EB5AGV's FT-102 Power Amplifier tuning

Keep them glowing!

FT-102

As most tubed power amplifiers (one exception is the Central Electronics CE-100V and CE-200V), the FT-102 PA should be tuned to work. Here you have a brief guide to do this. I have extracted this information from the User's Manual and has worked for me all right. I keep a copy of this information just below the rig, for fast access when I switch from another transmitter (not all are the same!)

Select defaul values for the controls:
- MODE: TUNE
- LOADING: 0
- BAND: desired band
- PLATE: pre-select depending on band
- DRIVE: 0
- METER SELECT: Ic
Connect POWER and HEATER and wait 1 minute
Turn the RF AMP ON and find a peak in background noise with PRESELECT
Activate PTT momentarily. Ic should be 75 to 80mA
Press PTT. Set DRIVE to about 9 o'clock position. Adjust PRESELECT for a peak reading.
The following steps should be maximum 5 seconds each:
- Activate PTT. Find an Ic DIP with PLATE control. Go back to reception.
- Press the PTT. Get an ALC indication of '9' with the DRIVE control. Return to reception.
- Put LOADING to '1'. Press PTT. Get an Ic DIP with PLATE. Go back to receiving mode.
- Advance the LOADING control slightly and re-DIP with PLATE until the Ic DIP is exactly at 300mA (350mA in 1.8MHz band). The final LOADING position should be close to the table shown in manual (page 24).

Please, let me know if you have any doubt, comment or correction about the information shown in this page.

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