Re: [Amps] RE: Perfect Amplifier

[R.Measures <r@somis.org>]

On Sep 6, 2004, at 8:40 AM, Randy wrote:

> This reminds me of the story of the Tucker automobile back in the 50s,
> where the other auto manufacturers wanted the Tucker to be unsuccessful
> because it would cost too much of their profits to compete with all its
> innovative features.

Randy -- The basic innovations/improvements proposed in "The Nearly 
Perfect Amplifier" were hardly costly since a step-start and 
rheostat-adjustable filament-V might add $25., plus a  Low-Q VHF 
suppressors  cost <$1 more than the standard kind.   The big-ticket 
item was/is high-speed switching -- but that improvement is not an 
option with modern radios since conventional relays result in 
hot-switching.
-  The reason for the odium from manufacturers is anybody's guess.  
However, my guess is that they did not like the idea of some schlub 
from the sticks on the West Coast making measurements and pointing out 
some easily corrected problems in their products -- most of which were 
caused by not taking the tube mfg's spec sheets seriously.    For 
example, yesterday I got an e-mail from a guy who bought a used Henry 
amplifier.  He measured 6v on the pair of 3-500Z's (5v) filaments.
-  It is still puzzling to me that the ARRL Lab does not measure 
filament-V or filament inrush-I on the amplifiers they evaluate for the 
QST readership.  Another problem is editing unflattering observations 
from the Lab technician's report before publication in QST.  For 
example, the Lab technician who tested the Ameritron-MFJ AL-1200 
amplifier noted intermittent arcing in the tank during testing, which 
is usually an indication of parasites -- which could have been easily 
confirmed with a spectrum analyzer.  However, the observation of 
intermittent arcing was edited out of the published version.  
Essentially the same thing happened after a commercial "3000w" antenna 
tuner caught fire in the ARRL Lab at the 900W level -- i. e., no 
mention of the fire was made in QST.
  George Grammer, W1DF, is probably turning over in his grave.  /// 
note -- Grammer was QST's Technical Editor in days of yore.
cheerz
> Randy
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]
> On Behalf Of R.Measures
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 5:41 PM
> To: Will Matney
> Cc: amps@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Amps] ARRL Amplifier book
>
>
> On Sep 5, 2004, at 4:04 PM, Will Matney wrote:
>
> > Vic, Richard, and others,
> > You don't reckon it could be that publishing such info anymore would
> > be cutting the throats of the manufacturers who advertises with QST,
> > etc? Hmmmmmmm, just a thought. I once heard a story about QST and ARRL
>
> > refusing to publish good technical info from fear of the amp
> > manufacturers not wanting it published.
>
> -  Will --- which was probably after the article "The Nearly Perfect
> Amplifier" (by yours truly) was published in the January, 1994 issue of
> QST.  Up until the publication of that article, I had heard rumors that
> the League was probably somewhat in the water bed with QST advertisers,
> but I did not realize to what extent.  A couple of months after the
> article came out, the contract that I had signed with the League to
> write the amplifier chapter for the new Handbook had been quietly
> tossed in the roundfile by the League, and the amplifier chapter was
> being written and copy-edited by two Hams who work in amplifier
> manufacturing businesses, both of which advertise in QST.   The good
> news out of all of this is that the manuscript I wrote for the Handbook
> is now available free on the Internet.  And why not if Amateur Radio is
> really amateur?
> -  Epilogue -- The only magazine I subscribe to is "Consumer Reports"
> -- which has no commercial advertising, thank you.
> cheerz
>
> > I shouldn't of said that, nope. If that's all they have in the book, I
>
> > don't want it.
> >
> > Will Matney
> >
> >
> > RICHARD GEORGE wrote:
> >
> >
> > > > ARRL AMPLIFIER BOOK: Just received mine. A little disappointed, but
> > > > should have known. It of course is all reprints of articles from QST
> > > > and QEX. The thing that surprised me is that most of it (or a good
> > > > part of it) is low power SS stuff. It has only one QRO HF amp in the
> > > > whole book. About 240 pages, very little tech stuff.
> >
> > I suspect that they are afraid of litigation...if they publish a
> > design for a QRO amplifier that uses more than 12 volts and someone
> > builds it and gets killed, they could be a target for a dumba**
> > lawsuit.
> >
> > --
> >
> > 73,
> > Vic, K2VCO
> > Fresno CA
> > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Amps mailing list
> > Amps@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
> Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734.  www.somis.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> _______________________________________________
> Amps mailing list
> Amps@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734.  www.somis.org


Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734.  www.somis.org 

_______________________________________________
Amps mailing list
Amps@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps