[Amps] "10 Meter Ban" to be lifted ...

[Harold Mandel]

Paul,

Years ago the Alpha 77Dx was manufactured with one 8877 tube and a square
plate
that could be removed to add a second 8877, making a 77Sx. 

People over America offered the "second tube kit" comprising a tube,
a socket and some components.

Ray Heaton, the Alpha tech specialist at one time was vehemently
opposed to the after-market program. I suppose he knew about the
inability of the small doorknobs to support the circulating currents,
and the inherent mistuning of the output (and input) networks, but
he was vocal about the ability of the amp to develop more than the
allowable output power. At this time, Alpha had two blocking
mechanisms to prevent 10 meter operation, one on the bandswitch and
one on the vacuum cap stop screw.

Again, my question to the group is if amp manufacturers didn't need
to limit or constrain, and if required to sell to documented (licensed)
buyers, could not the cost of providing constraints been better
targeted to providing a better amplifier?  Imagine the great instrument
a factory-issued 77Sx might have been if the mistuning and poor KVaR
quality issues were addressed up front.

Hal
W4HBM



[snip]
Interestingly, the Commission omitted the prior rule pertaining to amp kits 
(§97.315(b)(2)(i)).  What it does not specifically address is a limitation 
on partial kits.  Could a manufacturer offer a 99% completed "kit," leaving 
some trivial components to complete for the end-user?  Arguably, §97.315(a) 
could still be interpreted to mean that a partial kit is also one of 
"partial manufacture," thus enabling this section to partial kits.
[snip]