>What happens when they quit making tubes?
For some tube types that happened decades ago. But you can still find
plenty of good 810s etc. decades later.
In other words, what happens when no tube of any type is made?
Answer: Not much, except prices may go up.
What happens when tubes no longer exist?
Not our problem because we'll all be SK.
Why are you so flippant?
Because millions of tubes have been made and for ham use, a pair of
3-500Zs (to use them as an example), will outlast all of us _if they
are treated properly_.
That's the rub. Broadcasters wear out tubes because they run them day
and night non-stop for a year or two and they lose emission.
Hams don't do that. The only time a tube wears out in a ham rig is
when hambone abuses it, usually by running too much plate current or
grid current.
Most common is the single 3-500 "Kilowatt amp" that pisses away 3-500s
every 3 years or so. A certain manufacturer should get a medal from
the Chinese company making 3-500s these days.
If you know how to run your tubes, they'll be running after you are in
the ground.
73
Rob
K5UJ
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