08 September 2017

Looking for clean SS HF PA w/QSK - part 4 (Azden)

Hi all,

next part of my investigation on the market in order to find highly reliable, output clean, compact, solid state HF-6m bands PA with 100% working, smooth QSK at around 1-1.2kW heavy-duty output and standard radio interface is here...


As you know my preview parts talked about:
SPE EXPERT 1.3K-FA
ACOM 1200S
JUMA PA1000
LINEAR Amp Gemini HF-1K

After the Japan Ham Fair I realized that two new SS amps by AZDEN are coming to the market. As I read somewhere already the AZR-550FZ looks a lot like a Tokyo Hy Power clone and the second bigger brother the AZR-1000 looks a little like an all black SPE Expert 1K...

What can we find at that moment (as Azden has nothing on their pages in Ham radio Products section yet) is as follows:

Azuru/Azden Corporation is a booth of HamFair 2017 at the company’s booth, HF (1.8 to 28 MHz band) + 50 MHz band linear amplifier “AZR – 550 FZ (maximum output 550 W)” and “AZR – 1000 (maximum output 1,000 W)” using MOS FET We released two models. Both are small and lightweight by adopting switching power supply.

● AZR-550FZ is a compact and lightweight HF band linear amplifier. By adopting the switching power supply, the total mass is only 9.2kg, it is very convenient to carry.

● MOS FET (4x MRF 150 in parallel) adopted. Maximum output is 550 W. It has the characteristics of broadband amplifier, only band filters switching are adjusted.





● Supply voltage range from AC 100V to 240V without switchover, wide range of operations can be performed not only in Japan, but also overseas DX-peditions.

● Drain current (ID), drain voltage (VD), output power (PF), reflected power (PR) can be measured with a multimeter, and the operating status of each part can be easily confirmed.

● Protection circuit is carried for each part protection. Over input, SWR excessive, abnormal overheating, drain overvoltage, overcurrent.

● Size: 232 W × 142 H × 392 D mm, Weight 9.2 kg

According to the company, this linear amplifier is domestically manufactured and the auto antenna tuner is not installed. It is a reprint version of HL – 550 FX that was released from Tokyo Hy Power. It is scheduled to be released within the year.





● AZR-1000 is a compact HF band linear amplifier. By adopting a highly efficient switching power supply circuit using SiC, it has become compact and lightweight.

● Use MOS FET (8x VRF 151 in push-pull). Maximum output is 1,000 W (SSB/CW) It adopts low distortion broadband amplifier, it can obtain 1,000 W typical power.

● Supply voltage range from AC 100V to 240V without switchover, wide range of operations can be performed not only in Japan, but also overseas DX-peditions.

● Operation status can be easily controlled by LCD display.

● Protection circuit is carried for each part protection. Over input, SWR excessive, abnormal overheating, drain overvoltage, overcurrent.

● Size: 370 W × 200 H × 300 D mm, Weight 15 kg





The display of the AZR – 1000 is a touch type and the size is 7 inches. This is for the operation of the built-in auto antenna tuner.

According to the company, this product is equipped with an auto antenna tuner of type that measures the impedance of the antenna and takes matching. In addition to the SSB/CW, RTTY etc. can also get output of 1,000 W, they says. The display is a touch type, and it is possible to connect to each company transceiver of the type that outputs band data. The product is domestically manufactured, the release is scheduled for 2018.


The AZR-1000 has six antennas switch implemented. Each antenna can be assigned to each frequency. That means, if you preset antenna and the frequency into the AZR-1000 and when transmitting, the AZR-1000 recognizes the TX frequency and switches antenna as preset. That is not all. The AZR-1000 will adopt silent switching mechanism. Some conventional ATUs alter relay sound noise. The AZR-1000 will reduce the noise sound drastically. The show model is only for displaying. "Concept of the AZR-1000 has been finished. Now we make samples and test." A staff said at Tokyo HamFair...



There is nothing about the T/R switching circuitry but it sounds promising. On the other hands remember all of the horrible T/R switching circuits in Japanese radios for past years so we should be very careful and wait for more detailed information and field tests of the QSK feature!

The AZR-550FZ should be offered at 285,000Yen ($2600).
The release date for AZR-1000 will be 2019. Price might be less than $7000.

Links:
Azden at Hamlife.co.jp
Azden.co.jp
QRZ.com

Do not hesitate to email me in case of translation help needs...


73 - Petr, OK1RP
"auf die Dauer hilft nur Power" (Erich, HB9FIH)








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