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Re: Topband: Transceiver Key Clicks

To: "Paul Christensen, Esq." <w9ac@arrl.net>,"Thomas Kuehl" <ac7a@earthlink.net>, <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Transceiver Key Clicks
From: "Tom Rauch" <w8ji@contesting.com>
Reply-to: Tom Rauch <w8ji@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2004 06:09:32 -0500
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
> The stock Omni VI+ has a very sharp and discontinuous leading edge.  The
> trailing edge is fine.

You can hear recordings of some radios at:
http://www.w8ji.com/keyclicks.htm

> It can be very difficult to design a transmitter with a symmetrical key
> shape while controlling power spikes with an ALC circuit.   The behavior
of
> ALC tends to react to the onset of power by using feedback.  Only, if the
> feedback loop is not fast enough to react to the initial power spike
before
> the time the ALC has settled, the damage is done.  Alternatively, by
making
> the ALC respond faster, it tends destroys the integrity of the keyed
> envelope.

Actually a design that would correct this is very simple.

The technology that would allow a near-perfect solution is the recent
invention of a cutting-edge device called an op-amp (like an LM-358). It's
just so new they may be waiting for cost to come down so they are
affordable.

Seriously, it is only pennies and a few hours of design time to fix these
problems before the radio is built. The real problem has to be no one in the
design process cares.

73 Tom


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