Topband: w7iuv preamp.

[George Balint]

Guys,

Here is an easy mail order source for 2N5109 and the suitable TO-39 heat sink:
heat sink: http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/1607.pdf    $0.95 ea
transistor: http://www.mouser.com/catalog/629/377.pdf      $1.81 ea

Mouser's product finder / ordering: http://www.mouser.com/search/refine.aspx?Ntt=2n5109
There is no minimum order at Mouser Electronics.

Just get the right parts and build the PreAmp EXACTLY as described at Larry's web page and enjoy it.
There is no reason to "improve on it". Larry spent 20 years to arrive to the perfect stable design. He was kind enough to make it public free. It is already a pitty, that ON4UN's book published the circuit with an error added. Why do you want to put Larry into a situation, where he has to deal with a flood of email coming from confused hams, who has difficulty to tell which is the hot end of the soldering iron? If you decrease the current, performance will suffer. If you decrease the voltage, performance will suffer. If you substitute the transistor, you better come up with your own design and spend another 20 years to prove, that it is working. If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

73, George
VE3NZ