. It hangs up for about 5 seconds. I would never operate it in the current condition and will have to consider the mod.

Mark
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mark1161
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Wed Aug 16, 2017 10:22 pm

Good Evening All,

Spoke with Ameritron today and they told me to test the relay independently of the radio by removing the RCA plug from the radio and grounding that free end against the case of the amp to see if the relay hangs up. Well, I did and the relay released immediately after removing the center plug from the case. Any thoughts on what might be adjusted in HPSDR to correct the problem? I have no problems with TX/RX running barefoot.


Thanks

Mark
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby w-u-2-o » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:20 am

There is nothing to adjust. Nothing in the software can cause a TX hang time of 5 seconds. While it is possible there may be some bizarre hardware issue with the radio (what that might be I can't even fathom), the problem is almost certainly in the amp.

Again, you can prove this to yourself by putting a scope on the PTT line between the radio and the amp. You should see the PTT line de-asserted properly and the amp hang on in TX for however long it is hanging on. Can you make that measurement?

73,

Scott
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby mark1161 » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:56 am

Thanks to all. I solved the problem. I was using a RCA splitter from the PTT output, which I did not mention in my earlier posts, from the 100D which controlled the amp and my transverters. This config was apparently taking away power from the relay in the amp causing it to hangup. So, I employed an old AV switch box with RCA plugs to sort out the various devices that require the PTT output. I am also using a coaxial relay to combine the RX and TX outputs from the rig which is also keyed up by the PTT output. With the AV box, the amp is now getting the full output from the ANAN and everything is working fine.


Mark
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Re: ALS 600 AND ANAN 100D

Postby w-u-2-o » Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:51 pm

Damn, Mark, you could have told us that you had all that junk hanging off of your PTT output in the first place!

The output is a 2N7002K FET that is switched to ground on transmit. It is rated at only 300mA and 60V. Do not exceed those ratings or your PTT output will not work anymore (until you replace the FET).

It sounds like you just barely dodged a disaster.

73,

Scott

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