| Author |
Message |
    
Sodapop
Intermediate Member
Username: Sodapop
Post Number: 455
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 6:17 pm: | 
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So I got a brand new KLV 250 coming. They say you should transmit 1-4 watts AM, and 10-20 watts SSB into the amp. So I detuned my radio, it now does: 1-3.5 watts AM and 0-9 watts SSB. Should that work ok? I heard these amps can be touchy if you drive them to hard. Is this true? And do I have my radio detuned right for this amp? This is the first time I have ever tried an amp. And I sure would like it to go smoothly. So any advice you have to share, please feel free to do so! |
Akbowtie
Member
Username: Akbowtie
Post Number: 60
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 6:00 pm: |
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I have one also, I drive it with 2.5 dead key with a swing to 30+. I've been doing this for the past ohhh gosh, at least 3 years maybe more. Amp has held up fine. A friend tried his with a dead key of 10 swinging to 30 or so and the amp didnt last but a year if even that.
Maybe he just got unlucky though.
I say keep her low and let her go. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2026
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:54 pm: |
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'sup sodapop,
couple of things; first, what kind of radio is it?
and how did you go about detuning the radio?
you see, some radios have a very convenient way to turn the AM deadkey down. this is the AM power potentiometer.
if your radio has one, you can turn it down until the radio keys at about 2 watts without "detuning" the radio.
because the amp says it will handle up to 20 watts PEP (when they say 10-20 watts SSB, what they mean is, this is the maximum swing your radio should have on AM and the maximum PEP on SSB) then you could have a 2 watt dead key and swing to 15 watts and still be ok. whether or not the radio will do this is another issue altogether.
you can adjust the SSB power with the ALC potentiometer, and you can go ahead and adjust it back up to 12 watts. maybe even 14-15, but 12 is fine.
now, if your radio doesnt have these potentiometers in it, and/or you "detuned" it by cranking on some of the TX tuning coils, then you need to re-peak them and find another method.
to re-peak them, put the radio in LSB, clear your throat and sing "ave maria" into the mic. JUST KIDDING! using a normal voice tone, say "ahhhhh" into the mic as you peak each one of the TX coils for max wattage out.
suffice it to say, that detuning the TX coils does more than just turn the power down. not a good idea.
so, what kind of radio is it? we'll get that puppy turned down!
one more thing, as far as SWR is concerned; you need to check the SWR coming into the amp, and going out of the amp.
to check the amp input, either use the radio's internal meter, or put an SWR meter in between the radio and amp.
should be 1.5 or less. you'll have to change jumper lengths to get it down if it is too high.
as for the output of the amp; the SWR meter should be the last thing inline before the antenna.
after the low pass filter if you are running one.
good luck,
matt |
Sodapop
Intermediate Member
Username: Sodapop
Post Number: 456
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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Matt
The radio is a Ranger AR3300, and a sweet radio it is. I turned the the VR's down. I figure lower is better to start with. The amp's website says I have to watts right, but I think I can run more then that.
SWR should be no problem, I have a great swr on the A99. But I will be checking it with the amp |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2035
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 12:56 am: |
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right on!
if it were my radio and amp (very jealous!) here's how i'd set it up.
mic gain on front panel at max.
i would turn VR-17 all the way up. replace the mod limiter transistor if its been disabled.
adjust all TX coils for max PEP (modulated) output.
adjust VR-16 for a 2 watt dead key.
adjust VR-15 for 15 watts PEP on SSB.
this should have you running nice and cool, efficiently, and LOUD!
good luck,
matt |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1726
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 10:07 pm: |
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Matt is right. Keep the deadkey low and let that radio swing. Amp should deadkey 50 to 60 watts and swing 200 to 240 watts! If you get somewhere around those numbers from the amp it will sound just right! |
N8xfj
Junior Member
Username: N8xfj
Post Number: 40
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006 - 12:16 am: |
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Is the klv amp ssoooddaaa a tube or trans type? |
Sodapop
Intermediate Member
Username: Sodapop
Post Number: 463
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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Trans I believe.......... |
Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 827
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 11:46 am: |
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Soda...got a nice combo there!
I'd like to give you my take on this which is a mix of Matts and Kenny'wire suggestions 
Hook the amp inline and power up the radio with the bottom cover off.
With the radio "on" set the DK nice and low...1w is WAY safe.
Now turn on the amp and key the mic with the mic gain down. Observe DK power comming out of the amp and adjust accordingly from there.
I'd have to go along with Hotwire on the amp specs. If so then twist VR16 till you see 50w DK.
Your set on that now. Turn your mic gain to "Full Redneck" and give yourself an AUUUUUDio...what did it swing to? Between 180 and 250? Leave it....your done.
Get some radio checks and let her fly!
Hank CEF559 |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1769
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 1:50 pm: |
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" Turn your mic gain to Full Redneck " 
Hank! This could be one of those "you might be a redneck jokes"!
Just let it out Hank. Don't forget the endless echo. Heck anyone can crank mic gain to full but if you don't have echo then your not trying hard enough.
I can see the expression on Sodapops face now. |
