Really Rick, that a rather subjective statement? So let's
allow for other's experiences too as I have run a pair of
AL-1200 amps here with the internal QSK board for over 20
years of DXing and contesting QSOs, each driven by various
brands/models of gear and different guest ops with * NO *
design related problems.
So there's another subjective statement to ponder! B-) B-)
... and it's NOT $500 here in the US, so let's be accurate
to not drift into more anti-Ameritron bashing. QSL OM?
73 de Billy, AA4NU
-----Original Message-----
>From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP
>Yes, you are correct, but when you add the terribly expensive external
>circuits, the amp no longer attempts to follow CW keying with its internal
>relay. The Ameritron amps can only run clean QSK with a $500 add-on, which
>my experience has been, are not real reliable. My experience is based on
>personal use for a few years, and knowledge of experience of several other
>members of my contesting club.
>
>If you want to run QSK at more than about 10 wpm, it would be better to
>purchase an amplifier with a high speed T/R relay. There are plenty of them
>on the market.
>
>I personally switched to a QSK Technologies amplifier. In fact I bought two
>of them. Never had any problems with them.
>
>Today I only have an older Ameritron (clone), the SB-1000, and I just don't
>run "full" QSK. For contests I set the timing such that I can hear between
>words. IMO, there is no tangible loss of functionality compared to full
>QSK.
>For normal non-contest QSOs I run about 1 second hang delay, which helps me
>keep what little bit of sanity I still have left.
>
>73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Brian
>Carling
>Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 5:03 PM
>To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] QSK or not?
>
>Yes, but I think a lot of radio amateurs using good QSK Rigs like the Tentec
>have managed to convert their amplifiers for QSK operation by adding a
>circuitboard like the QSK 1500 or the QSK5.
>
>I realize that is more than just a simple homebrewer undertaking.
>
>Best regards - Bry Carling
>
>
>
>> On Mar 20, 2014, at 11:51 AM, "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP"
>wrote:
>>
>> It's not quite that simple, at least not always.
>>
>> "IF" your amplifier has a very fast T/R relay, such as a vacuum relay,
>> then you are correct; a few simple switching transistors and a tiny
>> relay will do the trick. But that only works when the main T/R relay
>> is fast enough to follow CW keying.
>>
>> If instead you have an amplifier whose T/R relay needs 20 mS to
>> switch, AND you connect the hand-shaking just as the Ten-Tec keying
>> loop normally works, the CW is not going to be very smooth. Timing
>> will get screwed up. The open-frame relays are just too slow to do
>> that. The only way to make them work is to have hang delay such that they
>don't need to follow the keying.
>> The Ten-Tec hand-shaking does not do this.
>>
>> And then if you have to work with hang delay, you don't need the
>> complexity of the hand-shaking. You just need sufficient pre-dit
>> delay and adjustable hang delay - but you sacrifice true QSK.
>> TRUE QSK?
>> You never had it in the first place because you did not buy a QSK
>amplifier!
>>
>> No matter what you feed a mule or how you treat it, it will never be a
>> race horse!
>>
>> (On the other hand, not everybody needs or wants a race horse and
>> mules are wonderful animals!)
>>
>> 73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>> (Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>>
>> -------------------------
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
>> bcarling@cfl.rr.com
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] QSK or not?
>>
>> I have to wonder why some guys will spend $500 for an external
>> accessory to do QSK with their linear amplifier. The system in my TT
>> 422 is so simple. A couple of simple boards and a relay.
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