A600 HF/VHF 600W linear amplifier kit

Description

The v2.1 is a further evolution of the A600 design that was awarded 2nd place in the NXP Homebrew RF Design Challenge 2019.

As v2.0 already offered excellent RF performance, v2.1 adds more ruggedness:

• • Wider DC tracks, upgraded T5 and doubled feedback resistors minimize heating even under long transmit cycles at full power (digital modes, contesting etc.)
  • Input TVS diodes adds another layer of protection against accidental excessive drive
  • Larger L1 reduces EMI from the board and improves filtering at high currents

This is an Advanced level kit and assumes you have a good understanding of electronics. The PCB is supplied with the surface-mount components already installed, but some of the parts supplied in this kit will require assembly and soldering. You will also have to source a power supply and a large heatsink, drill and tap the heatsink and build your choice of input-output switching circuitry. Recommendations are included in the provided Assembly Instructions.

The Sensor Port provides sensor outputs for measuring circuit parameters such as supply voltage, supply current, heatsink temperature, forward power and reflected power, input drive power. They are all analog signals in the 0-5V range and can be easily interfaced with a microcontroller of your choice (eg: Arduino) to implement display or protection routines. The signals are described in the provided Assembly Instructions.

To use this amplifier on the air and meet legal requirements, it is recommended you use a bank of switchable Low Pass Filters and make sure you don’t overdrive it beyond the design output power.