[TenTec] All my friends love a low....driver...?
Ten-Tec, Inc.
sales@tentec.com
Thu, 14 Aug 1997 14:20:41 Eastern Daylight Time
>At 09:34 AM 8/12/97 -0400, you wrote:
>
>I have, and am very satisfied with my Argo. I also know that there are a
>number of other QRP rigs being manufactured. My question is, why are there
>no small linears that will boost output from these rigs up to 70-80 watts
>or so?
>
>Bill Ames
>KB1LG
Good question, with a good answer. There are no "QRP drive" HF linear
amplifiers. In 1978, the FCC took action in response to numerous
complaints about the illegal use of linear amplifiers in the
27 MHz band, and made it illegal for commercial manufacturers to sell
any amplifier enabled for use between 24 and 35 MHz. This is why
today we ask for a copy of your amateur radio license to provide
you with modification instructions for using our linear amplifiers
in the 28 MHz amateur band. This practice is common and acceptable
by the FCC.
In addition, you are currently unable to receive FCC type acceptance
for a linear amp manufactured for commercial sale that uses less than
50 watts input power for full rated output (regardless of what the
rated output power is). If you read advertisements for linear amps
in the ham mags (ours included) none of them list less than 50 watts
input power required.
This "low-drive" restriction, when enacted, was written into law as
all frequencies below 144 MHz. This prevents the manufacture of low
drive amplifiers for the 6 meter band. Yes, there are manufacturers
who make low drive 6 meter amplifiers and they are all in violation
of the regulation. There are NO type-accepted low drive linear
amplifiers for the 6 meter band. The FCC has expressed no interest
in enforcing this regulation at the present time. We will abide by
the regulation and not produce one until the law is modified (which
we have requested specifically for 6 meters, I might add, with no
action taken to date).
Ten-Tec did manufacture a low drive HF amplifier, model 405, that used
5 watts input power for 50 watts output. It was sold as an accessory
to the original Argonaut transceiver and was discontinued from
production in 1978 when the linear amplifier regs were changed.
It is important to note that none of these regulations applies
to the use of amplifiers by licensed amateurs assuming that they
meet other legal requirements as were mentioned here previously,
only that they cannot be manufactured commercially and offered
for sale.
73,
Scott Robbins, W4PA
Amateur Radio Product Manager, Ten-Tec
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