Difference between revisions of "Power amplifiers"

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http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/vhfdx/gm3sek-pa-module-board
 
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/vhfdx/gm3sek-pa-module-board
  
* Rob M0DTS published an easy to construct design using the RD series of FETs in CQ-TV 247 and 249 - a good way to get a clean 5 watts on 146 MHz.
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* Rob M0DTS published an easy to construct design using the RD series of FETs in CQ-TV 247 and 249 - a good way to get a clean 5 watts on 146 MHz. (The full article is available in high resolution in the magazine)
  
 
[[File:rd70.JPG|400px]]
 
[[File:rd70.JPG|400px]]

Revision as of 09:34, 25 March 2017

The choice of power amplifiers for DATV is very critical and due to a characteristic called spectral re-growth it is vital that amplifiers are not overdriven when used on DATV.

The average FM or SSB amplifier MUST backed off by over 50% or 6 - 10dB by reducing the drive from the transmitter.  This means a 50 watt amplifier will only deliver 20 watts of clean DATV power!

For example, on 146 MHz we are aiming to achieve shoulders which are 60 dB down on the main signal and the RA60H1317M Mitsubshi 60 watt brick can only deliver a clean 7 watts out and draws 5 amps at 12v to achieve this!

Transmitter output levels

It is very important to know the power output level of your DATV transmitter so you can decide how much amplification you need.

  • DTX1 is very low power at around - 5dBm and requires an additional driver stage compared to the Portsdown or DATV express
  • Portsdown output is frequency dependent and varies from +4dB (4 milliwatts) on 23cms to +12 dBm on 71 MHz. Output level at 146 and 437 is approximately 10 dBm or 10 milliwatts.
  • DATVexpress is approximately 10 milliwatts on all bands.

Practical designs

Dave G8ADM has written an article for CQ-TV which describes how to use amplifiers from DG0VE when driven by the DTX1 or Portsdown - note this written for the DTX1 and you may not need the additional driver stage for the Portsdown.

ADM PA.jpg


146 MHz amplifiers

  • Sam Jewell G4DDK, 8W amplifier kits, pcb, manual etc.

http://www.g4ddk.com/144MHz8WPA.pdf

  • Anglia Live, suppliers of Mitsubishi power modules

http://www.anglia-live.com/products/rf-products/rf-discretes-modules/rf-mosfets/list/perpage/21/page/1

  • 60W power amplifier pcb (available from G4DDK above)

http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/vhfdx/gm3sek-pa-module-board

  • Rob M0DTS published an easy to construct design using the RD series of FETs in CQ-TV 247 and 249 - a good way to get a clean 5 watts on 146 MHz. (The full article is available in high resolution in the magazine)

Rd70.JPG

437 MHz

23cms

In CQ-TV 249, Clive G3GJA published a review / designs notes on 2 watt amplifiers available from ebay. (The full article is available in high resolution in the magazine)

23cms pa G3GJA.JPG

13cms