[K3] K3 and Ameritron AL-811H Amplifier

[Ian Kahn, KM4IK]

All,

I recently acquired a used Ameritron AL-811H for use with my K3 (until I
can save enough to get the KPA500).  I seem to be having issue getting the
amp to respond to key down on the rig.  I have an RCA cable running from
KEY OUT on the back of my K3 to the RELAY on the back of the amp.  I have
DIGOUT1 on the K3 set to ON.  The amp is configured for, and plugged into,
a 240V AC outlet.  When I go key down, either in CW or SSB, I only get a
plate current of about 120 mA and don't get any grid current.  I suspect I
have something misconfigured and the issue is operator error, but I'm at a
bit of a loss as to where to look at this point.  Can anyone offer any
guidance?

Thanks and 73,

Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA
[hidden email]
K3 #231, P3 #688
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[Vic Rosenthal]

It sounds like you are getting no RF to the amp. This is normal behavior for an amplifier
which is in transmit mode but is not getting any drive.

On 1/10/2012 7:56 AM, Ian Kahn wrote:

> All,
>
> I recently acquired a used Ameritron AL-811H for use with my K3 (until I
> can save enough to get the KPA500).  I seem to be having issue getting the
> amp to respond to key down on the rig.  I have an RCA cable running from
> KEY OUT on the back of my K3 to the RELAY on the back of the amp.  I have
> DIGOUT1 on the K3 set to ON.  The amp is configured for, and plugged into,
> a 240V AC outlet.  When I go key down, either in CW or SSB, I only get a
> plate current of about 120 mA and don't get any grid current.  I suspect I
> have something misconfigured and the issue is operator error, but I'm at a
> bit of a loss as to where to look at this point.  Can anyone offer any
> guidance?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA
> [hidden email]
> K3 #231, P3 #688
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

--
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/

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[Nr4c]

I'm no expert on amps, but I was with a friend during Christmas who
purchased an 811H used as well.  We hooked it up to a K3, with the RCA
cable from KEY OUT>RELAY.  And it worked into a old Cantenna.  Exactly
what is the DIGOUT1 connection?  We didn't use anything but the RF cable
and the KEYOUT.

...bill  nr4c



On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:56:41 -0500, Ian Kahn wrote:

> All,
>
> I recently acquired a used Ameritron AL-811H for use with my K3
> (until I
> can save enough to get the KPA500).  I seem to be having issue
> getting the
> amp to respond to key down on the rig.  I have an RCA cable running
> from
> KEY OUT on the back of my K3 to the RELAY on the back of the amp.  I
> have
> DIGOUT1 on the K3 set to ON.  The amp is configured for, and plugged
> into,
> a 240V AC outlet.  When I go key down, either in CW or SSB, I only
> get a
> plate current of about 120 mA and don't get any grid current.  I
> suspect I
> have something misconfigured and the issue is operator error, but I'm
> at a
> bit of a loss as to where to look at this point.  Can anyone offer
> any
> guidance?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA
> [hidden email]
> K3 #231, P3 #688
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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[Mike Reublin]

Do you have coax from the K3 to the amp? Is the K3 on the correct RF out connector
(Ant1 or Ant2)? Does the amp have a standby/transmit switch switch?

73, Mike NF4L

On 1/10/2012 10:56 AM, Ian Kahn wrote:

> All,
>
> I recently acquired a used Ameritron AL-811H for use with my K3 (until I
> can save enough to get the KPA500).  I seem to be having issue getting the
> amp to respond to key down on the rig.  I have an RCA cable running from
> KEY OUT on the back of my K3 to the RELAY on the back of the amp.  I have
> DIGOUT1 on the K3 set to ON.  The amp is configured for, and plugged into,
> a 240V AC outlet.  When I go key down, either in CW or SSB, I only get a
> plate current of about 120 mA and don't get any grid current.  I suspect I
> have something misconfigured and the issue is operator error, but I'm at a
> bit of a loss as to where to look at this point.  Can anyone offer any
> guidance?
>
> Thanks and 73,
>
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA
> [hidden email]
> K3 #231, P3 #688
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

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[Ian Kahn, KM4IK]

To all who provided guidance and answers to my question today, I offer
thanks.  Turns out the issue was very much one of pilot error.  When in
CW mode, one absolutely *must* remember to enable VOX. :-)

Thanks and 73 to all.

Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA
[hidden email]
K3 #231, P3 #688
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[Nr4c]

On Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:05:39 -0500, Ian Kahn - Ham wrote:

> To all who provided guidance and answers to my question today, I
> offer
> thanks.  Turns out the issue was very much one of pilot error.  When
> in
> CW mode, one absolutely *must* remember to enable VOX. :-)
>
> Thanks and 73 to all.
>
> Ian Kahn, KM4IK
> Roswell, GA
> [hidden email]
> K3 #231, P3 #688
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

DUH!  been there, got the "Tee" shirt!

...bill  nr4c
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