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GENERAL
The EMTRON DX-2 is a "new breed" and quite unique amplifier on
the market
today. We believe that there is NO OTHER single amplifier
(we know them all!) which would meet the quality, craftsmanship, reliability
and price of the EMTRON DX-2.
This amplifier is designed and built in Australia by professional electronics
engineers, who happened to be also amateurs.
EMTRON does not build this amplifier for the amateur service only, we also
build them
for the Medium Wave community broadcast services operating 24 hours per
day, all year round.
The EMTRON DX-2 is built in modular form. This approach makes it very easy
to service (by just replacing a module) and all parts are easily accessible.
Before you buy any other amplifier, do yourself justice and have a very
good look at the EMTRON DX-2.
BAND COVERAGE
EMTRON DX-2 covers all Nine amateur bands from 160 through 10 meters
including WARC bands at full power.
MODES OF OPERATION
EMTRON DX-2 has been designed and built to operate at full power in any
mode
uch as SSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY and SSTV, and with the optional QSK, any
other digital mode.
OUTPUT POWER
This amplifier will comfortably deliver 1500 watts continuous carrier ("key
down") into your antenna. Its conservative rating of all components
and efficient cooling system
allows effective operation at this power level. With 1600 watts of total
plate dissipation, the DX-2 will operate well below the maximum power rating
of the tube.
DRIVE POWER
In order to achieve full output power, an input power of approximately 30
to 60 watts is required. If your transceiver delivers more output power,
reduce the drive level. Specially when operating RTTY or any other continuous
mode, reduce the drive level and let your transceiver run "COOL"
with less strain on its output components. EMTRON DX-2 is comfortable with
all popular transceivers such as KENWOOD, ICOM, YAESU, JRC, TENTEC, etc.
TUBE
The EMTRON DX-2 operates with one SVETLANA 4CX1600B tube, in class AB1.
This 1600 watt plate dissipation tube has been constructed primarily for
military communication, this tube is physically and electrically exceptionally
rugged and with additional sophisticated protection circuitry incorporated
in the DX-2, it is almost indestructible.
TUBE PROTECTION
The EMTRON DX-2 has a very sophisticated tube protection circuitry, designed
to protect against excessive plate current, screen grid current, screen
grid voltage, bias voltage, overdrive, SWR, etc. The tube is also protected
from excessive temperature by continuously monitoring the airflow temperature.
In case of any fault, the amplifier is automatically cut off.
A 50 ohm, 50 watt resistor in the B+ circuit further protects the tube and
the power supply from a possible internal arc of the tube.
COOLING
A lot of attention was given to the design of DX-2's cooling system. A pressurized
forced air cooling is achieved with a rugged temperature controlled two
speed 70 C.F.M. blower (turbine) which effectively cools all critical components
of the amplifier. The volume of cooling air far exceeds manufacturers' specifications
for all critical components. The
blower is positioned in such a way that it prevents hot air being circulated
through the system.
DUTY CYCLE
The EMTRON DX-2 amplifier will give its designed full output of 1500 watts
when correctly tuned and loaded. Key down tests have been performed to last
a full hour with no damaging effects to the amplifier. We believe that longer
"key down" tests are not important as typical amateur service
does not require extended "key-down" duration.
In order to increase the efficiency, an EBS (Electronic Bias Switch) is
incorporated, and can be disabled if so required. The function of EBS Switch
is well known. The amplifier is turned on ONLY AND ONLY IF RF drive
is present. At all other times, the amplifier tube is virtually resting.
AUTOMATIC DRIVE LEVEL CIRCUIT (ALC)
The ALC circuit in EMTRON DX-2 amplifier is not of a conventional design
like in all other amplifiers. The DX-2 ALC Circuit operates only for one
reason - to prevent overdrive and keep the signal clean.
While operating the DX-2, you could never get the WAN (Worked All Neighbors)
AWARD !! No wonder, the nice compliments the DX-2 operators get on the quality
of their signals.
The ALC in DX-2 senses any slight overdrive (50 micro-amps of grid current),
warns you, and if you don't do anything about it, will cut you off for 2
seconds. The 2 second cut-off is then repeated until the drive level is
being reduced. This ALC circuit also produces a 0 - 10 V negative-going
voltage, proportional to the grid current, but only when overdrive is
present. The EMTRON DX-2 can be operated without connecting your transceiver
to the ALC output of the DX-2 and you are still guaranteed never to overdrive
it. However, connecting the ALC will prevent the overdrive condition to
occur in the first place, and you will not be cut off.
POWER SUPPLY (Click
here for view)
The power supply of the EMTRON DX-2 is also unique. It contains a "SOFT
START INRUSH PROTECTION", a top grade heavy duty transformer, a full
bridge rectifier and eight high voltage filter capacitors of 470 uF/500
volt rating. This gives a total capacitance in the high voltage section
of 58uF and a voltage rating of 4000 volts. The soft start inrush protection
circuit in the new DX-2 amplifier is another unique design found in no other
amplifier so far. It is the best soft start system available today. The
phase controlled 20amp TRIAC will turn on the amplifier using a 3-second
ramp function. The electrolytic capacitors are charged linearly over the
3 second period. This also affects all other circuit components in a similar
manner. Stress in components, failure and "TRANSFORMER BONG" are
non-existent in the EMTRON DX-2.
Yet another unique new design, exclusive to the EMTRON DX-2 amplifier is
its screen grid power supply. Fully voltage regulated for +ve and -ve screen
currents, combined with very effective current limiting, not only totally
protects the 4CX1600B tube, but also due to its wide dynamic range, it keeps
the tube static operation parameters absolutely stable. The
protection against excessive screen current is so good, that we have tested
the operation with full screen voltage, while the plate voltage was absent,
for extended time, without damage to the tube. Needless to say that there
is quite a lot of sophisticated electronics present in the DX-2.
CONTROLLER BOARD (Click here for view)
The most important module, containing most of the above unique circuitry
is the "controller board", which is connected to all the other
parts of the amplifier via a wire loom. This board contains: the screen
grid supply with voltage regulator and current limiting, the regulated grid
bias supply, QSK power supply, the 12VDC power supply, the overdrive, SWR,
temperature control, EBS, plate overcurrent protection etc.
DISPLAY (Click
here for view)
All important parameters such as plate current Ip, plate voltage Vp, output
power, reflected power, screen grid current, linearity, ready, transmit,
high SWR and fault are displayed on a single solid state display panel utilizing
LED's of different colours. No switching of any parameters is required.
We have chosen this sophisticated and advanced system in preference to conventional
moving coil meters even though this system is
about three times more expensive than the conventional meters used by other
amplifier manufacturers.
COMPONENTS
Only the very best components with no compromise are used in EMTRON DX-2
amplifier. All RF components such as band switch, tank coils, chokes, etc.
are of high quality silver plating, ceramic bobbin for lower frequencies
is also used.
FINISH
The finish is of high quality durable backed enamel texture paint and silk
screening of a quality not found on any other similar equipment.
WARRANTY
TWO YEARS full warranty covers all parts and labour, excluding the
tube, which is covered by the tube manufacturer.
FACTORY DIRECT SALES AND SERVICE
The EMTRON DX-2 is sold factory direct, no "middle man" mark up,
you do business with the designers and producers, with people who know the
heart of the DX-2, and they will always be able to give you any technical
advice.
So, get the biggest bargain in top brand linear amplifiers. You are getting
a Rolls Royce for the price of a Volkswagen.DX-2 is especially developed
by EMTRON for those HAMS who demand quality and performance. This power
house will handle all the rigours of contest, DXing and high duty cycle
emissions. |
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