On Mon, 2009-06-29 at 11:03 -0400, Hamdriver66@aol.com wrote:
> Thanks for all the good responses. I dashed my first note off pretty
> quickly and didn't include all the details of my set-up.
>
> Am driving the Centaur with an Omni VI (upgrade 1), keying lines connected
> for QSK. I haven't lifted the hood yet to check the method of relay
> mounting. Just seeking thoughts right now until I get caught up on my
> "honey-do's" and have time to do some digging. Part of what I am wondering
> is if
> the relay noise is as loud on other Centaurs as mine. It sounds like an old
> SB220 trying to keep up with QSK at 15 to 20 wpm. Up around 30 to 35 wpm
> the relay doesn't have time to drop out between individual dits and dahs,
> but drops out at end of a word.
>
> I am familiar with the quietness of c/o relays (i.e., reed relays) in most
> of TenTecs transceivers (back to the Triton IV), but the Centaur relay in
> question is much louder, a hard clackety-clack.
>
> Again, thanks for the many suggestions (duct tape included).
>
> 73, Mike/K4KJC
RF power takes big relays. Big relays have lots a mass in motion and it
makes a bang when it hits the contacts and stops.
Some relays make more noise than others, and the mounting can easily
amplify the noise. Running QSK works the relays hard, I've never learned
to send while receiving so I don't like QSK and one reduces the relay
actuations drastically without QSK and lengthens the life of the relays
immensely without QSK.
The ultimate cure is replacing the relays with big PIN diodes which some
amps use. Completely noiseless, but most expensive. There may be kits
yet for doing that outside the amp or inside the amp.
73, Jerry, K0CQ
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