The Ranger is a perfect rig to drive a linear; a SB-220 is fine at 250W out on AM as long as youre not longwinded.
When Im not running one of the big Class C amps I use a LK-500ZC at 350W and drive with a variety of 25-35W vintage rigs or the TS-950SD. I'll sometimes be heard working DX on CW with a vintage TX also plus using a vintage RX which all seem to have better audio than the new stuff.. Carl KM1H ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Cromwell" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 6:36 AM Subject: Topband: Top Band activity > Hi, > > I tested the waters again this morning. I heard a couple of stations > calling for CQ DX and parked the Ranger on a spot that was out of the > way near 1818 kc. I had no takers but while I was looking for replies I > heard another QSO just starting. I had comfortable copy at S4 and S5 on > both stations. Both stations were running big amplifiers and a lot more > than my 35 watts! I have listened to some of the AM and SSB ragchews > higher on the band and whenever those guys talk about their radios I > note they are running 1 KW on up to the legal limit with a few of them > down around 800 watts. Maybe some of them are running a little *more*. > Note to self - get more juice. > > I'm still going to try 160 daily - late night or especially early > morning. If propagation gives me a break I'll have to be there to take > advantage. I have yet to get a hit on RBN. I can't imagine the DX-100 > alone at 100 watts doing much better after I get it overhauled so now I > will start my quest for heavy iron. One click of the bandswitch to 80 > meters gets me much better results so I will operate more on 80 and 40 > meters to get my RF fix but I am not going to go away from Top Band. > Better antennas and more power are on the horizon. > > 73, > > Bill KU8H > > _______________________________________________ > UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4909 - Release Date: 04/01/12 > _______________________________________________ UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK
