The station has two Kenwood TS590SG transceivers, two computers, one for each TS590, and a broad-band commercial laboratory linear (BJT) amplifier. The amplifier is rated for 500W output but I’ve been afraid to try it above 200W. I don’t need the extra power and the amp is important to me so not taking chances. I normally run about 150W or less depending on where the antenna tuning is set. The antenna has a high Q and the tuning wanders around as much as 500 Hz from day to night, with weather, the phase of the moon, etc, and the amp is not happy with some loads so I’m careful.
The RX antenna is an 80’ high vertical with a Hi-Z amplifier at the base. On 630m I use the same RX antenna but the TX antenna is loop, 70’X150’, 2.5mm wire, resonated with a series vacuum capacitor. It’s fed with a ferrite toroid isolation transformer. This antenna is not very efficient but 150W is sufficient to have 5W EIRP.
TX ant
