Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
That's true... if you were to connect the drake transceiver to a drake amplifier life would be good. Birds would sing, the sun would shine. Life is good. But there is no standard as to how much, what flavor, or how much voltage or even if it should be positive or negative going on ALC. The ALC generated by an amplifier may as well be in Vulcan if the transceiver can't understand what to do with it. And while the engineers who included knew of its value, no one sat them down and decided on a standard. bottom line? Don't worry about the ALC mike, wb8vge On Feb 12, 2013, at 1:05 AM, Jim Shorney wrote: On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:08:45 -0500, Robert Henry wrote: Hi, Do not use ALC, 73 Why not? There are good technical reasons to use it, and the engineers who incuded it must have known them. 73 -Jim NU0C -- I aim to misbehave. - Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
Just asking a question on this subject, I have a Ten Tec Titan 425 and with 35 watts drive I get 1500 watts out, I didn't think you could cut the output down on the Drake that much with the gain and still have sufficientaudio output. I would think that with the normal output from the Drake you would have the Titan jumping off the desk, without the ALC. But of course I have never tried to hook my Drakes up to one. Woody On Tue, Feb 12, 2013 at 11:51 AM, Mike Bryce proso...@sssnet.com wrote: That's true... if you were to connect the drake transceiver to a drake amplifier life would be good. Birds would sing, the sun would shine. Life is good. But there is no standard as to how much, what flavor, or how much voltage or even if it should be positive or negative going on ALC. The ALC generated by an amplifier may as well be in Vulcan if the transceiver can't understand what to do with it. And while the engineers who included knew of its value, no one sat them down and decided on a standard. bottom line? Don't worry about the ALC mike, wb8vge On Feb 12, 2013, at 1:05 AM, Jim Shorney wrote: On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:08:45 -0500, Robert Henry wrote: Hi, Do not use ALC, 73 Why not? There are good technical reasons to use it, and the engineers who incuded it must have known them. 73 -Jim NU0C -- I aim to misbehave. - Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist -- * **Of **all **the things I've L**ost, I miss my Mind the Most~~~* ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
All of the radios and amps that I have seen use a negative ALC control voltage. I suppose some newer solid-state gear could be different, but I don't know. Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Where the amplifier has a level adjustment control, compatibility issues should be minimal. To make the blanket statement don't use ALC is doing yourself and your fellow hams a disservice. There is a difference between ALC as used for syllabic compression in modern rigs, and the classic threshold style ALC as used in our Drakes. This article discusses why ALC used as syllabic compression in modern rigs is bad: http://www.sm5bsz.com/dynrange/alc.htm Now, good ALC ALC can help tame exciter overshoot. This reduces stress on system components. ALC can also prevent overdrive of the amplifier during normal operation when properly used. This is important, for several reasons. Unless you are monitoring your transmit envelope with an oscilloscope, you had better be using ALC. There's no other reliable way to see if you are overdriving. Overdrive = splatter and distortion. OK if you are a guitarist, not so good on radio. With ALC, you set your system up with a CW level and you are good to go. It's really pretty simple. http://www.kk5dr.com/Tuneup.htm http://www.hamradiomarket.com/articles/ALC%20for%20real.htm 73 -Jim NU0C On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:51:40 -0500, Mike Bryce wrote: That's true... if you were to connect the drake transceiver to a drake amplifier life would be good. Birds would sing, the sun would shine. Life is good. But there is no standard as to how much, what flavor, or how much voltage or even if it should be positive or negative going on ALC. The ALC generated by an amplifier may as well be in Vulcan if the transceiver can't understand what to do with it. And while the engineers who included knew of its value, no one sat them down and decided on a standard. bottom line? Don't worry about the ALC mike, wb8vge -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
The gain control circuit in the Drake may not have enough range to reduce the output enough. You are quite right, in that you DO NOT want to overdrive the amplifier. There are various ways to reduce the output of the transmitter, and some amplifiers have internal options for high/low drive level. 73 -Jim NU0C On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:28:42 -0600, Woody wrote: Just asking a question on this subject, I have a Ten Tec Titan 425 and with 35 watts drive I get 1500 watts out, I didn't think you could cut the output down on the Drake that much with the gain and still have sufficient audio output. I would think that with the normal output from the Drake you would have the Titan jumping off the desk, without the ALC. But of course I have never tried to hook my Drakes up to one. -- The universe we're in will reach absolute zero in three hours. Safe is relative. - Idris, The Doctor's Wife ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
Hi David The problem is minimum; you know the t-4xc power output is very sensible to the AC line; few volts of anodic voltage can change drive power that drive the AMP, and sometimes i see the power jump up or down hundreds watts. I have think to us the ALC for fix the problem... but don't work and i don't know why... sorry for my bad english language folks... Paul IK1QHB Il giorno 11/feb/2013, alle ore 17:07, David Assaf III ha scritto: SOME FOLKS do not use the alc of the radio as a means to limit the drive. Older amplifiers and radios have this feature but the newer ones do not. Elecraft does not as they say it adds distortion products to the output. So you do need the alc just make sure you watch your drive level. Good luck On Feb 11, 2013 1:07 AM, Paolo Emanuelli IK1QHB ik1...@fastwebnet.it wrote: Hi folks I’ve try to connect the ALC between my AMP Ten Tec Titan 425 and T-4XC, but nothing happen; I have try to tune the ALC pot rear the amp but nothing happen… What’s wrong??? Obviously the cable is ok… Many thanks in advance! Paul IK1QHB ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.( Drakelist Digest, Vol 56, Issue 6)
Roger, I'm not sure what your Centurion problem was, but the T-4X *has* a set of relay contacts available to key an amplifier. These are brought out through the power supply, and is called VOX RELAY, although they operate whenever the transmitter is placed in transmit mode whether by PTT, VOX, or MOX. Typically this is all you need to operate the T/R relay built into the amplifier. ACG (also known as ALC in the case of a transmitter) is a threshold-based gain control voltage intended to be fed back to the transmitter. It has nothing to do with placing the amplifier or the radio in transmit mode. Nothing will happen until the set point is reached. It is not a continuously operating compression signal as is found in some more modern rigs (which does tend to cause unwanted distortion products). Despite claims to the otherwise, there are some very good technical reasons to use ALC. (Please trim your replies when responding to digest messages, your response was difficult to find in the text of the entire digest message). 73 -Jim NU0C On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:24:34 -0800, Roger Smith wrote: Paul, I have a Ten Tec Centurion amp and ran into the same problem. It appears that an external TX relay switch is needed to make it work. My manual says to use a DOW-KEY, DK-6Q-G2C or other similar relay. The T-4X series is designed to interface with the L-4B amp and uses the AGC and Vox to switch the amp. Roger -- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time! Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime. HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
Paolo, It may be because the ALC is a threshold-based feedback voltage, intended mainly as a method to prevent amplifier overdrive. It is not designed to regulate power level over a range, but rather to limit a maximum level. 73 -Jim NU0C On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:30:01 +0100, Paolo Emanuelli IK1QHB wrote: you know the t-4xc power output is very sensible to the AC line; few volts of anodic voltage can change drive power that drive the AMP, and sometimes i see the power jump up or down hundreds watts. I have think to us the ALC for fix the problem... but don't work and i don't know why... -- Theres something out of place lets go and poke it with a stick. The Doctor, Amys Choice ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
Hi, Do not use ALC, 73 On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 2:04 AM, Paolo Emanuelli IK1QHB ik1...@fastwebnet.it wrote: Hi folks ** ** I’ve try to connect the ALC between my AMP Ten Tec Titan 425 and T-4XC, but nothing happen; I have try to tune the ALC pot rear the amp but nothing happen… ** ** What’s wrong??? Obviously the cable is ok… ** ** Many thanks in advance! ** ** Paul IK1QHB ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
On Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:08:45 -0500, Robert Henry wrote: Hi, Do not use ALC, 73 Why not? There are good technical reasons to use it, and the engineers who incuded it must have known them. 73 -Jim NU0C -- I aim to misbehave. - Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
[Drakelist] DRAKE C Line + Ten Tec Titan 425 Amp.
Hi folks I've try to connect the ALC between my AMP Ten Tec Titan 425 and T-4XC, but nothing happen; I have try to tune the ALC pot rear the amp but nothing happen. What's wrong??? Obviously the cable is ok. Many thanks in advance! Paul IK1QHB ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
