[AMRadio] why i like am

Thu Dec 2 01:09:38 EST 2010

A plate modulated transmitter that is not exceeding 100% modulation will not 
show a bouncing plate current or RF power.

But a controlled carrier transmitter will.

You have to understand the modulation method.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Seattle, Wa.
"Real Radios Glow In The Dark"
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim in Waco WB5OXQ" <wb5oxq at grandecom.net>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] why i like am

>I have a TS-2000 and it has both power and carrier settings.  Since I 
>cannot
> use more than 12 watts of drive to limit output to 375 watts of carrier I
> find this;
> Setting the carrier to 100% and reducing the power to 12 causes the alc to
> limit the output.  This seems to cause the wattmeter not to move much on
> modulation peaks.  If I leave the power control set at max the alc drops 
> to
> 0 on carrier but rises on  modulation peaks.  If I then set the carrier
> control to allow 12 watts of carrier out the alc barely moves on 
> modulation
> and the wattmeter moves a great deal with modulation.  I have not tried
> airchecks though to see if others can hear the difference.  My service
> monitor never registers more than 80% modulation with either setting.
> WB5OXQ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jay Bromley" <jayw5jay at cox.net>
> To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service"
> <amradio at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 10:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Was what is this???? now why i like am
>
>
>> HI Rob,
>> On most rigs the "Power Control" sets the power for the final section, 
>> the
>> carrier control controls the driver to those finals.  So if you set the
>> Power Control on most Japanese rigs to say 20 watts ALC will be cutting 
>> in
>> on you very quickly during modulation.  The carrier control on most rigs
>> is
>> harder to adjust, but you won't be hitting the ALC, if at all, if you
>> leave
>> the Power Control crank up and just set power level with with the 
>> "Carrier
>> control".
>>
>> For some reason it is very hard thing for the new AM guys and also new 
>> ops
>> using digital modes like PSK31.
>>
>> Many times the carrier control is an afterthought like in the TS-940.  I
>> also hate that in Icom ads they rate AM power for their 100 watt rigs at
>> 40
>> watts, instead of the more proper 20-25 watts.
>>
>> 73 de jay/w5jay..
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: Rob Atkinson
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 6:57 AM
>> To: Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service
>> Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Was what is this???? now why i like am
>>
>> Jay, maybe because I got up 15 minutes ago but I don't know what you
>> mean.  I have a FT1000MP and there is a "power" pot on the front panel
>> which I think somehow adjusts PA collector current and as far as I
>> know, that's it.  What's the carrier control?  Maybe a control found
>> on older JA rigs with tube PAs?
>>
>> Jim in Waco, what is your exciter and amp?  I use the exciter to drive
>> a pair of 3-500zgs.  they are g.g. cathode driven so they need more
>> drive.  There are limits due to plate dissipation and B+ (2800 v.) but
>> 20 w. drive gets 300 w. out, which is about my maximum for my amp.
>> the ricebox has a 200 w. PA so 20 w. modulated does not get any ALC
>> reduction.  If your exciter is 100 w. maximum you probably want to
>> stay at around 12 w. if you make long transmissions.  at 20 w. the
>> heat sink on my rig gets pretty warm after a while--the 200 w. spec is
>> for SSB.
>> I use a SB610 monitor scope and an old Tek 438.  These old scopes are
>> cheap at hamfests--actually the 610 cost more than the real
>> oscilloscopes hi hi.  You can turn a scope into a trapezoid monitor.
>> I'm sure we all can tell you how to do it if you want to know.   if
>> you get an old heath monitor scope replace the caps in the h.v. CRT
>> supply.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> rob
>> K5UJ
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 3:53 AM, Jay Bromley <jayw5jay at cox.net> wrote:
>>> You will get better performance using the carrier control for adjusting
>>> power.  Leave the power control wide open so when you modulate you will
>>> have
>>> plenty headroom.
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