I agree about the antenna. And if you can buy an Alpha then more power to
ya. Literally.
But for $500 you can buy a Heathkit SB-220. Like many older amps it comes
from the days when power was rated in DC input, so you can't run this amp at
a KW out in a RTTY contest. Neither the power supply nor the tank circuit is
up to the task for extended operation. But you can back off the drive on
your rig and run 400w out without meltdown. That's 6 dB over your 100w
exciter alone, which is nothing to sneeze at. Tubes are still available at
reasonable prices (have you priced ceramic metal triodes lately?), and the
amp is easy to work on should service be necessary. The SB-220 is actually
quite well designed, and as long as you accept its limitations it will
perform well in RTTY service. Similarly if you can find a Drake L4B
($600-$700) it will perform well on RTTY if you back off on the drive.
73,
Doug, K4DSP
On 2/24/06, Bill Turner <dezrat@copper.net> wrote:
>
> ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
>
> At 09:12 PM 2/23/2006, Tom Osborne wrote:
> >What would be the the best "bang for the buck"--upgrade to a better radio
> or
> >buy an amplifier?
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Traditional wisdom says the best bang for the buck is to spend it on
> the antenna. Assuming you have already done that, next would be spend
> it on an amp, IMO.
>
> However... For only $1k you won't get much of an amp, considering you
> need one capable of 100% duty cycle for RTTY. Save your nickels and
> dimes until you can afford an Alpha or other brick-on-the-key amp
> rated at full legal output. You won't be sorry.
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
>
> p.s. Beware of the older Alphas which were rated for DC input instead
> of RF output. They are fine amps but you need to back them off for
> RTTY. The later ones are better in that respect. A used 91b is a good
> choice at the lower end of the price range. It'll last forever.
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>
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