Expert Linears 2K-FA User manual

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EXPERT 2K-FA
2KW SOLID STATE FULLY AUTOMATIC LINEAR
AMPLIFIER

SPE Expert 2K-FA Quick-Start Guide
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QUICK – START Guide
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SPE Expert 2K-FA Quick-Start Guide
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This Guide written by:
Dr. Jeffrey A. Cantor, K1ZN
& edited by Bob Hardie, W5UQ
For
Expert Linears America LLC
Copyright Pending, 2017

SPE Expert 2K-FA Quick-Start Guide
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Setting Up the SPE 2K-FA Amplifier
Rear Panel Connections
 Connections to Get Started
o Connect your antenna(s) to one or more of the six SO-239 ANT connectors (# 1 on the Rear Panel).
o There is also a dedicated SO-239 connector available for SO2R (single OP, 2 Rx’s) operation (#2 above).
o You may connect either one or two transceivers to the amplifier at INPUT 1 &/or INPUT 2 (#3 above).
o The SPE 2K-FA has four cooling fans on the rear (#4). More fans are inside. Two on 50V PS; one on combiner and
two on ATU.
o ALC, Relay and CAT control is provided for 1 or 2 transceivers (See #5 & #6 above).
- An RCA cable (provided in plastic pouch) connects between the transceiver and the amplifier for relay must be
connected at a minimum; and an ALC connection is also highly recommended. However, these are not
needed if connections are made using CAT connectors as the RCA phono connectors parallel the CAT
connectors connection for ALC and PTT/Relay.

SPE Expert 2K-FA Quick-Start Guide
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- CAT cable configuration for most transceivers is described in the SPE 2K-FA User’s Manual. Wiring from the
CAT connectors can include the ALC and RELAY control, and can eliminate the need for the RCA cables.
o A good ground connection is recommended (#12 above). Braid or copper straps are best. Read other literature about
obtaining good grounds for RF, lightning and electrical safety. They all are important. Removing antennas from your
amp when not in use can help prevent damage. Also, consider using coaxial switches to route antennas to ground
when not in use.
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 This switch is a DPDT and will completely disconnect AC when turned off. For normal use, it is left on.
o Additional remote control and software updating can be done via the AUX, PORT and USB connections which are
discussed in the SPE 2K-FA User’s Manual.
Front Panel Controls
o Pressing the ON button (#1 above) turns the unit on. However, note that the main ON/OFF switch, #11 on the Rear
Panel must first be set to ON. (This switch is usually left on unless one wants to remove all AC from the 2K-FA
circuits).

SPE Expert 2K-FA Quick-Start Guide
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o To turn off, press the OFF button (#2 above) and hold it down for at least three seconds (until the unit tones 73 in
CW or an error message detailing why the amp cannot turn off) turns the unit off. This is the only button requiring to
be held for three seconds or more.
Note the following:
- When OFF, only two direct RF (coaxial) connections are actuated:
- between INPUT 1 and ANT 1
- between INPUT 2 and SO2R
o Pressing the POWER button (#4 on Front Panel) toggles 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.
Front panel switches that will not work during normal operation unless special settings are made:
- BAND Switches. These changes are usually made with RS232 controlling the amplifier.
Or to use Front Panel BAND switches, the CAT has to be programmed (SET) to “None.”
- L> or L< and C> or C< switches only work when in SET/MANUAL TUNE.
Note the following:
- In STANDBY, all of the functions are activated (band change; antenna change; tuner control), but the
transmission is from the transceiver only (Barefoot).
- In OPERATE, all the functions are activated and the transmission is using the linear amplifier (QRO).
o It is recommended to use regulation of the exciter’s (transmitter) power that is achieved through the ALC link.
With the ALC connected, the amplifier input power (or DRIVE) when in OPERATE mode is automatically
adjusted to the correct driving level for the amplifier on all bands and power levels.
o In STANDBY, the exciter’s output will bypass the amplifier and go directly to the antenna that is selected. The
exciter’s power is set by the transceiver’s power output control.

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o In OPERATE, the exciter’s power output will be controlled by the amplifier’s ALC. However, without the ALC
connection, you have to manually adjust the exciter power to correctly drive the amplifier in order to avoid
damage. This is important as over driving needs to be avoided at all times!
o Pressing the SET button (works ONLY in STANBY) (See #6 on FP), will activate the SET mode to program the
amplifier. This is described in detail on page 10, “Let’s Program the 2K-FA” section of the SPE 2K-FA User’s
Manual.
o Pushing the INPUT button (#9 on the FP) allows selection of one of the two different exciter inputs (SO-239) to
the amplifier. See Rear Panel diagram for Input 1 & Input 2. The CAT connectors RELAY control will also control
INPUT selection. Keying on CAT 1 will activate INPUT 1. Keying on CAT 2 will switch the amplifier to INPUT 2.
Make sure you connect to the correct CAT connector matching the RF input.
o CAUTION: If while in STANDBY, the letters “SPE” are NOT visible on the DISPLAY, then the PTT or RELAY
control circuit has probably accidently been energized. The SPE letters will go away when the 2K-FA is keyed.
Also, when keyed, the 200 watt bar graph, for exciter power, is also displayed/visible. Unplug CAT cables (or
RCA cables) and search for a problem if the 2K-FA is keyed when it should not be.
o Pushing the BAND buttons switches bands manually (◄BAND (#10 on FP) downward in frequency/ BAND►
(#11 on FP) upward in frequency). NOTE: The CAT menu setting must be set to “none” for these buttons to
become active. Otherwise, all band changes are made by transceiver control, the 2K-FA RF sensor or an
external software program you may have elected to use (EG: DDUtil). Please do not rely on the RF sensor to
switch bands. It is best to use controls that switch bands BEFORE RF transmissions.
o The ANT button (#12 on FP) switches the antennas that are programmed for a given band if multiple antennas
are programmed in the SET/ANTENNA menu (e.g., 40M 1 2 4 – normally 40M 1 N N). The ANT switch will now
toggle antennas between #1; #2; and #4 ports. This switch only functions on bands where two or more antennas
are programmed for use.
o Pushing the CAT button (#13 on FP) shows the current CAT interface setting. Pushing it twice shows the
current Software version.

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o Pushing TUNE button (#14 on FP), in STANDBY and not keyed, activates the automatic tuning process.
HOWEVER, a solid RF carrier MUST be sent from the transceiver within a second or two after the YELLOW LED
comes on. When the YELLOW TUNE LED comes on, keep the RF carrier drive into the amplifier until the
YELLOW LED goes off. If the carrier is removed early, the savings/memory can be erroneous. NOTE: Also,
the TUNE function will NOT work if there is a “b” or “t” next to the ANT number in the ANT box. (e.g., 1b or 1t
with either the ATU is “automatically bypassed” and the ATU will not function. Removal of the “b” or “t” is
necessary in order for the ATU TUNE button to cause the ATU to function.
o Pushing buttons (#15 – 18 on FP) (◄C C► ◄L L►) can ONLY be used for manual tuning (in SET
programming).
A Word about Antennas
 High-power amplifiers require properly rated antennas, connectors, baluns/transformers and feed line cables.
- The 2K-FA measures the SWR after the band pass filter matching, and it also measures the SWR of the
antenna system. This allows you to always evaluate your antenna system despite the matching and the
power applied, however:
o With the included ATU, the amplifier is able to overcome some mismatches of 3:1 SWR or more. As long as
the ATU matches the antenna to give a reading below 1.99:1 in the SWR box, the amplifier will operate.
Between 1.7 and 1.99 the output of the amplifier is slightly lowered. At 2.0 the amplifier will switch out of
Operate and exhibit an alarm of High SWR.
o While tuning matches the antenna to the PA, there will be some loss of power. Heating, and possibly higher
than acceptable voltages can be present in the ATU and BPF with increased SWR. Decreasing the output
power of the amplifier to lower these ‘higher voltages’ should be considered.
- Always operate with the best possible matching. Despite the amplifier’s protection against high SWR,
continuous use into a mismatched loads that cause warnings to be displayed could possibly lead to damage.
Always heed amplifier warnings and alarms!
- It is also suggested that suitable static protection be given to antenna coax cables. This is mainly for
protection of your transceiver.

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- Note that the software allows you to select up to three antennas for the same band.
A Word about the Internal TUNER
 The SPE 2K-FA amplifier is equipped with an automatic tuner that handles load mismatches up about to 3:1 VSWR
(2.5:1 for 6 m).
o Antenna tuning and other working data are stored for tuner management, and recalled by the CPU when
returning to the sub-band using that stored data.
o The amplifier User’s Manual contains a “sub-band chart” with all the permitted ham bands. When the operator
programs in the SET program, the tuner settings and the antenna port will be automatically selected. (Note:
Using the RS232 information from the transceiver will allow your amp to know, to the KHz, the frequency of your
transceiver). Then the sub-band ATU memories are recalled and preset before transmitting.
o Explanation of Sub-bands: Only “One Frequency SETTING Per SUB-BAND” will be stored. The chart shows
the “center Frequency” of each sub-band. However, one can TUNE at any frequency within that sub-band.
Again, only one setting per sub-band will be stored. Tuning at a frequency higher or lower is fine. It is best to
TUNE at the “center frequency.” That decision is up to the operator/programmer.
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o If you so choose, using the frequencies on the chart for TUNING, this procedure will pre-tune your amplifier to
that sub-band center frequency along with the ANTENNA that you have selected. (And those settings will be
remembered when your frequency and ANTENNA choices match those sub-bands)
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o Realize that only the LAST TUNING setting in any sub-band is remembered. Only ONE memory per an
antenna in a sub-band, no matter if it is the “center frequency” or not.
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o With a proper CAT cable (using RS-232), the amplifier will know to the KHz the transceiver’s frequency and the
settings for that “sub-band” will be recalled.

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 The internal tuner may be bypassed as follows:
o Totally. (if all antenna choices have a “b” after the antenna number.)
o For single band.
o For single band and specific antenna.
o Basically, “as the programmer determines in SET/ANTENNA programming.)
 The internal tuner is always automatically bypassed:
o When you have programmed the receiving-only antenna setting for a particular ANTENNA PORT. See
Receive ONLY: (e.g., for a Beverage antenna that you would not transmit into). Go to SET/RX ANT
programming and set your chosen ANT Port to “r.” On any band, that ANTENNA Port will NOT accept a
transmitting signal if set to “r”. EG: If ANT PORT 6 is set to “r”, the 6 will always be “6r”.
o With tunable antenna setting. Tunable antennas should be resonant and may not need an ATU.
o When ‘b’ is selected in ANTENNA programming. (Hence, “b” means BYPASSING the ATU).
o On 70 MHz band. The ATU is not available for this band.
 It is strongly advised to not use the internal tuner and an external tuner simultaneously … as damage can be
sustained by the internal tuner or amplifier. If you intend to use an external tuner, then disable the internal tuner.
OR, pre-tune the external antenna with the 2K-FA internal tuner in BYPASS. Then activate the 2K-FA internal
tuner and tune with it. Most of the time the external antenna tuner will tune the antenna within the specifications of
the 2K-FA so the internal ATU will not be necessary this time. However, if the frequency has been increased or
decreased so as the SWR has increase, then the internal ATU may be used to correct that SWR. Word of
caution… be very careful when doing this. Damage to the amplifier can occur.
Let’s Program the 2K-FA
 Programming operations are ONLY possible in STANDBY.
 The three keys mostly used: [SET], [◄▲] and [▼►], plus [TUNE] allow programming of the amplifier. They can be
used in the following way:
o Press [SET] to open a menu page, to validate choices, and to exit from a menu page.
o Press the [◄▲], [▼►] keys to select options in the menu.