Topband: Ferrite Cores

[Bill Wichers]

I don't think it was entirely a "scam" on the part of Amidon. When you think about it, FT-240-31 is easier to know "Ferrite, Toroid, 2.4" OD material #31" is a lot easier to remember than "2631803802" :-) Similar in concept to using channel numbers for TV instead of frequency assignments -- it makes it easier on the users/viewers.

  -Bill

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Jim
> Brown
> Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2014 12:25 PM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Ferrite Cores
> 
> On 8/5/2014 7:46 AM, Greg wrote:
> > The Mouser part picture does not look like a FT-240-31.
> 
> The FT-series of part numbers are PHONY part numbers,  dreamed up many
> years ago by vendors who have sold them to hams for very high prices.
> The ACTUAL part number for a #31 2.4-in o.d. toroid, as defined by Fair-Rite,
> the company that MAKES these parts, is 2631803802.  You will find that part
> number in Appendix One of my tutorial.  Kits and Parts is one of those high
> price vendors. Amidon may have been the originator of this scam. Palomar
> and DXE are in that league as well. They created these phony baloney
> numbers so that you wouldn't find the part from a real industrial vendor at
> one third the price.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC