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KB2VXA > AM 03.06.03 12:01l 47 Lines 1868 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 8473_WT3V
Read: GUEST DB0FHN
Subj: Re: VK6BE > brief nostalgia
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<OK0PPL<RZ6HXA<HA3PG<VE1ATT<WB0TAX<KB2TXP<KB2FAF<WB2VPY<
WA3LWR<W2LV<WA2SNA<KB2VLX<KC2COJ<WT3V
Sent: 030603/0705Z @:WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM #:8473 [Lakehurst] $:8473_WT3V
From: KB2VXA@WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
To : AM@WW
Hi Bob and the Amplitude Mutilators,
Yes, everything you wrote about brought back fond memories. RF chain,
6AU6 VFO, 6BQ5 xtal osc/buffer, 5763 driver and a pair of 6146Bs FPA. The
ausio consisted of a 12AX7 speech amp, parallel 12AU7 driver and push
pull class AB1 6146B mutilators. Typical Johnson design, a homebrew
favorite too. My stuff was all homebrew but wasn't on Amateur
frequencies, that's another story...
I loved the cozy blue glow of the mercury rectumfriers but 866s were to
puny for my tastes, 8008s were a better match for the 4-400As and the
pretty orange glow, FIREBOTTLES!
I was SO happy when xenon tubes ended those nasty flashovers and tripped
HV primary breakers. I was even happier when silicon stacks ended tube
replacement! Still the 4-400s glow and pulse with the voice peaks, still
the original stacks are in place, several sets of 4-400s later.
Unfortunately, sooner or later those firebottles will be no more,
unavailable as manufacturing them comes to a halt altogether. The
broadcast industry is almost all solid state, no need for high power
transmitting tubes. Meanwhile lots of old broadcast transmitters are on
thier way to the scrap yard, many of them being intercepted by Hams
looking for AM kilowatts.
Then there are the FM transmitters, how's putting 25KW on 2M sound to
you? Too much you say? CHICKEN! Well, for the faint of heart and poor of
electricity there are plenty of 1.2KW rigs being scrapped.
Well Bob, since you can't get an HF signal out of your back yard, maybe
at least you'll HEAR me on 2M FM. (;->)
73 de Warren, KB2VXA @ WT3V
E-MAIL: kb2vxa@juno.com
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Message timed: 07:11 on 2003-Jun-03 GMT
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