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The reason Svetlana tubes oscillate in the FL2100 is two-fold:
-
FL2100 Bias is inadequate for Svetlana tubes. Svetlana tubes have LOWER mu
(not higher as some people claim) and draw more current for a given amount of
bias.
- The FL2100 has
no neutralization
and is not stable
at HF under all
load conditions.
This is true with
any tube in this
amplifier.
The FL2100Z was
revised in an
attempt to fix these
problems. The
FL2100Z:
- The
FL2100Z has an
improved (but
still unusual) bias system.
-
The FL2100Z has a very poor attempt at neutralization or feedback.
Bias Error
The FL2100 only applies ~15 volts
negative bias to the 572B grids for cutoff. This is not adequate for some 572B tubes, especially those with slightly lower mu
like Svetlana tubes.

Yaesu obviously
learned standby bias
was not high enough.
Later versions of
the FL2100, the
FL2100Z, used a
voltage tripler in
the bias.

An inexpensive 12V
low current relay
corrects the bias
issue with out
complicated circuit
or wiring changes.

Feedback Error
The FL2100 design uses a capacitor from the OUTPUT of the pi network back to the
input of the tubes.
A good design would NEVER do
something like this.
A pi-network transforms phase along with load
impedance. As the
tuning and loading
controls are moved,
and as the antenna
load impedance
changes, the phase
of the feedback
voltage changes. The
output tuning and
loading as well as
the antenna
impedance greatly
affects feedback voltage.

A good design would never neutralize or add feedback from the OUTPUT of a tank
circuit with a varying load back to the input.
What the design errors do in the Yaesu FL2100
When the antenna relay open, the LOAD is removed from the pi network. This
INCREASES the amount of feedback by several times. The tubes, having less mu and
requiring more bias, are no longer in cutoff with the relay open and draw
current. This allows the tubes to amplify, and the greatly increased feedback
causes the FL2100 to oscillate on whatever frequency the tank is tuned to. With
no load, the voltage soars to many kV until the
bandswitch
arcs.
Changing tube brands in even a reasonably design amplifier is no problem at all.
Changing tube brands (especially when a brand does not have the same
characteristics) in an amplifier with multiple major design errors can be a big
problem.
The Svetlana "fix" of increasing FL2100 bias is really not a " fix". It
is a marginal patch.
Corrections
Feedback
The most important "fix" would involve removing the capacitor
from the output of the tank back to the tube input. This would disable the very poor feedback
system.
Neutralization page.
If the amp is unstable at upper HF, a neutralization system similar to that
used in the AL-811H
or AL-572B Ameritron
could be used.
Bias
The FL2100 bias system should be rewired so the relay
opens the filament CT return. Normal operating bias should be left on the grids.
This would FULLY cut-off any tube brand.
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