AMERITRON ARI-500
AUTOMATIC BAND SWITCH FOR THE ALS-500M/ALS-600 AMPLIFIERS
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
AMERITRON
116 WILLOW ROAD
STARKVILLE, MS 39759 USA
662-323-8211
ARI-500 Automatic Band Switch for ALS-500/600 Instruction Manual
Introduction............................................................................................................ 2
Features ................................................................................................................. 2
Specifications......................................................................................................... 2
Installation ............................................................................................................. 3
Operating ALS-500RC with the ARI-500 ............................................................ 3
ARI-500 Transceiver Compatibility …. ................................................................ 3
Interfacing ARI-500 to Radio for Keying and Band Data …. ............................... 4
Interfacing to Icom Radios ................................................................................... 4
Interfacing to Yaesu Radios ................................................................................. 5
Interfacing to the Elecraft K3 ............................................................................... 6
Interfacing to Kenwood Radios ........................................................................... 6
Operation ............................................................................................................. 8
Technical Assistance.............................................................................................. 9
Schematic............................................................................................................... 10
ARI-500 Transceiver Interface Cables................................................................... 13
Warranty ................................................................................................................ 13
Contents
Ameritron ARI-500
Introduction
Congratulations on choosing the Ameritron ARI-500 Automatic Band Switch for the Ameritron ALS-500M (Ser. No. 13049 and
higher) and ALS-600 (Ser. No. 14378 and higher) amplifiers. The ARI-500 is designed to automatically select the correct frequency
range on these amplifiers by reading the frequency information or band data from the transceiver. This automatic switch is compatible
with most ICOM, Yaesu, and Kenwood transceivers, and the Elecraft K3 transceiver. Some other radios may also be compatible.
Features
PWR:
LINK:
RADIO:
AMP A/B:
REMOTE A/B:
Standby/Operate Toggle switch
Specifications
Receives DC power through the ALS-500M/600 interface cables.
Dimensions 4.5” W x 1.5” H x 4.25 D
Weight 0.4 lbs
2
Green LED indicates the amplifier and transceiver are connected correctly
Red LED indicates information is being received from transceiver. Flashing red indicates information is NOT being received.
RJ-45 Jack for interfacing to the transceiver.
RJ-45 Jacks for interfacing to the ALS-500M or ALS-600 Amplifier
RJ-45 Jacks for use with the optional ALS-500RC Remote Control Head
ARI-500 Automatic Band Switch for ALS-500/600 Instruction Manual
Installation
The ARI-500 connects to the REMOTE A/B jacks on the front of the amplifier. Two RJ-45 cables are supplied to connect jack A
and B from the ARI-500 to the REMOTE A/B jacks on the ALS-500M or ALS-600.
1. Place the ARI in a suitable location.
2. Ensure the amplifier power switch is OFF and the amplifier’s frequency select switch is in the REMOTE position.
3. Plug one of the patch cords into AMP A on the ARI-500. Route the other end to the amplifier and connect it to the REMOTE
A amplifier input.
4. Plug the other patch cord into AMP B on the ARI-500. Route the other end to the amplifier and connect it to the REMOTE B
amplifier input.
Operating ALS-500RC with the optional ARI-500
Skip this section and go to ARI-500 Transceiver Compatibility if the ALS-500RC is not used.
The optional ALS-500RC Remote Control Head can be used with the ARI-500. The ALS-500RC provides current metering (ALS500M) or RF power output metering (ALS-600), TX and O/L (Fault) indications of the amplifier, and O/L resetting of the amplifier
via the ALS-500RC ON/OFF switch by cycling power on the ALS-500M, or operating as a OPERATE/STANDBY switch with the
ALS-600.
To use the ALS-500RC Remote Control Head with the ARI-500:
1) Connect a RJ-45 patch cable to Remote port A of the ARI-500.
2) Connect the other end of this RJ-45 cable to port A of the ALS-500RC remote.
3) ALS-500RC Port B is not used in this application.
Note: JMP 2 inside the ARI-500 must be set as described below when the ALS-500RC is used:
1) JMP 2 in the 1-2 position (Fig. A): Factory default. Must be strapped this way when the ALS-500RC is NOT used.
2) JMP 2 in the 2-3 position (Fig. B): Strapping position when using the ALS-500RC. The Current/RF Power Meter, Power,
TX and O/L indicators are all functional. The ARI-500 Auto O/L Reset (Fig. C) is automatically disabled. The ALS-500RC
POWER switch turns the ALS-500M power ON and OFF, and functions as the ALS-600 OPERATE/STANDBY switch.
Manually reset O/L on both amplifiers by switching the ALS-500RC’s POWER Switch OFF and then ON. When the ALS500RC POWER is switched ON, it takes about four seconds for the ALS-500 to turn on or the ALS-600 to reset.
Note: JMP 2 MUST be in the Factory Default position (FIGURE A) if the ALS-500RC Remote Control Head is NOT used.
Note: JMP 3 should be set to OFF (Figure C) when using the ALS-500RC, as the ALS-500RC provides manual reset functionality.
JMP 2 JMP 2
FIGURE A
(Factory Default)
FIGURE B
ARI-500 Transceiver Compatibility
The ARI-500 is compatible with most ICOM, Kenwood and Yaesu radios for reading band data information and detecting transmitter
keying. Additionally, the ARI-500 low drive current keying interface is compatible with virtually any transceiver’s amplifier keying
output. Newer Kenwood radios have a DB-9 male connector for computer control. Serial data is read from this port to get the band
data. ICOM Transceivers use a “step voltage” for band data. A voltage of 0-8 volts is output from the band data pin of the accessory
jack. Yaesu, older Kenwood, and Elecraft K3 radios output band data in a 4-line BCD format (the Unified Microsystems plan).
Many other transceivers use the 4-line BCD standard as well. Check your transceiver’s instruction manual to see if this is the case. If
so, it will also be compatible with the ARI-500.
3
ARI-500 Automatic Band Switch for ALS-500/600 Instruction Manual
Key In
Kenwood TX / Yaesu BCD D
ICOM 706/718/7000*
ab ove .
Interfacing the ARI-500 to Radio for Keying and Band Data
The ARI-500 RADIO input connection is a RJ-45 jack with specific connections for each radio brand. The diagram below shows the
pin-out of the RADIO input jack. See the specific sections below for more information on interfacing to each particular radio brand.
Ground
Rear Panel View
123456 78
1
2
Kenwood RX
3
4
Yaesu BCD C
5
6
Yaesu BCD B
7
Yaesu BCD A / Icom Power
8
Icom Band Data
NOTE: Multiple radios cannot be simultaneously connected to the
ARI-500. The ARI-500 is designed to operate with only
ONE radio.
Interfacing to ICOM Radios
In order to retrieve band data from ICOM radios, the ARI-500 must be connected to the band data voltage output. This can be found
on the ACC jack on the back of the radio. This 13- or 7-pin jack has the band data voltage, amp-key out (goes to ground when the
radio is transmitting), ALC input, and ground. The diagrams below show the connections required between ICOM radios and the ARI-
500. Connection to an ICOM IC-7000 requires an ICOM approved modification. Follow the instructions in your IC-7000 user’s
manual (page 140) to make the modification. Ameritron will not be held liable for any damage caused by this modification to an IC7000 transceiver. Also note the ALC connection on the IC-706/7000/718 as this is only available on the ICOM accessory connector.
ALC is available on a separate phono jack on the IC-746/756.
ARI-500
Amp Key
ALC
Rear View of
ICOM radio
910
5
1
*IC- 7000 re quires modification fo r ARI-500 operation See paragraph
ICOM 746/756
Rear View of
ICOM radio
1
V
8
.
3
1
1
3
1
1
7
6
3
2
2
1
8
4
d
n
G
Band Data
123 45678
Radi o Inpu t
Rear View of
ARI-500
.
13.8V
Band Data
Gnd
2
5
4
6
7
3
Amp Key
ARI-500
Rear View of
ARI-500
123 45 678
Radio Input
Connection ARI-500 Radio Input
Band Data Voltage Pin 8
Icom Power (13.8V) Pin 7
Amp Key / HSend Pin 2
Ground Pin 1
4
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