[Amps] Re: Thunderbolt

[2]

>
>Rich said:
>
>There is no such thing as a perfect commercially mfg amplifier.
>
>Quite right! If there was, nobody could afford it - not even Uncle Sam!
>
** The reccomendations I made in "The Nearly Perfect Amplifier" [Jan 
1994, QST] amplifier would add c. 10% to the price of an amplifier.  What 
percentage of the Ham community wouldn't like to have an amplifier that 
includes:

*Adjustable filament/heater voltage and a simple voltmeter using the 
multimeter. [$10 to $20] 
*	Step-start relay circuit for the entire amplifier. [$7] 
*	Adjustable transceiver-controlled electronic bias switch. [$2] 
*	High speed RF relays. [$120?] 
*	Low VHF-Q parasitic suppressors. [$1.50] 
*	Separate HV and filament transformers - preferably potted [$60] 
*	Compatible with 100W of drive.
*	Glitch protection diodes for the meter circuits and the negative HV 
circuit. [$0.30] 
*	Glitch resistor in series with the positive lead of the HV power 
supply. [$1.10] 
*	Completely adjustable tuned inputs with a Q of 2 - 3. [$6] 

If I were younger, and I wanted to mfg amplifiers, needless to say, I 
would include all of the above features and say so in my advertisements.  
For those who would like to save c. 10%, buy another mfg's amplifier and, 
as an additional bonus, gain knowledge about amplifier repairs and 
amplifier circuit improvements.   However, for those who take this path, 
a caveat --  Never, Ever write an article for a Ham magazine that 
advertises amplifiers which omit the listed items above. 

cheerz

-  R. L. Measures, a.k.a. Rich..., 805.386.3734,AG6K, 
www.vcnet.com/measures.  
end