[1000mp] Mark V ALC Reading

[Pete Smith]

At 02:32 PM 2/24/03 -0500, you wrote:
>Today I talked with a technician at Yaesu about the ALC reading I get with 
>my Mark V on CW. It turns out that when the Mark V is properly matched to 
>an antenna and is operating at full power (200 watts) the ALC reading 
>almost exactly matches the red bar on the ALC/Comp meter. However, 
>reducing power makes the ALC reading rise beyond the red bar and below 100 
>watts it will go off scale--like hitting the pin on an analog meter. I 
>didn't like what I was seeing at less than 100 watts output, but the 
>technician said this is normal--that's what the ALC is supposed to do. He 
>said it will not harm the transmitter to have such a reading BUT it may 
>result in distortion. In the case of CW, this would show up as a raspy tone.
>
>So it looks like the Mark V is happiest when its final is operating at 
>between 100-200 watts and things begin to falter when output power is 
>significantly reduced. I'm not complaining. I also own a Ten-Tec Argonaut V.

I've wondered about that -- my ALC tends to hit slightly above the zone 
when I run 100-110 watts input to drive my amp.  Now I know why.  If I 
could get someone to explain to me the interrelationship and proper 
operation of the MIC and PROC controls I'd be truly enlightened!


73, Pete N4ZR
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