Ramsey Electronics QRP CW POWER AMPLIFIER KIT QAMP30 - Manual (Page 16)

QAMP-30 • 16
If you hear an AC hum on the transmitted signal, usual causes are RF getting
back into the power supply or a bad VSWR on the antenna.
These short checks in no way detail any and all problems that can rear their
ugly head, but should get you on the way to solving most errors. We'd like to
be able to foresee a problem a builder may encounter, but the sheer number
of parts and the permutations and combinations of installing them makes any
list of precise, exact solutions impossible. If you run into a roadblock, gather all
your thoughts and information and give a call to the factory for some help. If
you elect to enlist the help of a local expert, great...but be sure the expert is
qualified (no need for having someone lead you down the wrong path)!
Remember: You may always return the kit for factory service, and there's no
charge if the problem is our fault. See the warranty on the last page of this
manual.
USING THE QRP POWER AMPLIFIER
Hooking up and using the amplifier is easy: Just connect your existing
transmitter to the QAMP input and the antenna to the QAMP output. A
resonant antenna is an absolute requirement for QRP operation, and an
amplifier is not a "band-aid" for a poor antenna system!
For maximum performance, a QRP station must include the following:
1 A resonant antenna (dipole or quarter-wave vertical);
2 Good quality coaxial feedline and connectors;
3 An effective earth ground.
We cannot expect good results from low levels of RF output if the power gets
wasted in lousy coax, corroded connections, or poor antennas.
If you elect to use an antenna tuner, it is extremely important that you
understand exactly how to use tuners and what they can and cannot do. A few
watts of RF can easily become lost in an incorrectly adjusted antenna
matching device. The whole idea of a QRP station is to keep things simple and
economical, so we cannot overemphasize the priority of a clean, efficient
connection of the amplifier output to a resonant antenna.
ENCLOSURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Your finished amplifier can be installed in a variety of enclosures of your own
design and choosing. You might be planning to combine several Ramsey
circuit kit boards in a single enclosure. Use of the inexpensive and attractive
Ramsey case and hardware set will give your unit that nice finished look and
increase its resale value. These sturdy black instrument cases are supplied
with neatly lettered front and rear panels, switch knobs, rubber feet and
mounting screws.