[SCCC] Kalifornia Kilowatts...

[Paul Kube]

Interesting discussion! Puts me in mind of the Gil W1CJD cartoon in March 1958 QST: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l7w6FoeQv2luweZofW5WlmdDuYlT8XyL/view?usp=sharing

73, Paul K6PO
________________________________
From: SCCC <sccc-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 9:36 AM
To: SCCC <sccc at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [SCCC] Kalifornia Kilowatts...

This original 10-80 amplifier has been making its rounds since the 90's. Its first owner was in Colorado at the time and it may have been a bit too much for him. It came to CA and eventually landed in Riverside at W6EMC (sk). It had fallen into disrepair and the critters did a number on the power supply. It was sold and converted to a 80/160 dual band amplifier with a new 13.5KVA transformer and power supply upgrades. Its healthy into the 10KW dummy load just to its left with plenty of headroom.

Then there is the famous "plywood box" of Richard Measures, AG6K (sk). He sure loved lighting the guys up on 40m.

Dino - KX6D
________________________________
From: w6ph at aol.com <w6ph at aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 7:11:55 AM
To: tree at kkn.net <tree at kkn.net>; Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com>
Cc: sccc at contesting.com <sccc at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [SCCC] Kalifornia Kilowatts...

The FCC raid of 1958 was a classic.  It was the ARRL DX Contest.  I think it was this raid that Dale Hoppe got busted.  There was one account that the FCC came into the ham's house and asked to observe the input of the amp (1 kw input was the legal limit).  The ham was at 800 watts input.  The FCC engineer then got on an HT and asked the outside engineer how the signal was and the outside engineer said the signal was down about 10 db.  The ham then confessed that he had a switch that reduced the plate voltage by half.  This story was told to me second hand back in 1958 and might be embellished.

W6KG wrote an article in QST and claimed he had been visited during that contest.  He claimed that his plate current meter also contained screen current.  When the screen current was removed from the plate current meter, he was below I kw input.

The raid on W6VSS is legend.  I believe the story goes that Dale told everyone to bail and he would handle the FCC.  There has to be some people on this reflector that can tell the complete story.  I have heard that the amps were 10 kw.  I would love to hear more about it.

Kurt W6PH

In a message dated 7/2/2024 7:22:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time, tree at kkn.net writes:

It's a good thing I forget the callsign of the guy who used this amp.  I do
know who built it however.

AVeryBigAmp.jpg (2864×2048) (kkn.net<http://kkn.net>)
<https://www.kkn.net/n6tr/misc_pictures/OldScannedPictures/AVeryBigAmp.jpg>

That's 4 - 4-1000s.

It was in the attic with a Henry "driver" and a chalkboard or something
like that which you swung up to show the controls for the amp.

It was only used on 20 meters.

I bought this amp for $300 around 1975.  It got turned into a number of
amps from the parts by WB6JOS/KB6I.  I never put it on the air.

Tree N6TR

On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 6:51 PM Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com<mailto:dino at kx6d.com>> wrote:

> I'd love to hear the Goo stories from the 60's, 70's and 80's!
>
> I heard rumor there was a prominent radio operator around the corner from
> Knott's Berry Farm that has some suds on reserve. If memory serves, a
> single 4-1000 was mentioned. I would think it would take at least two to
> make legend status. It was before my time but my curiosity still reigns.
>
> Some people look down on QRO amplifiers. I see it more as another way to
> make gain...if you lack the room for a 100'+ boom or a rotating stack.
>
> If anyone has stories they want to share, you have a captive audience.
> Just change the names to protect the innocent. 😁
>
> Dino - KX6D
>
> ________________________________
> From: Glenn Rattmann
>
> ...Phil was known for using some serious Goo in those days; meaning "more"
> than Bud.  ;-)
>
> 73,
> Glenn K6NA
>
> _______________________________________________
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> SCCC at contesting.com<mailto:SCCC at contesting.com>
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>
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