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Re: [Amps] CB Amps or full spectrum???

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] CB Amps or full spectrum???
From: "Peter Voelpel" <df3kv@t-online.de>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:57:50 +0200
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
It´s no tube amp, but a 12V transistor amp where band passes are necessary 

73
Peter 

-----Original Message-----
From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of RAY FRIESS
Sent: Mittwoch, 10. Oktober 2007 17:48
To: Tom Rauch; chasm@texas.net; amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] CB Amps or full spectrum???

I wondering about your comment about filtering.  If you look at the tank
circuit of these amps, you see a pi network that is usually no different
than any other amp, except the coil is small turns wise because it is for 11
meters (and close to 10 meters as well).   So what kind of "filtering" are
you talking about?
If the pi network is not different than, say, a 30L-1 or an SB 200 or any
other amp with a pi network, why would harmonics be any more of a problem
than with other amps?
Ray  wa7itz
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Tom Rauch<mailto:w8ji@contesting.com>
  To: chasm@texas.net<mailto:chasm@texas.net> ;
amps@contesting.com<mailto:amps@contesting.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 9:42 AM
  Subject: Re: [Amps] CB Amps or full spectrum???



  There are at least four major problems with the amps, not
  two.

  1.) Filtering. They need filters to reduce harmonics.

  2.) Power output. These amps are all really ratty at rated
  power, and it has nothing to do with bias. ANY transistor,
  especially one running at 12 volts, can't be pushed anywhere
  near the saturated power or the IM goes to heck. A typical
  rule of thumb is if the amp starts to limit power at 100
  watts, the useful peak output for reasonable IMD will about
  50-75 watts.

  This is why the FT1000MP's and TS440's and such we use will
  run 150 watts or more output if someone gets inside and
  screws up the power limiting controls. Even if left alone at
  100watts, they are marginal for IM products. Bump them up
  another 20-50% and they go to heck fast. It's all part of
  the CB mentality. While a tube amp, in particular a cathode
  driven triode, can be driven to near the point of power
  limiting without objectionable IM products a bipolar
  transistor cannot.

  You might get away with a somewhat trashy 400 watt amp on a
  small inefficient mobile antenna, but not when it is 1500
  watts out and especially not on a big antenna!!! So if the
  amp runs 1000 watts carrier before it starts to get into
  heavy gain compression it's probably good for 500 - 700
  watts, depending on how clean you want it.

  This has NOTHING to do with bias, although the bias voltage
  stability under full drive can affect the IM a little bit.

  3.) Idling or low drive bias. CB amps don't usually have
  any. Replacing it or installing it for SSB service requires
  a regulated bias source that has very low source impedance. 
  The idle bias sets the cross-over or low level distortion
  products. They are still harmful, but not as much as the
  full drive saturation above causes.

  4.) Transformers. CB amps often have only transformers good
  at upper HF.

  5.) Feedback. Many CB amps don't have negative feedback that
  reduces distortion and stabilizes the amp.


  73 Tom


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