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6 Operation & Maintenance
The ALPHA 8100 is extremely easy to operate, but failure to carry out each
procedure exactly as described in this manual is likely to lead to amplifier damage,
which is not covered under warranty. Damage to other station equipment may
also result.
6.1 Before Operating Your Alpha 8100
6.1.1 Setting Input Drive
You must set the transceiver output power properly. Virtually all damage to date has resulted
directly from severe overdrive. The ALPHA 8100 requires about 50 W drive for full rated output.
Damage caused by applying several times rated drive power to the ALPHA 8100 will not
be covered under warranty. Fortunately, most modern transceivers maintain quite consistent
output from band-to-band and mode-to-mode when set up properly.
CAUTION:
Setting only the transceiver POWER or RF PWR control IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
Several popular transceivers can generate RF spikes of 200-300 W. Control of
these spikes typically is done with a knob labeled DRIVE (IC-781, FT-1000) or
PROCESSOR OUT (TS-940, TS-950). On SSB, when speech processing is not used,
adjust the MIC or MIKE controls. See the operator’s manual for your particular
transceiver.
6.1.2 Dealing with Faults
The ALPHA 8100 “faults” into STBY or OFF when unsafe operating conditions occur. This
is shown when the amplifier changes from the OPR LED being ON to the Fault and STBY LEDs
turning ON instead (soft fault), or when the amplifier shuts off completely (hard fault).
ALPHA 8100 OPERATING MANUAL
www.alpharadioproducts.com