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SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

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Clay Autery-2

SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.

I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using "ALC".
A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC issue.

Is this a resolved issue or not? Can anyone provide any info on this?

I am going back into the K3s manual for 3rd party amp connection and
pinout info to produce the cabling required to accommodate the amp/P3,
etc...

Thanks in advance!

73,

--
______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G

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Don Wilhelm

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

Clay,

You must have been reading some very old information. The first K3s had
positive going ALC, but it changed to negative going early on. If your
K3 was shipped prior to Dec 10, 2008 (before approximate SN 2362) it may
still have positive ALC. If you have the REMIOUPGD or the Rev B KIO3
board, it is ready to o with negative ALC. If not obtain REMIOUPGD mod
and install it.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/9/2017 3:48 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
> I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.
>
> I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using "ALC".
> A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC issue.
>
> Is this a resolved issue or not?
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Jim Brown-10

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

In reply to this post by Clay Autery-2

On 10/9/2017 12:48 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
> I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.
>
> I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using "ALC".
> A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC issue.

I owned one of these amps for a few months, having bought it to get more
power on 6M than the KPA500 did. I didn't like it much. You probably
know that ALC should NEVER be used between a rig and an amp to set the
output power. That's a recipe for creating harmonics, clicks, and
splatter. The right way to do it is to reduce drive power. If you're
going to use ALC at all, set output power by reducing drive and use ALC
ONLY to protect the amp when something goes wrong with an antenna (like
the operator connecting the wrong one). :)

73. Jim K9YC
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Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

I agree with Jim, K9YC on the ALC points.

With older radios, namely tube types which required the exciter PA to be
loaded correctly to be linear, this power level would overdrive many
amplifiers. Hence ALC from the amp to the transceiver/transmitter was
required to control the drive power.

Today's radios have much more accurate power control methods. These
methods are far superior to those found in most amps. Most solid state
amps have adequate protection with regard to overdrive, again ALC from
the amp to the radio is not needed. And as Jim indicated, if one chooses
to use ALC from the amp to the transceiver and it is not properly
adjusted, one can expect signal report issues and unfriendly neighbors
on the radio spectrum.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 10/9/2017 4:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 10/9/2017 12:48 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
>> I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.
>>
>> I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using
>> "ALC".
>> A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC
>> issue.
>
> I owned one of these amps for a few months, having bought it to get
> more power on 6M than the KPA500 did. I didn't like it much. You
> probably know that ALC should NEVER be used between a rig and an amp
> to set the output power. That's a recipe for creating harmonics,
> clicks, and splatter. The right way to do it is to reduce drive power.
> If you're going to use ALC at all, set output power by reducing drive
> and use ALC ONLY to protect the amp when something goes wrong with an
> antenna (like the operator connecting the wrong one). :)
>
> 73. Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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ng7m

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

I have an SPE 2K-FA I'm using with a K3S... very happy with it. I made a
verbose YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8Gyl0amRY> video early
on after I received the amp which gets into the details of making the
interface cable. (these days guys can pass the Extra Class exam but they
can't make a simple interface cable to an amplifier... ;) ) All of the
details would apply to the 1K-FA.

As others have stated, don't use ALC on the K3 to control the output of
your SPE amp, however it is viable as a safety measure to let the amp drop
the K3 output if it's software deems necessary. (despite what you will read
in the SPE manual where it says just crank the power output on your exciter
all the way up and let the amp control the output via ALC) I get into the
details around this in the video several times. You can fast forward and
find the areas you are interested in related to the cable interface to the
K3.

Here is the link to the video again... I hope you find something helpful...
related to your 1K-FA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8Gyl0amRY

Max NG7M

On Mon, Oct 9, 2017 at 4:05 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> I agree with Jim, K9YC on the ALC points.
>
> With older radios, namely tube types which required the exciter PA to be
> loaded correctly to be linear, this power level would overdrive many
> amplifiers. Hence ALC from the amp to the transceiver/transmitter was
> required to control the drive power.
>
> Today's radios have much more accurate power control methods. These
> methods are far superior to those found in most amps. Most solid state
> amps have adequate protection with regard to overdrive, again ALC from the
> amp to the radio is not needed. And as Jim indicated, if one chooses to use
> ALC from the amp to the transceiver and it is not properly adjusted, one
> can expect signal report issues and unfriendly neighbors on the radio
> spectrum.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
> On 10/9/2017 4:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>
>> On 10/9/2017 12:48 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
>>
>>> I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.
>>>
>>> I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using "ALC".
>>> A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC issue.
>>>
>>
>> I owned one of these amps for a few months, having bought it to get more
>> power on 6M than the KPA500 did. I didn't like it much. You probably know
>> that ALC should NEVER be used between a rig and an amp to set the output
>> power. That's a recipe for creating harmonics, clicks, and splatter. The
>> right way to do it is to reduce drive power. If you're going to use ALC at
>> all, set output power by reducing drive and use ALC ONLY to protect the amp
>> when something goes wrong with an antenna (like the operator connecting the
>> wrong one). :)
>>
>> 73. Jim K9YC
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

--
M. George
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Clay Autery-2

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Yep... Thanks Jim... I had remembered reading about this, but not
having an amp at the time, I glossed over it.

Thanks to re-reading manual and Fred's book, AND to several responses, I
am fully informed now!

Case closed.... :-)

73,

______________________
Clay Autery, KY5G
MONTAC Enterprises
(318) 518-1389

On 10/9/2017 4:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: SPE 1K-FA Amp hookup and ALC Question

In reply to this post by ng7m

For the K3S, I suggest reading Fred Cady's book, specifically page 170
{9.2 Automatic Level Control - ALC} , page 222 {To ALC or Not to ALC},
and page 291 {EXT ALC} for particulars. In summary, Elecraft does not
advise using ALC from the amp.

Personal opinion, the amp should provide adequate protection for high
SWR and excessive drive. It should not rely on other means for
protection.

73
Bob, K4TAX

On 10/9/2017 6:16 PM, M. George wrote:

> I have an SPE 2K-FA I'm using with a K3S... very happy with it. I made a
> verbose YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8Gyl0amRY> video early
> on after I received the amp which gets into the details of making the
> interface cable. (these days guys can pass the Extra Class exam but they
> can't make a simple interface cable to an amplifier... ;) ) All of the
> details would apply to the 1K-FA.
>
> As others have stated, don't use ALC on the K3 to control the output of
> your SPE amp, however it is viable as a safety measure to let the amp drop
> the K3 output if it's software deems necessary. (despite what you will read
> in the SPE manual where it says just crank the power output on your exciter
> all the way up and let the amp control the output via ALC) I get into the
> details around this in the video several times. You can fast forward and
> find the areas you are interested in related to the cable interface to the
> K3.
>
> Here is the link to the video again... I hope you find something helpful...
> related to your 1K-FA.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku8Gyl0amRY
>
> Max NG7M
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 9, 2017 at 4:05 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> I agree with Jim, K9YC on the ALC points.
>>
>> With older radios, namely tube types which required the exciter PA to be
>> loaded correctly to be linear, this power level would overdrive many
>> amplifiers. Hence ALC from the amp to the transceiver/transmitter was
>> required to control the drive power.
>>
>> Today's radios have much more accurate power control methods. These
>> methods are far superior to those found in most amps. Most solid state
>> amps have adequate protection with regard to overdrive, again ALC from the
>> amp to the radio is not needed. And as Jim indicated, if one chooses to use
>> ALC from the amp to the transceiver and it is not properly adjusted, one
>> can expect signal report issues and unfriendly neighbors on the radio
>> spectrum.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>> On 10/9/2017 4:50 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>>
>>> On 10/9/2017 12:48 PM, Clay Autery wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm being given an SPE 1K-FA for use with my fully current K3s.
>>>>
>>>> I'm being told that the K3s and SPE don't play well together using "ALC".
>>>> A conflicting report is telling me that Elecraft addressed the ALC issue.
>>>>
>>> I owned one of these amps for a few months, having bought it to get more
>>> power on 6M than the KPA500 did. I didn't like it much. You probably know
>>> that ALC should NEVER be used between a rig and an amp to set the output
>>> power. That's a recipe for creating harmonics, clicks, and splatter. The
>>> right way to do it is to reduce drive power. If you're going to use ALC at
>>> all, set output power by reducing drive and use ALC ONLY to protect the amp
>>> when something goes wrong with an antenna (like the operator connecting the
>>> wrong one). :)
>>>
>>> 73. Jim K9YC
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>
>