AMERITRON ALS-706/S 600 WATT 160-6 Meter NO TUNE LDMOS-FET AMPLIFIER INSTRUCTION MANUAL WARNING! NEVER APPLY POWER TO THIS AMPLIFIER WITH THE COVER REMOVED! CONTACT WITH THE POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGES IN THIS AMPLIFIER CAN BE FATAL! PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT! Factory 116 Willow Road Starkville, MS 39759 USA 662-323-8211 Version 0 Printed in the USA
Contents Amplifier Features ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Quick Start .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Installation and Operation......................................................................................................................... 5 Placement......................
Figures Figure 1 Basic Interconnection ..................................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2 Front Panel ................................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 3 ALS-706 Back Panel..................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 4 ALS-600PS Jumper Pins ..................
Amplifier Features This amplifier provides the following standard features: ɀ 160 through 6-meter operation, full-power on six meters. ɀ One conservative linear-service rated 50 volt Dual LDMOS FET transistor. ɀ New push-pull stripline PA layout with exceptional VHF performance. ɀ Energy-efficient solid-state design greatly reduces heat, <100 watts power line draw on receive. ɀ Exceptional harmonic suppression. ɀ Operational in a few seconds, no long filament warm-up time.
Quick Start Thank you for purchasing this amplifier system. The ALS-706 is a 600 watt nominal PEP output amplifier and power supply system. This amplifier covers 160 to 6 meters. Nominal drive power is 100 watts or less. This system will not and does not operate on the CB band. The ALS-706 interfaces with most modern amateur radio transceivers, including band data information. Band data connection will require purchasing an Ameritron interface cable for your radio.
power supply has a permanent overload or the supply has failed, it will not reset. The ALS-600PS uses only the protective fuses. 6.) The ALS-600PS has an RTTY and Normal voltage switch. The RTTY position allows higher amplifier efficiency at reduced power. See the power supply details included with the particular power supply for details specific to each supply. Radio and Antenna Connections WARNING: Forcing connector engagement can result in permanent connector damage.
Alerts This amplifier has front panel alert codes using the SWR, PA, TX, warning LED’s and bandswitch band indicators. When a fault code appears, the amplifier is disabled. When an operating problem is corrected, operation is restored and alerts canceled by moving the front panel Standby/Operate switch to Standby.
Operation Before attempting operation: 1. This amplifier is optimized for 50-ohm loads. Be sure your antenna system SWR is as low as possible. As SWR increases from 1:1, either heat or distortion will increase. 2. Be sure your antenna system, including any switches, baluns, matching circuits, or lighting protection devices, are in good condition and will safely handle high power. 3. Connectors, cables, and antennas must not have loose connections or insulation failure issues. 4.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing this amplifier system. The ALS-706 is a compact 600 watt nominal PEP output amplifier. It uses an external power supply system. This amplifier covers 160 to 6 meters. Nominal drive power is 100 watts or less. NOTE: This amplifier excludes all operation between 26 and 28 MHz. Caution: This amplifier has an FCC mandated automatic disconnect and other features preventing 27-MHz operation. There is no available circuitry or control provision to circumvent this lockout.
General Operation Power Supply and Power Requirements ALS-600PS Power Supply Features ɀ Normal operating range is from 100 volts up to 130 volts 50/60Hz (12 amperes typical full carrier power) or between 200 and 250 volts, 50/60Hz (6 amperes typical at full carrier power). ɀ A unique “buck-boost” winding allows compensation for up to six different power line voltages centered on 115 and 230 volts.
Power Line Requirements This amplifier ships wired for a nominal mains voltage of 120 VAC with either supply. Maximum power line current at full power output is 12 amperes at 120 volts. 250-volt rated 15-ampere fuses protect the power line. Always use 125V or 250V line fuses. The linear supply requires changing taps for different line voltages. The switching power supply is voltage regulated, current limited, and automatically adapts to any mains voltage between ~95 VAC and 135 VAC.
amplifier. Relay switching time is approximately ten milliseconds. Radio adjustable TX delay should be set to 10 mS. This amplifier includes full metering using a large easy-to-read conventional crossneedle panel meter. The meter reads all critical parameters, including Forward and Reflected peak envelope RF power, voltage and, current. Installation Please look your amplifier and power supply over carefully. Observe the air inlet and outlet ventilation holes.
Installation, Wiring, and Connections The ALS-600SPS switching power supply is factory wired for 100-130 VAC. The linear ALS-600PS is prewired for 120-125 VAC nominal voltage. Both use standard NEMA-515P 15 ampere 120-volt plugs. The round center pin is the safety ground. Do not remove the safety ground. CAUTION! Before connecting the power supply to an electrical outlet, always be sure you have completed the following four steps: 1. Insert the 15 ampere 250V fuses into the two black fuse caps. 2.
piece of equipment. They are for connection to a desktop ground bus system common to all equipment, if you prefer to use such a system. Independent ground wire connections are counterproductive. Never use RF isolators between the amplifier and radio. Never use long independent wires to external grounds. Never connect desk equipment to ground rods that do not bond into the mains entrance ground rod.
Front Panel Controls Figure 2 Front Panel The front panel contains the following indicators and controls. To prevent damage, become familiar with the front panel before operating the amplifier. 1. MULTIMETER Right scale FET Module Current, Voltage, ALC, and Reflected Power. Left Scale Power Output. Multimeter (reflected power, module voltage, ALC, or module current) selected by control 6. 2. BAND SELECT or REMote selector knob. 3. BAND INDICATOR or REMote backlit LED indicators, also warning if flashing.
The meter’s rightmost scale-arc indicates PEP reflected power in watts on the upper scale numbers and pickets. Notice power meter calibrations are not evenly spaced. Lower scale numbers and pickets are evenly spaced, and are for all other functions. The lower right scale is used for relative ALC setting, power amplifier module voltage (0-70 volts), and power amplifier current (0-70 amperes). Nominal voltage is 50 volts; maximum safe current is 25 amperes.
RF IN Connect through good 50-ohm coaxial cable of any reasonable length to radio’s antenna output connector. This can be a smaller cable, such as RG-58/U, and should not be needlessly long. RF OUT To 50-ohm antenna, antenna tuner, or power meter. This is the high power output. 50-ohm coaxial cable and system beyond this connector must safely handle at least 600 watts. RADIO INTERFACE This connector is for use with Ameritron radio interface cables. It allows automatic band selection (following the radio).
5. Connect the IN connector to your transceiver. Do not install any active antenna matching devices on this port. In general, the shortest and most direct cable connection is best, although high quality cables can be very long without adverse effect on performance. RG-58/U or Mini-8 (RG-8X) style cables are acceptable. You should never use a tuner of any type on the amplifier input, nor should you drive this amplifier with over 100 watts peak envelope power. 6. The ALC line is optional.
Table 2 Optional Radio Interface Cables Operating Frequency Range This amplifier covers all Amateur Radio frequencies below 54 MHz, as restricted by FCC or your local governing authority. Once you have established proper connections, please set the amplifier BAND SELECT control (Fig. 2, ref 3) to one of the following bands: Band Frequency Range Notes 160 1.8 – 2.3 MHz 80 3.0 – 5.0 MHz 40 5.0 – 9.0 MHz 30 9.0 –14.5 MHz 20 9.0 – 14.5 MHz 17 14.5 – 22.0 MHz 15 14.5 – 22.0 MHz 12 22.0 – 30.
Warning Lights The ALS-706 has two primary warning lights in the center of the front panel, SWR and PA. When SWR or PA warnings illuminate from an operating fault the amplifier defaults to a forced bypass mode. Operational faults and the forced bypass are reset by placing the amplifier in standby. ALC: The yellow ALC light is at the far left of the warning light cluster, next to the ALC control. The yellow ALC light is not a fault indicator. The ALC light indicates ALC output.
Initial Operation For personal and equipment safety, double-check all wiring and connections () before turning power on. After verifying all power supply and amplifier connections, follow the procedures below: Place the MULTIMETER switch (fig. 2, ref. 6) in the HV position. The multimeter is the right-side scale on the panel meter (fig. 2, ref. 1), and reads on the 0-70 right scale bottom. Find 50 on the scale. HV reading should be approximately 50 volts whenever the amplifier is ON.
ɀ Place the amplifier in OPERATE position (fig. 2, ref. 7). Be sure the amplifier BAND SELECT (fig. 2, ref. 3) matches the band selected on the transceiver. ɀ Place the transmitter or transceiver into transmit in FM, AM, RTTY, or CW modes. The green TX LED (fig. 2, ref. 5) should light. The Forward power scale (fig. 2, ref. 1) should increase to very roughly ten times the initial exciter power reading.
RF Exposure Information 100W BAND Frequency MHz 160M 2.000 80/75M 4.000 40M 7.000 30M 10.150 20M 14.350 17M 18.168 15M 21.450 12M 24.990 10M 29.700 6M 54.000 Antenna Gain dBi 0 3 6 0 3 6 9 0 3 6 9 0 3 6 9 12 0 3 6 9 12 0 3 6 9 12 0 3 6 9 12 0 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 15 600W 1200W Controlled Distance in Meters Uncontrolled Distance in Meters Controlled Distance in Meters Uncontrolled Distance in Meters Controlled Distance in Meters Uncontrolled Distance in Meters 0.1 0.2 0.
CFR Title 47 Part 97.13© (as of Apr. 1, 2020) requires the amateur operator to be in compliance with the radio frequency exposure requirements. The chart Table 5 above is a calculation of distances in meters for several different antenna gains using the formulae in the bulletin. To calculate in feet multiply the distance in meters by 3.28. The chart Table 6 below is a calculation of some common antenna gains.
ALS-600PS Voltage Settings Before opening up the ALS-600PS make sure the supply is unplugged. On the ALS600PS there are several solder on jumpers to set the line voltage range. Change the jumpers only if the line voltage is low. For most cases, unless you need to change over to 220VAC there should not be a need to change the jumpers.
ALS-600SPS Switching Power Supply ALS-600SPS Voltage Settings When opening up the ALS-600SPS make sure it is unplugged and has been off for a while to make sure the capacitors have been discharged. Some of the capacitors can have a charge of 300-400VDC. The ALS-600SPS will only need to be changed when switching between 120 and 240VAC. Move these jumpers only when changing voltages. Do not move any other wires or bayonet connectors in the power supply.
Factory 116 Willow Road Starkville, MS 39762 ALS-706 Limited Warranty Ameritron warrants to the original purchaser that this product shall be free from defects in material (except tubes and RF output transistors) or workmanship for one year from the date of original purchase. During the warranty period, Ameritron or an authorized Ameritron service facility will provide free of charge both parts (except tubes and RF output transistors) and labor necessary to correct defects in material or workmanship.
