Here's why I stopped using a solid state amp. I had an
Ameritron.
The problem is, they have safety circuitry that switches them off
if the swr of the antenna is too high.
Fair enough. Use a matchbox if needed. (I do all the time
because I use open wire feedline).
However, even when properly tuned, in bad weather with lots of
wind and snow or rain, the antenna blows around a lot and the swr
goes up and down in short bursts. This is enough to trigger the
safety circuitry. Without an acoustical alarm, you don't even
notice that you are suddenly running only 100w! Yeh, the amp
shows a red light to indicate "fault" but when contesting, the
eyes are always on the computer. I switched back to 3-500z and
simply forgot about such problems.
73
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Rob Atkinson,
K5UJ
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2003 4:20 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Cc: k5uj@hotmail.com
Subject: [TenTec] Solid state amps
Besides the no-tune allure, what is so wonderful about a solid
state amp?
(Maybe good for mobile.) They are expensive, and the ones I have
seen will
not go over 1 kw. Aren't they kind of delicate? Do they heat up
the shack
in the winter? : )
Rob Atkinson
K5UJ
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