[Kenwood] Amplifier Keying from various transceivers

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 2/10/2013 1:31 PM, Ken Brown wrote:
> To say that it is safe to key an amplifier, that requires pulling a
> hundred or so volts to ground, with a specific transceiver, because you
> have checked the schematic and determined that the keying output of the
> transceiver is simply relay contacts, is reasonable.
>
> To say that it is safe to key an amplifier, that requires pulling a
> hundred or so volts to ground, with any transceiver that uses tubes in
> the final, is not reasonable.
>
> Why someone would ask for those details on an email reflector, instead
> of looking at the schematic of their transceiver to figure it out
> themselves, is a mystery to me.

Currently we have a record number of hams and people become hams for 
many reasons. It's quite different than when I became a ham nearly 55 
years ago.

Many have public service as the sole reason, others, it's experimenting 
with various modes ne they digital, satellite, or moon bounce.

I would hazard a guess that less than half of today's hams could read 
that schematic, look up the parts and determine whether the rig could 
key the amp or not.

I should empathize that I am not complaining.  Each of those reasons 
fore becoming a ham are valid and none of them require much in the way 
of hardware expertise nor do the exams to become a ham.

I'd also say the original answer to the specific question about specific 
rigs was fine.  I just felt that on a general reflector where some one 
might apply it to other rigs it needed a "be careful" tacked on as you 
really need to look at how each rig handles keying an external amp.

73

Roger  (K8RI)
>