[AMPS] a sticky issue.

[Tom Rauch]

> Remember in the last few days we have been told equipment has to be 
> designed for the cheap and the ignorant

Actually that is true. It doesn't mean everyone doesn't know how to 
tune a PA or is cheap, but the fact is many people don't. You'd be 
amazed at the calls!

One fellow bought a CE approved AL811H that has a plug-in power 
cord. He connected the amp to 12 volts through the 12 volt 
accessory jack, and complained he could get the meters to light 
but couldn't get any output.

It took about a half-hour to figure out he never even took the line 
cord out of the box and plugged it in!

Now that doesn't mean all hams are that inexperienced, but it's a 
new world out there. This is becoming more and more like 
consumer electronics than a technical hobby, and don't kid 
yourself.

Things have to be planned for that trend, whether we like it or not. If 
that offends you, too bad. Better get used to it.

> >This should be no surprise.
> >I have the 10-20 meter section of a AL-1500 tank coil in my left hand as
> >I type. I can totally conceal it by wrapping my fingers around it.  It is
> >made out of square bent tubing.
> >
> >(((73)))
> >Phil, K5PC

You can put any size of tank coil you like in the AL1500, and you 
won't change efficiency even a couple percent. That includes 
eliminating the switch and making it a monobander.

There is a fair efficiency improvement to be gained on some early 
models that used a single RG-174 cable from the tube to the tuned 
input. That cable needs to be replaced with 25 ohm or lower Z 
cable, or have two cables parallelled, that'll pick things up about 
10% or so on ten meters. Later models (post 1990) have that 
change.

The 50% Rich claims could be typical exaggeration, or something 
from early production.

The "88 ohm" bypass capacitor can be changed top anything that 
makes Measures "feel all warm and fuzzy", and nothing will 
change.


73, Tom W8JI
w8ji@contesting.com

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