Acom 500S - 3.6. Test Transmission

User's Manual | ACOM 500S | 160-4 m Linear Power Amplifier
Page 30 of 66 | S e c t i o n FIRST POWER-ON, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND INITIAL CHECK
March 2023
3.5.2. Menu button
The right-most button MENU (see Figure 3-2 | Basic screen) provides access to the amplifier's settings and
service functions:
• In each menu the left-most button is always HELP and the right-most - always EXIT;
• The HELP button provides information about the active screen.
For more details of the control system and use of the menus see Section 5 MENUS - SETTINGS AND OPTIONS.
3.6. Test Transmission
To make sure that you have installed the amplifier correctly, make a test transmission as described below.
Repeat these tests for each new band and antenna, as well as after installing a new or modified antenna,
antenna switch, tuner, and/or connecting cables.
a) Check of RF bypass path of a non-driven amplifier
When the ACOM 500S is powered off, there is a bypass only from RF INPUT to
RF OUTPUT 2, i.e., the RF OUTPUT 1 is disconnected and cannot be tested.
For this check the amplifier must be completely installed and connected according to Section 2 INSTALLATION,
but not powered by the mains, i.e., the POWER ON switch on the rear panel must be turned off. In any case
the LED above the POWER button must be dark for this test.
First, check if the transceiver's reception is normal in some band that should be "open" at the time of test.
Be sure to connect to the RF OUTPUT 2 of the amplifier an antenna with a good SWR in the band being tested.
If you observe a significant worsening of reception, first check for a problem in the coaxial connections to the
amplifier (see Sections 2.4.d) RF INPUT connector and 2.4.f) RF OUTPUT 2 connector).
Provided the reception is normal, prepare the transceiver as follows:
• Select a continuous carrier mode (CW, RTTY, FM);
• Switch the microphone off (decrease the mic gain), disable FSK;
• Reduce the output power control to a minimum;
• Select a suitable indication so that you can watch the RF power and SWR at the transceiver output;
• If the transceiver has a built-in antenna tuner - switch it off.
Now in Receive mode select a frequency which is not occupied at the moment and press shortly the PTT or
TX key while watching the output power and the SWR readings. If the power or SWR at the transceiver output
are too high (over 5 W or SWR over 2:1) release the key and check for the reason as follows:
• Check again whether the power control is set at minimum;
• Check whether the frequency is within the operating range of the antenna connected to the
RF OUTPUT 2 of the amplifier;