AMP.AM ONLY?

[Stellasstillarat]

I'm looking at the inside of a no name/home made base amp. there's only one relay inside. Should an amp that operates on am and ssb have 2 relays? There's no ssb/am switch on the front panel. If an amp operates on ssb and am should there be a separate relay for each? If an amp recognizes ssb without having an am/ssb switch what could happen (if anything) if i use it on ssb and it wasn't built for it. Don't want to bless it up.works nice on am.

 

[Crusher]

You only need a single relay. Usually there is a second switch for SSB delay. This adds capacitance which gives it a bit of a delay. If you try using on SSB as is. It will probably chatter like crazy since there is no carrier to keep it keyed.

 

[9C1Driver]

It might have auto SSB delay, you can test this by keying the mic on AM and then seeing if there is a slight pause when you un-key the mic before the receive comes back.

 

[222DBFL]

Yup my old palomar 250 is like this, one large relay, auto SSB delay, no switch, on am you can hear the split sec that it takes to key and unkey. I don't like this as it keys/unkey sa bit too fast for my liking. A little longer would be nice. But like both crusher and 9c1driver posted, If it chatters on SSB it will sound like chit.

 

[Stellasstillarat]

Thanks crusher. that's exactly what I thought would happen. I quickly gave it a go on ssb and it did chatter. It's obviously an am only amp. I will use it as intended.

You only need a single relay. Usually there is a second switch for SSB delay. This adds capacitance which gives it a bit of a delay. If you try using on SSB as is. It will probably chatter like crazy since there is no carrier to keep it keyed.

You only need a single relay. Usually there is a second switch for SSB delay. This adds capacitance which gives it a bit of a delay. If you try using on SSB as is. It will probably chatter like crazy since there is no carrier to keep it keyed.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

"Auto SSB delay" LOL I have always chuckled at that. It is as if the amp senses the difference between AM and SSB and adjusts the relay drop out time automatically. LOL All it is is a capacitor installed to hold the relay without the switch. Nothing automatic about it really.

 

[Stellasstillarat]

Thanks captain. This is what my Palomar 500 elite uses.it doesn't work as well as my amps with a ssb switch on the front panel. I always wondered how this was done. Thanks

"Auto SSB delay" LOL I have always chuckled at that. It is as if the amp senses the difference between AM and SSB and adjusts the relay drop out time automatically. LOL All it is is a capacitor installed to hold the relay without the switch. Nothing automatic about it really.