[amsat-bb] Ts2000 with external preamps

[Lawn, Richard]

Can anyone recommend to me how they remove dc from the coax before rf hits my preamps and fry's them.? I see a box on eBay that a guy is selling but it seems to be a device that uses relays and is designed to key external rf amps using the din connector on the ts2000. I'm not certain however this will work for my needs.
Rick
W2jaz


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[Bob DeVarney W1ICW]

I guess I need to better understand what preamps you have.. having DC on
the coax might in fact key them up instead of harming them.

If memory serves me, the SSB preamps have the option of being fed up the
coax or via separate line. I chose the latter choice, only because at
the time, the rigs I owned did not have the option to feed dc up the coax.

What is the link for the box on eBay?

My TS-2000 has the option to key external amps, but that's only a
contact closure, one per VHF band, via the DIN connector.

73 de W1ICW

Post by Lawn, Richard
Can anyone recommend to me how they remove dc from the coax before rf hits my preamps and fry's them.? I see a box on eBay that a guy is selling but it seems to be a device that uses relays and is designed to key external rf amps using the din connector on the ts2000. I'm not certain however this will work for my needs.
Rick
W2jaz
Sent from my iPad
http://RickLawn.com
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[Bob DeVarney W1ICW]

I suspect the issue with the Icom preamps and a TS-2000 is that the Icom
preamp does not appear to RF-sense.. if there's DC on the coax, it's in
line, if there's not DC on the coax, it's bypassed. I run the SSB
SP-2000 and it can handle 200 watts RF-sensed. No sequencer necessary
with the rig barefoot.

The box you referenced on eBay protects the TS-2000 from amplifiers that
need a lot of current from the radio to switch them, or have high
voltage levels in the switching circuit ( bad design )

I did find this link which had a lot of useful info:

http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?287072-ICOM-AG-25-amp-TS-2000-Questions

I have an icom preamp and wish I didn't. I'll send you the eBay link separately.
Rick

[Lawn, Richard]

This link is very useful and one I didn't find when I searched. It seems that with the particular preamp and xcvr I have a sequencer is needed to ensure dx is removed from the coax before rf is introduced. I think the easiest solution is to get a different preamp once I get my icom repaired. I could also swap it with the mirage I'm using at home with the 847 which I think is immune to rf or is switched. Unless you have an icom xcvr their preamps are a bad purchase.
Thanks everyone.
Rick
W2jaz




Sent from my iPad
http://RickLawn.com

Post by Bob DeVarney W1ICW
I suspect the issue with the Icom preamps and a TS-2000 is that the Icom
preamp does not appear to RF-sense.. if there's DC on the coax, it's in
line, if there's not DC on the coax, it's bypassed. I run the SSB
SP-2000 and it can handle 200 watts RF-sensed. No sequencer necessary
with the rig barefoot.
The box you referenced on eBay protects the TS-2000 from amplifiers that
need a lot of current from the radio to switch them, or have high
voltage levels in the switching circuit ( bad design )
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?287072-ICOM-AG-25-amp-TS-2000-Questions

I have an icom preamp and wish I didn't. I'll send you the eBay link separately.
Rick

[Bob DeVarney W1ICW]

I've had phenomenal success with the SSB preamps over the last 25 years.
I have one for both 2 meters and 70 cm and if I had anything worth
mentioning on 6 meters for an antenna I would have one there as well.
Prior to that I used Landwehr.

For my EME station I am using a DB6NT receive-only, only because at the
time the Deutschemark ( or Euro ) was cheap and I could get the DB6NT
cheaper shipped from Germany than I could get an equivalent SSB receive
only here. I have no regrets, the DB6NT is a thing of beauty as only
German workmanship can make.

I see that ARR is now making an rf-switched preamp that handles some
power now too, but I'd stick with the SSB if I were you, only because
they will handle up to 700 watts if you sequence them; 200 RF-sensed.

Post by Lawn, Richard
This link is very useful and one I didn't find when I searched. It seems that with the particular preamp and xcvr I have a sequencer is needed to ensure dx is removed from the coax before rf is introduced. I think the easiest solution is to get a different preamp once I get my icom repaired. I could also swap it with the mirage I'm using at home with the 847 which I think is immune to rf or is switched. Unless you have an icom xcvr their preamps are a bad purchase.
Thanks everyone.
Rick
W2jaz

[Vu Trong Thu]

I have been using external (mast mounted) preamps for 2m and 70cm from ARR
with my TS-2000 for 2 years and quite happy with their performance. These
RF-switched preamps just work always and they're weather proof so virtually
no maintenance is needed. Note that they can only handle maximum 160W RF,
which is good enough for me. http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page10.html

Thu
XV9AA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob DeVarney W1ICW [mailto:***@myfairpoint.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2012 1:06 AM
To: amsat-***@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ts2000 with external preamps

I've had phenomenal success with the SSB preamps over the last 25 years.
I have one for both 2 meters and 70 cm and if I had anything worth
mentioning on 6 meters for an antenna I would have one there as well.
Prior to that I used Landwehr.

For my EME station I am using a DB6NT receive-only, only because at the time
the Deutschemark ( or Euro ) was cheap and I could get the DB6NT cheaper
shipped from Germany than I could get an equivalent SSB receive only here. I
have no regrets, the DB6NT is a thing of beauty as only German workmanship
can make.

I see that ARR is now making an rf-switched preamp that handles some power
now too, but I'd stick with the SSB if I were you, only because they will
handle up to 700 watts if you sequence them; 200 RF-sensed.

Post by Lawn, Richard
This link is very useful and one I didn't find when I searched. It seems

that with the particular preamp and xcvr I have a sequencer is needed to
ensure dx is removed from the coax before rf is introduced. I think the
easiest solution is to get a different preamp once I get my icom repaired. I
could also swap it with the mirage I'm using at home with the 847 which I
think is immune to rf or is switched. Unless you have an icom xcvr their
preamps are a bad purchase.

Post by Lawn, Richard
Thanks everyone.
Rick
W2jaz

[Stefan Wagener]

In the past I always used the DCW-15B sequencers. Just Google them.

Stefan

Post by Lawn, Richard
Can anyone recommend to me how they remove dc from the coax before rf hits
my preamps and fry's them.? I see a box on eBay that a guy is selling but
it seems to be a device that uses relays and is designed to key external rf
amps using the din connector on the ts2000. I'm not certain however this
will work for my needs.
Rick
W2jaz
Sent from my iPad
http://RickLawn.com
_______________________________________________
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb