Thanks Jay for making this video. I recently got my first linear amplifier, an old Yaesu FL-2100Z. I found the manual very confusing to use. Your video explained everything I needed to get the amp up and running safely. I'm confident enough to use it now when I need it, thanks to you. Great work! 73's Syd EI3IEB
Here is a small modification for FL2100. The capacitors C8 and C9 220pF (between grids and ground ) are too small , this affects the amp performace for bands below 20m. Replace it with at least 2200pF. With this mod the required max TRX power is 45 Watt for 40m.
Very good simple to understand video. I have just got an FL-2100Z also and now I know how to tune it with more confidence. Many thanks for this really appreciate that. Dean 2E0GXL
I have a Yaesu FL-2100B. I want to match it to a Yeasu FT 2000. Is it just the ALC connection from HF radio to Amp. I us a Heath kit amp for now. Are they similar. Thanks.
Im not sure if your question is about the Yaesu amp or the Heathkit so lets talk about the Yaesu amp. In order for it to operate, at the very minimum you need the connection from the FT2000 to the AMP to switch the amp on and off at the time of transmit and receive. This is not the ALC. It is marked on the back of the FT2000 as "TX GND" and its connection on the Yaesu amp should be marked as E and RY with E being ground. If you are going to hook up the ALC then the specified range for ALC voltage to be used with the FT-2000D is 0 to -4 Volts DC. Amplifier systems utilizing different ALC voltages will not work correctly with the FT-2000D, and their ALC lines must not be connected if this is the case. I am fairly sure the two Yaesu are compatible ALC designs. This conversation has reminded me that I don't have my ALC hooked up, so maybe that will be my task for today, LOL. I don't overdrive my amp and I have always been careful about how I use it so I'm confident that no damage has been done. As far as the Heathkit goes, The two are very similar from what I understand. My son has one but I have not used it so my personal experience is not really enough to give any specifics of their characteristics.
Very nice way of giving all the little details, I really learned a lot on how to tune up an Amplifier, on the dip part, do I always get the lowest response of the meter on the plate side?
@@JamisonTompkins thann you does it apply on any kind of linear? I'm using an AL-811 and is now pushing about 450iishwatts on 50watts drive from the radio does that sounds about right?
I would have liked to see you adjust the swr. Do you use the inbuilt antenna tuners? That step wasn't clear. Was the swr meter between radio and amp? Or amp and antenna? Cheers
You can not use the antenna tuner in your radio. Any tuner would have to be between amp and antenna SWR meter would have to be between amp and tuner. Never attempt to use a tuner before the amp. Or the tuner in your rig. NEVER. I didn’t need to use a tuner with this because the antenna was a ground mounted vertical tuned for the twenty meter band.
@@JamisonTompkins Jay most new rigs can handle 600ohm imp, i use my rigs auto tuners if the amp in use has a high input impedance above 1.3.... (meaning if the amplifier has no input circuit or if it has a high swr input, ) (not output) hope you understand, built more than 250 amps over the years.
Jay, thank you. I have an FLDX2000 - but principal is same. I don't know where to have the Thumbwheel - because it changes the scale when I move it (obviously) so where should it be ?? Mark VK2MRF.
@@JamisonTompkins All good. It's the vertical wheel over on the right - I have left it around the center position. I have been using the FLDX2000 this evening with 15 contacts made throughout the USA & Italy this afternoon. I must be tuning it all ok. As I TX, the meter is well before the RED zone. Thanks again, cheers Mark VK2MRF.
Ohh I know what you mean now. I guess I had an old man moment. That thumb wheel is a sensitivity adjustment to keep the needle in scale. Thanks for the kind words about the video. Glad you liked it.
@@JamisonTompkins Jay - thank you for your prompt reply. When I realised this video was 4 years ago, I thought mmm, may not hear from this guy - but I did !! Ok, please don't think I am too stupid here Jay, but what is throwing me, is if you can move the needle in scale with that thumbwheel, how do I know "where" the accurate position is? It may look good on the meter - BUT - it may be wrong and affect my tuning ?? Apologies Jay - Mark VK2MRF.
That thumb wheel is the meter sensitive for SWR measurements. It should have no affect when rocker switch is in the IP position. In the video I use a separate swr and power meter.
To measure SWR with the internal meter you must first set the F and R switch to the F position. Transmit a carrier at the power you want to be at and adjust the sensitivity knob to .6. The max setting on the scale. Then switch to R and you are now set to read the swr. Each time you change power you will need to reset this. I hope this helps you. de k6ruv
@@JamisonTompkins very helpful. Thanks. I guess I will need an antenna tuner between the amp and the antenna? The auto time function built into the radio does nothing now right?
Ralph yes the internal tuner needs to be completely out of the picture. Yes the tuner has to go between amp and antenna. You need a big tuner for this. It has to handle the power. Most my antennas are resonate for the band I use them on so I have no real need for a auto tuner however I do have a big old HealthKit manual tuner that can handle much more power than the amp can put out. Since we’re talking I would recommend you get a computer style fan and lay it on top of the amp where the tubes are. It needs to be sucking air out and leave it on all the time. K6ruv
The Antenna output on the radio goes to the Ant input on the amplifier and the output of the amplifier goes to the tuner/antenna. You do not use a tuner in the radio or between the radio and amplifier. Once you have done that you will need a dual circuit PTT hand or foot switch. Heil makes one and I make one. Mine is back ordered now for four to six weeks due to supply chain in China. Mine is very heavy duty and sells for $44.50. One of the two switches is designed to activate before the other so the amp comes on before the Radio. You can email me at K6ruv@mac.com if you want one. Or text 714-488-2015
@@JamisonTompkins Interesting, so with a dual circuit PTT you don't have to worry about the buffering circuits and all that stuff. Simple, which is nice.
GREAT AMPLIFIER I OWN ONE I GOT IT FORM ON OWER ITS LIKE NEW WITH THE ORIGINAL CENTRON 572BS I NEVER PUSH IT I LET IT LOAF AT 500 PEP NEVER HIT IT HARD ALC LOW THE AMP IS ALL ORIGINAL YOU WILL ENJOY THAT AMP THIS AMP IS MY GO TO AMP⚡⚛👍I AM ON 40 METERS AND IT BURNS THE ATMOSPHERE ⚛📻⚛
Maybe not, but I do. That’s how I was taught over 60 years ago. It doesn’t take that much extra time so anything I can do to keep my tubes safe I will. I also just tune once in the center of the band, I don’t retune at every freq.. if you are going to retune at each freq on a band then go ahead and tune at your highest power once you have tuned up on the band. Have a great day Tim 73
Hey? Thanks bunches.... I getting ready to get my TS-830 station out of storage.. and I prefer to run a FL2100B amp.... nice refresher on tuning... Jogged my old brain... Dip yer plate, and peak the load.... of course I cheat... on tuning the radio... as It is a complete 830 station... with the SM 220 Station Monitor Brigitte de K7SSC. (Killing 7 Super Sonic Chickens) giggle
That's bullshit the way RUclips, you do your video's, like we already know what all the switches and knobs all do, like now I have paused it halfway through the video and it still has not got to the tuning of the amplifier, I call that data stealing, RUclips stop that you thief's.
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It was a very nice demonstration I’m in the process of buying one and I think what I watch you do will help me quite a lot thank you God bless
Hi Jay! Thank you so much for this. I just got an FL-2100B, and this is a huge help.
This was a fantastic video. It was a great help for me with my new amp. Thank you!
Thanks Jay for making this video. I recently got my first linear amplifier, an old Yaesu FL-2100Z. I found the manual very confusing to use. Your video explained everything I needed to get the amp up and running safely. I'm confident enough to use it now when I need it, thanks to you. Great work! 73's Syd EI3IEB
Thanks Syd, I’m glad it helped you. I never know if people are
laughing at me or if it was helpful. So thanks again for your nice comment
Thanks Jay for the excellent video and advice on the FL2100B amplifier so much beter explanation than what is in the manual, many thanks to you and 73
Jay... really enjoyed your vid! Well done. VE5RR
That was really helpful, thank you!
Here is a small modification for FL2100. The capacitors C8 and C9 220pF (between grids and ground ) are too small , this affects the amp performace for bands below 20m. Replace it with at least 2200pF. With this mod the required max TRX power is 45 Watt for 40m.
Jay- i just was given this amp from an SK sale, My question is the interdace in back, not sure what I need to use to hook up to my kenwood.
thanks
what type of radio are you using and what did you use as your in between for the radio to the amp?
Very good simple to understand video. I have just got an FL-2100Z also and now I know how to tune it with more confidence.
Many thanks for this really appreciate that.
Dean 2E0GXL
great vidio .do the fl2100b run the 527b tube like in the ameritron amp? or what the 572b/t160 ? bit of diference in price ? regards vk5grs .
Graham Smith I’m using the 572b from DX Engineering $89 each.
Thank you for the video. DC1BC
Thanks for a great video. is the amp wired for 110 or 220VAC?
It was wired for 110v when i did this video.. i have since switched it to 220v
Thank you for the video. Very helpful // W4EMB //
I have a Yaesu FL-2100B. I want to match it to a Yeasu FT 2000. Is it just the ALC connection from HF radio to Amp. I us a Heath kit amp for now. Are they similar. Thanks.
Im not sure if your question is about the Yaesu amp or the Heathkit so lets talk about the Yaesu amp. In order for it to operate, at the very minimum you need the connection from the FT2000 to the AMP to switch the amp on and off at the time of transmit and receive. This is not the ALC. It is marked on the back of the FT2000 as "TX GND" and its connection on the Yaesu amp should be marked as E and RY with E being ground. If you are going to hook up the ALC then the specified range for ALC voltage to be used with the FT-2000D is 0 to -4 Volts DC. Amplifier systems utilizing different ALC voltages will not work correctly with the FT-2000D, and their ALC lines must not be connected if this is the case. I am fairly sure the two Yaesu are compatible ALC designs. This conversation has reminded me that I don't have my ALC hooked up, so maybe that will be my task for today, LOL. I don't overdrive my amp and I have always been careful about how I use it so I'm confident that no damage has been done. As far as the Heathkit goes, The two are very similar from what I understand. My son has one but I have not used it so my personal experience is not really enough to give any specifics of their characteristics.
Very nice way of giving all the little details, I really learned a lot on how to tune up an Amplifier, on the dip part, do I always get the lowest response of the meter on the plate side?
Thank you for the positive response. Yes you dip it to the lowest point.
@@JamisonTompkins thann you does it apply on any kind of linear? I'm using an AL-811 and is now pushing about 450iishwatts on 50watts drive from the radio does that sounds about right?
@@jaywardjulian6163 that’s about right. Is that cw, SSB. .?
@@JamisonTompkins its during the tuning process and it does show on the wattmeter while audio testing 450watts
@@jaywardjulian6163 oh then yes. Very much like my yaesu
I would have liked to see you adjust the swr. Do you use the inbuilt antenna tuners? That step wasn't clear.
Was the swr meter between radio and amp? Or amp and antenna?
Cheers
You can not use the antenna tuner in your radio. Any tuner would have to be between amp and antenna SWR meter would have to be between amp and tuner. Never attempt to use a tuner before the amp. Or the tuner in your rig. NEVER. I didn’t need to use a tuner with this because the antenna was a ground mounted vertical tuned for the twenty meter band.
@@JamisonTompkins thanks so much Jay
@@JamisonTompkins Jay most new rigs can handle 600ohm imp, i use my rigs auto tuners if the amp in use has a high input impedance above 1.3.... (meaning if the amplifier has no input circuit or if it has a high swr input, ) (not output) hope you understand, built more than 250 amps over the years.
Jay, thank you. I have an FLDX2000 - but principal is same. I don't know where to have the Thumbwheel - because it changes the scale when I move it (obviously) so where should it be ?? Mark VK2MRF.
I don’t know what you mean by thumb wheel. The two machines, FL and FLDX are basically the same. At least from what I have seen.
@@JamisonTompkins All good. It's the vertical wheel over on the right - I have left it around the center position. I have been using the FLDX2000 this evening with 15 contacts made throughout the USA & Italy this afternoon. I must be tuning it all ok. As I TX, the meter is well before the RED zone. Thanks again, cheers Mark VK2MRF.
Ohh I know what you mean now. I guess I had an old man moment. That thumb wheel is a sensitivity adjustment to keep the needle in scale. Thanks for the kind words about the video. Glad you liked it.
@@JamisonTompkins Jay - thank you for your prompt reply. When I realised this video was 4 years ago, I thought mmm, may not hear from this guy - but I did !!
Ok, please don't think I am too stupid here Jay, but what is throwing me, is if you can move the needle in scale with that thumbwheel, how do I know "where" the accurate position is? It may look good on the meter - BUT - it may be wrong and affect my tuning ?? Apologies Jay - Mark VK2MRF.
That thumb wheel is the meter sensitive for SWR measurements. It should have no affect when rocker switch is in the IP position. In the video I use a separate swr and power meter.
very nicely done
Thank you so much.
Can you please also explain the swr functions on the amp please? 73
To measure SWR with the internal meter you must first set the F and R switch to the F position. Transmit a carrier at the power you want to be at and adjust the sensitivity knob to .6. The max setting on the scale. Then switch to R and you are now set to read the swr. Each time you change power you will need to reset this. I hope this helps you. de k6ruv
@@JamisonTompkins very helpful. Thanks. I guess I will need an antenna tuner between the amp and the antenna? The auto time function built into the radio does nothing now right?
Ralph yes the internal tuner needs to be completely out of the picture. Yes the tuner has to go between amp and antenna. You need a big tuner for this. It has to handle the power. Most my antennas are resonate for the band I use them on so I have no real need for a auto tuner however I do have a big old HealthKit manual tuner that can handle much more power than the amp can put out. Since we’re talking I would recommend you get a computer style fan and lay it on top of the amp where the tubes are. It needs to be sucking air out and leave it on all the time. K6ruv
@@JamisonTompkins yes. The fan mod has been done.
Hard to find large antenna tuners here in Australia. :-(
Thank you. VK4HAY.
How would this amp be connected to ft-891 and an ft-950?
The Antenna output on the radio goes to the Ant input on the amplifier and the output of the amplifier goes to the tuner/antenna. You do not use a tuner in the radio or between the radio and amplifier. Once you have done that you will need a dual circuit PTT hand or foot switch. Heil makes one and I make one. Mine is back ordered now for four to six weeks due to supply chain in China. Mine is very heavy duty and sells for $44.50. One of the two switches is designed to activate before the other so the amp comes on before the Radio. You can email me at K6ruv@mac.com if you want one. Or text 714-488-2015
I forgot one thing. For the Yaesu you will need or build a mic PTT adapter. Heil has one, stock number AD-1-YM
Got it. I think. I'll email you for info on your cable. Thank you!
@@JamisonTompkins Interesting, so with a dual circuit PTT you don't have to worry about the buffering circuits and all that stuff. Simple, which is nice.
GREAT AMPLIFIER I OWN ONE I GOT IT FORM ON OWER ITS LIKE NEW WITH THE ORIGINAL CENTRON 572BS I NEVER PUSH IT I LET IT LOAF AT 500 PEP NEVER HIT IT HARD ALC LOW THE AMP IS ALL ORIGINAL YOU WILL ENJOY THAT AMP THIS AMP IS MY GO TO AMP⚡⚛👍I AM ON 40 METERS AND IT BURNS THE ATMOSPHERE ⚛📻⚛
Is it necessary to retune as you increase the drive?
Maybe not, but I do. That’s how I was taught over 60 years ago. It doesn’t take that much extra time so anything I can do to keep my tubes safe I will. I also just tune once in the center of the band, I don’t retune at every freq.. if you are going to retune at each freq on a band then go ahead and tune at your highest power once you have tuned up on the band. Have a great day Tim 73
Hey? Thanks bunches.... I getting ready to get my TS-830 station out of storage.. and I prefer to run a FL2100B amp.... nice refresher on tuning... Jogged my old brain... Dip yer plate, and peak the load.... of course I cheat... on tuning the radio... as It is a complete 830 station... with the SM 220 Station Monitor
Brigitte
de K7SSC. (Killing 7 Super Sonic Chickens) giggle
That's bullshit the way RUclips, you do your video's, like we already know what all the switches and knobs all do, like now I have paused it halfway through the video and it still has not got to the tuning of the amplifier, I call that data stealing, RUclips stop that you thief's.