Summary of Contents for Expert Linears America EXPERT 1.3K-FA
- Page 1 EXPERT 1.3K-FA 1.3KW SOLID STATE FULLY AUTOMATIC LINEAR AMPLIFIER QUICK – START Guide (June 2017) ...
- Page 2 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide This Guide written by: Dr. Jeffrey A. Cantor, K1ZN Expert Linears America LLC Copyright Pending, 2017 2 ...
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Page 3: Rear Panel Connections
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide Setting Up the SPE 1.3K-FA Amplifier Rear Panel Connections Connections to Get Started o Connect your antenna(s) to one or more of the four SO-239 ANT connectors (# 1 on the Rear Panel). -
Page 4: Front Panel Controls
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o The main power switch is located at position #10 above. It must be turned on first, prior to the Front Panel ON switch. o Additional remote control and software updating can be done via the AUX, PORT and USB connections which are discussed in the SPE 1.3K-FA Manual. - Page 5 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o Pressing the POWER button (#4 on Front Panel FP) switches the output power control level between “MAX/MID/ and LOW.“ o Pressing the OP button (#5 on FP) toggles back and forth between Standby and Operate.
- Page 6 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o Pushing the BAND buttons switches bands manually (◄BAND (#10 on FP) downward in frequency/ BAND► (#11 on FP) upward in frequency). The CAT interface setting, IN THE CAT MENU, MUST be set to “none” for this button to actuate.
- Page 7 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o While tuning matches the antenna to the PA, with a high VSWR there can be consequent loss of power, with heating and possibly higher than acceptable voltages present. Decreasing the output power of the amplifier to lower these “higher voltages”...
- Page 8 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o Every ham band has a sub-band set, and for each of those, data related to the antenna and ATU tuning is also stored. A “Sub-band chart” is on page 56 in the manual. If you so chose, using the frequencies on this chart for TUNING, will pre-tune your amplifier to that frequency, with the ANTENNA that you have selected.
- Page 9 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide Let’s Program the 1.3K-FA Programming operations are only possible in STANDBY. The three keys: [SET], [◄▲] and [▼►], allow programming of the amplifier. They can be used in the following way: o Press [SET] to open a menu page, also to validate choices, as well as to exit from a menu page.
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Page 10: Antenna Choices
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide Antenna Choices Programming Antenna Choices: o Turn power ON. o Ensure amplifier is in STANDBY. o Press [SET] to open the menu page. o The SET LED (green) will light and you will see this page: o The menu default will be on ANTENNA option. - Page 11 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o You may assign antennas to each band by selecting one or two of the amplifier’s ANT 1, ANT 2, ANT 3, ANT 4 connector for each band. Or “NO” for “NONE”. EG: “1 NO” would be antenna 1 and NONE are selected for the two choices.
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Page 12: Antenna Tuning
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide Antenna Tuning Antenna Tuning: The amplifier MUST be in STANDBY for the AUTO TUNING feature to function. (Note: Definition of Auto Tuning is: you push the TUNE button on the front panel when the 1.3K is in “STANDBY”. THEN you KEY/Push To Talk your transceiver, which in turn KEYS the Amplifier. - Page 13 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o You can use the SUB-BAND chart from the operator’s manual to TUNE to a suggested centred frequency, or just TUNE to any frequency you select. Note: If you do not use the SUB-BAND frequency chart suggested frequencies, the frequency you choose may not be near the “centred...
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Page 14: Manual Tuning
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o Repeat the previous steps for all bands and antennas that you wish to use. Manual Tuning Manual Tuning To achieve a better match than that achieved with the automatic tune procedure which is rather unlikely) it is possible to set the tuning manually by using the keys [◄C], [C►], [◄L], [L►]. - Page 15 SAVE your settings. Receive Only Antennas A unique feature allows the Expert 1.3K-FA to set a dedicated receiving antenna and to control its automatic switching after a transmission starts. o For the selection of this antenna choose the menu item RX ANT.
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Page 16: Remote Control
The installation package is contained in a compressed .ZIP file named KTerm_Package_1_0.zip. See the SPE Expert 1.3K-FA User Manual for full details on installation and use. Please read the DRIVER installation instructions. Do not have the USB connected when installing the driver. Some OS, like Win 10 may require removing ALL USB connections (of course other than keyboard and mouse) for DRIVER install. - Page 17 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide Protecting the SPE 1.3K-FA (Alarms) o The 1.3K-FA protection system monitors and controls the amplifier’s most important parameters, temperature of the heat-sink; maximum /minimum voltages on the PA; maximum PA current; SWR; reflected power; maximum voltage RF on the tuner;...
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Page 18: Operating Tips
SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide o If the temperature in LOW is allowed to rise further, a SERIOUS alarm will eventually be activated and the linear amplifier switches back to STANDBY. o During a SERIOUS alarm, there is an acoustic alarm for 10 sec. Pressing the [DISPLAY] key, the system switches back to STANDBY state immediately and the sound stops. - Page 19 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide You may reduce the linear output, if required, by switching the amplifier to MID or LOW with the [POWER] key. You may also continuously regulate the amplifier’s output power by changing the level of drive power from your transceiver, even with the ALC connected.
- Page 20 SPE Expert 1.3K-FA Quick-Start Guide until the peak output power, on speech peaks, is shown on the amplifier display to be no more than 0.8 KW or 400W. SPE suggests you monitor your transmission closely to check that the MIC GAIN setting is correct.
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