[Amps] HV diodes, now new PA's

[John Lyles]

Now that Ten Tec is part of RF Concepts, I'd guess that the design of a 
new PA would come from them in Colorado, and TT might build it, or not. 
Hard to guess what is their long term plan. TT made quite a few of the 
various Titan models, probably most successful was the grounded grid 
unit with 3C800A7s (Titan I?). The big tetrode amps kept getting 
disadvantaged with tube obsolescence and high cost. 416 Titan II with 
Russian 4CX1600B then the 417 Titan III with dual 4CX800As.Their 
controls and bias power supplies were clever, but weren't sufficiently 
protected to survive a tube fault (discharge plate to grids). This is 
what its all about with tube amplifiers! The Svetlana tube could pull a 
bad boy stunt and - pow! I am rebuilding a 416 to use standard Eimac 
tubes, 4CX1000A and 1500B, since I have a supply of them. I should cut 
open the hot-short 1600B to see what ate its lunch. When the late George 
Badger, W6TC, left Svetlana, they pretty much lost in the amateur and 
pro tube market here.

> Palstar and QRO Technologies have 1500W amps also in the US. I dont know if
> Ten Tec will field a big amp again.
...
> The Chinese have some serious amps but no US certification yet that Im aware
> of. Once they get going watch out! They are already taking over the tube
> business.
...
> Carl
> KM1H

Do you mean FCC type cert?

I know that China is making some MRI amps for american Mfrs. that are 
solid state high power, many kW.

One thing they haven't done is to get into super high  power triodes and 
tetrodes like CPI, Thales, Photonis (RCA), Seimens, Brown Boveri, E2V, 
Philips/Amperex have. Maybe the market is too small to justify the 
engineering and application support costs in these limited specialties.

It is a natural progression for China and maybe S Korea to build some 
very large solid state amplifiers for amateur now. They don't make the 
prime power devices yet but its only a matter of time for that too.
73
John
K5PRO