signal one CX7 Guide

TN9-1
TN9
Rev. C.0
Important Installation, Adjustment & Operating Notes
It is extremely important that a few basic procedures and precautions be observed in order to derive from your new CX7 the
high level of performance designed into it, as well as to avoid damage to the power amplifier. Please read the following two
pages carefully, as well as the applicable portions of the instruction manual, before operating.
Using the CX7 with a separate linear amplifier
SSB: The inherent transmit-receive switching speed of the CX7 is necessarily extremely fast in order to permit fill CW
break-in operation. Typical relays used in high powered amplifiers, however, require up to 10 milliseconds or more
to close. During the closing period, an open-circuit load is reflected back to the CX7, resulting in very high momentary
peak voltages which can damage the power amplifier or even the interconnecting coaxial cable fittings.
To avoid this problem in the CX7 during SSB (and AM) operation, a time delay of 10 milliseconds is introduced on
the build-up of RF output after switching to TRANSMIT manually or by PTT or VOX operation. It is extremely impor-
tant that the CX7 not be operated in the BROADBAND P.A. mode with a separate amplifier until it is determined that
the amplifier’s changeover relays complete closing within 10-12 ms. A monitor scope in the CX7 RF OUTPUT line
will indicate existence of an excessively slow P.A. relay as follows:
while feeding into the MIKE jack and audio tone sufficient to yield full transmitter output (or by whistling
continuously into the mike), operate either the PTT switch on the mike or the CX7 manual TRANSMIT
push-button. If the leading edge of the RF envelope appears smooth and slightly rounded, no problem
exists. If a short “spike” appears, the amplifier relay is excessively slow and you should contact SIGNAL/
ONE Customer Service for information on how to correct the problem.
CW: The CX7 operates full break-in on CW, with envelope rise and fall times on the order of 2-3 milliseconds. Any ac-
companying power amplifier must complete its internal relay closure within this period (which is generally impossible
except for carefully selected vacuum-type relays), must be used with and electronic “T/R” switch, or must be manually
switched before operating the key (as with a foot switch, for example).
Adjustment of “CLIPPING” and “OUTPUT” Controls
CLIPPING: With the OUTPUT control full CCW (minimum) and the CLIPPING meter button depressed, adjust the CLIPPING
control until the meter just deflects off “0” on peaks while speaking in a normal voice. This set-up corresponds to
approximately 5-10 db of RF clipping, which is appropriate for most operation under medium to strong signal con-
ditions. To minimize backgrround noise, it is highly desireable to use a good cardiod mike (such as the EV 664 or
674 or SHURE 545) and to close-talk it. Under difficult conditions, transmitting effectiveness may be enhanced
by increasing theCLIPPING control until the meter swings to half scale on occasional peaks. The use of more clip-
ping than is required under any given circuit conditions will increase audio distortion, rather than intelligibility, at
the receiver. For any given microphone and operators’s voice, the setting of the CLIPPING control is quite consis-
tent and non-critical, so that the knob setting for various degrees of clipping may be once noted and then adjusted
as required thereafter, without need to monitor the meter CLIPPING indication.
OUTPUT: With the CLIPPING control set for 5-10 db normal clipping as described above, the OUTPUT control should be
advanced (with the DRIVE meter button depressed) until the meter just deflects off the “0” on peaks. It should not
swing higher than “1” on the upper meter scale under any conditions, and no benefit can ever be derived (except
excessive background noise) by doing so. WhenEXTERNAL ALC is fed back from a separate power amplifier into
the CX7, the OUTPUT control should be turned only to the point of slight meter deflection described above with
the linear in operation.
CX7 Adjustment & Alignment Notes

TN9-2
TN9
Rev. C.0
Meter Indications Under Normal CX7 Operation
TUNE CONDITIONS:
To determine ifload SWR issufficiently low topermit safe andefficient BROADBANDoperations of the CX7 P.A.,
depress REV PWR push button and slowly increase output control until meter indicates S-3 or fails to increase fur-
ther with increased output setting. Push FWD PWR button. If meter reads S-9 or greater, (for REV PWR at or
below S-3) BROADBAND operation will not damage the CX7. NEVER OPERATE THE CX7 IN THE BROAD-
BAND P.A. POSITION IF THE RATIO OF FWD PWR READING TO REV PWR READING IS LESS THAN
3:1!
At full power output in TUNE, normal meter readings are:
CLIPPING:0 (Deflects in 0 to S-9 range on peaks when transmitting voice, depending on CLIPPING setting).
DRIVE:0 to S-3 (S-1 maximum on voice peaks)
PLATE:2 to 3 (upper scale) (1.5 - 2.0 on voice peaks)
SCREEN:0.5 to 2.0 (upper scale). (0 to 1.0 on voice peaks)
FWD PWR and REV PWR: See preceding paragraph.
W8CXS 9/25/69
CX7 Adjustment & Alignment Notes