It's funny how experiences can differ. A couple years ago I decided to refurbish my old Heathkit SB-200. Included in the project was a set of new tubes to replace the original tubes from 1972. I purchased a pair of Svetlana 572Bs from RF parts. One of them burned out its filament after it was turned on for about the fourth or fifth time. I have never had a tube do that before. RF parts exchanged them for a set of Taylor tubes which have worked fine for the past couple of years. I guess all this means is that when you are buying imported tubes the quality control may leave something to be desired. Eimac tubes may cost much more, but except for some well documented exceptions, they generally appear to be much more consistent and robust. Frankly, I would rather pay more for the amplifier up front with good Eimac tubes instead of being forced into a game of Russian roulette as to whether the tubes will still be available when replacements are needed, sometimes a lot sooner than should be the case.
Bruce-W8FU -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of WILLIS COOKE Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 8:15 PM To: Ron D'Eau Claire; Elecraft Reflector Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: new SS amps Ron, there are other considerations. The tubes available today are made in China. I had very bad luck with two sets of Taylor brand 572Bs that were made in China. One set never worked at all and the other set lasted about a month. I am still using the 572Bs that I bought in 1976 used. So, if you get one of the 811A or 572B amps with Chinese tubes how long will they last? Am I extremely unlucky or did I ruin them intentionally as R. F. Parts accused? I really don't know, but it certainly will weigh heavily on my decision of what amp to buy. In fact, I just bought a used ALS-600. I will see how well that works for me. Tuning is not really a factor for me. If you buy a "No Tune" solid state amp then need an antenna tuner you have not changed things a lot. But, will you need new tubes in a month or so? How long will you be able to buy them? Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ --- On Sat, 12/20/08, Ron D'Eau Claire <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[email protected]> > Subject: RE: [Elecraft] OT: new SS amps > To: "'Elecraft Reflector'" <[email protected]> > Date: Saturday, December 20, 2008, 3:44 PM > What catches my eye is that comparing the amps on page 1 and > page 9, you > have to pay $2,000 more for an additional 1.7 dB of gain > with the amp on > page 9. > > Sure. you have to know how to adjust an amp and actually > tune the one on > page 1 whereas the one on page 9 is "no tuning" > (assuming the antenna is > tuned or you do the tuning with an external tuner). > > I guess that's significant to the hard-core contester, > but for that > convenience along with the 1.7 dB gain you must pay $2,000 > for those who > demand the ability to QSY across the band or between bands > instantly, or who > want to operate their station remotely through a computer. > > Ron AC7AC > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL > Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:30 PM > To: Elecraft Reflector > Subject: [Elecraft] OT: new SS amps > > I just ran into this by accident. > > http://www.ameritron.com/catalog/Ameritron_2009.pdf > > See page 9. > > No stated expected delivery > Not enough "specs" for my liking, but still, > rather interesting. > Is this "contest grade?" Who knows? > > de Doug KR2Q > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
