It doesn't take a KW. During the run-up to Cycle 19, Dad let me put a 10
meter 40 W AM rig in the family car. Gonset converter on steering
column, TX in trunk with PE-103, 8 ft whip on a bumper chain mount. 10
meters was open pretty much 24/7 then. The corona ball had been knocked
off by a tree branch. Drive-in movie date, and I was just preparing to
orchestrate the "Move to the back seat," when she pointed to the Gonset
and asked, "What's that?" I said it was part of a 2-way radio, the rest
was in the trunk. She wanted a demo so I turned it on, pressed the PTT
and identified. The corona display which I was unaware of caused a stir
behind us, the manager showed up and asked us to leave, and the "Back
seat move" never happened. [:-( RF-induced bad news and "computers in
cars" had yet to be invented.
73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County
On 5/6/2019 9:12 AM, Alan wrote:
Normally when you buy a used, tube-type kilowatt amplifier you don't
think to ask if it has been used mobile.
I once bought a used (actually VERY used) Drake L4B amplifier that had
been owned by Frank W6HWL "Highway Louie". He had a big old Cadillac
that had been fitted with the extra-large alternator for the towing
kit to support his high-power mobile station. Legend has it that he
would sometimes set overhanging tree branches on fire because of the
corona discharge from the end of the antenna.
Fortunately cars didn't have a lot of electronics in those days.
Alan N1AL
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