[Amps] Alpha to Omega

[Dick Green WC1M]

The open frame relay switches in additional inductance for the plate choke
on 80 and 160. It's activated only when you change to/from one of those
bands. It doesn't switch with T/R, so it doesn't need to be fast. An
expensive vacuum relay would be inappropriate and more than overkill. The
frame relay is a bit noisy, but when it switches the stepper motors are
moving as well, and they're pretty noisy. Again, the noise occurs only when
you change bands.

73, Dick WC1M

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Harold B. Mandel [mailto:ka1xo at juno.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 6:31 AM
> To: AMPS at Contesting.com
> Subject: [Amps] Alpha to Omega
> 
> 
> What good does gold plating do at HF frequencies?
> 
> Matter-of-fact, what good does silver plating tank components 
> do at HF frequencies?
> 
> I looked at the photo, in close-up, of the Omega.
> 
> The air-variable capacitor stator support shaft
> is bent, coming downwards in the middle of
> the capacitor.
> 
> The vertical RFC near the air-variable looks to have
> a relay contact on its top.  The relay looks like an
> open-frame variety redolent of the Magnacraft
> High Voltage tap-changer on the '77 series.
> 
> Would not a Kilovac H-8, or similar, be more
> apropos to a "state-of-the-art" design? 
> 
> I guess that when the white smoke escaped
> during the hamfest the magic went with it. 
> Good choice of moniker: Omega....
> 
> Hal Mandel
> W4HBM
> 
>