Monitor amplifier health and chain amplifiers¶
Monitor the ACOM linear amplifier's real-time telemetry and control its operating mode from within AetherSDR.
Before you start¶
- The radio must be connected to AetherSDR.
- An ACOM amplifier must be connected and communicating (serial or TCP) with AetherSDR.
Steps¶
- Open the Applet panel.
- Click the ACOM tile to open the ACOM Amplifier applet.
The applet shows the following real-time readings:
- Forward Power — real-time forward power output from the amplifier.
- SWR — real-time standing wave ratio at the amplifier output.
- Temperature / Drain Current / Mains Voltage — amplifier health telemetry.
Select the amplifier operating mode¶
- In the ACOM Amplifier applet, click Operate to place the amplifier in Operate (active transmit) mode.
- Click Standby to place the amplifier in Standby (bypassed or idle) mode.
The Operate/Standby state indicator below the buttons shows the current mode: Operate, Standby, or Fault. The current mode button is highlighted.
What each control does¶
| Control | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Forward Power | Indicator. Real-time forward power reading from the amplifier. |
| SWR | Indicator. Real-time SWR reading. |
| Temperature / Drain Current / Mains Voltage | Indicators. Amplifier health telemetry readouts. |
| Operate / Standby | Push button. Toggles the amplifier between Operate and Standby modes. Default state at power-on is Standby. |
Tips¶
- The Operate/Standby state indicator may show Fault if the amplifier reports an error. The amplifier must be in a healthy state before it can enter Operate mode.
- ACOM amps automatically track the radio's band, so no manual band selection is required.
Troubleshooting¶
- Clicking Operate does nothing — The amplifier may be in a Fault state. Check the temperature, drain current, and mains voltage readings in the ACOM applet. Resolve the fault condition on the amplifier itself before attempting to re-enter Operate.