Solid state HF amplifiers
Richard Karlquist
I would like to hear from anyone with experience homebrewing
a solid state HF power amplifier, especially at the legal limit
level. I see a lot of postings about tube amplifiers, but
no solid state. Outside of ham radio, I believe that no
new designs are using tubes at the 1500 watt level. Am I
unaware of some reason why tubes are great for ham amplifiers?
Also, is anyone aware of a commercially available ham linear
that runs 1500W PEP output using solid state devices? All
the solid state ham linears I've seen are not legal limit.
Rick Karlquist N6RK
ri...@area.com
Webster D. Williams
In article <61upd0$ip5$1...@nixon.area.com>, ri...@area.com says...
Hi Rick,
There's a fellow that lives a few blocks from me who produces
the "Skywalker" brand of solid state HF amps. He produces them
in either kit form, or already built. They're made in power
levels of 300-600-1200-1500 watts. If you need his phone number,
write me back and I'll look it up for you. It's in practically
every 73, CQ, QST magazine. Look for the classified advertisement
with an address in Myrtle Beach, SC on Chickasaw Lane.
Remove all the ! from my e-mail address to reply!!!
73, Web
philip de cadenet
>> I would like to hear from anyone with experience homebrewing
>> a solid state HF power amplifier, especially at the legal limit
>> level. I see a lot of postings about tube amplifiers, but
>> no solid state. Outside of ham radio, I believe that no
>> new designs are using tubes at the 1500 watt level. Am I
>> unaware of some reason why tubes are great for ham amplifiers?
>> Also, is anyone aware of a commercially available ham linear
>> that runs 1500W PEP output using solid state devices? All
>> the solid state ham linears I've seen are not legal limit.
>>
>> Rick Karlquist N6RK
>> ri...@area.com
>>
>>
>
>Hi Rick,
>
>There's a fellow that lives a few blocks from me who produces
>the "Skywalker" brand of solid state HF amps. He produces them
>in either kit form, or already built. They're made in power
>levels of 300-600-1200-1500 watts. If you need his phone number,
>write me back and I'll look it up for you. It's in practically
>every 73, CQ, QST magazine. Look for the classified advertisement
>with an address in Myrtle Beach, SC on Chickasaw Lane.
I thought Lee only made three different kits, 250/300, 500/600 and
1000/1200 depending on how old your info sheet is:-)
What's this about 1500w? Without crazy IMD you'll not see that out of
the 8-pill, I run one and use double 00 gauge wire to feed it from the
Leece Neville 200A alternator and the Bird still won't read anything
like 1500w.
Rick,
If you need more power, why don't you track down some ex service plasma
generators. hese are made by many US companies and probably several
european ones. They tend to use 50V FET's. My next mobile HF amp will be
using four boards, each with 8-pills each. I'm presently working on how
to charge the bank of four batteries in series to give me my 50V. The
finished unit should pull around 200A @ 50V and bang the Bird to around
5-6KW out.
Good luck.
(((73)))
Phil G4ZOW/M
philip de cadenet
Rick,
>I would like to hear from anyone with experience homebrewing
>a solid state HF power amplifier, especially at the legal limit
>level. I see a lot of postings about tube amplifiers, but
>no solid state. Outside of ham radio, I believe that no
>new designs are using tubes at the 1500 watt level. Am I
>unaware of some reason why tubes are great for ham amplifiers?
>Also, is anyone aware of a commercially available ham linear
>that runs 1500W PEP output using solid state devices? All
>the solid state ham linears I've seen are not legal limit.
>
>Rick Karlquist N6RK
>ri...@area.com
state amp although you do have several options.
1) Ted Henry, henry...@earthlink.net now offers a 28v 1200w output amp
for 2150 USD.
2) Lee Martin at RF Electronics, rfele...@aol.com offers either a
ready built or kit form 1200w output unit that runs off 12v.
You did not state if you are actually after a mobile unit or base?
There are several other mobile solid state amp's such as Made From Junk,
SGC, Tokyo HiPower, but these three are micky mouse QRP, around 500w
out.
Lots of units that are available for the 11m band but which would
require a fair amount of work to make true broadband, different grade
ferite xfmr's, negative feedback loops to equalise gain, switchable low
pass filters etc etc.
These units I have up to 96 x 2SC2879, around 12 to 15kw out if you can
supply the current.
Tube mobiles are also available but output it relative to your bank
ballance.
I currently have a Lee Martin homebrew but am working on a 5-6KW 50v FET
mobile with 1.8-30MHz coverage.
Good luck, hope I've given you a few pointers.
Phil G4ZOW/M
Richard Karlquist
In article <iskXWCAH...@two-way.demon.co.uk>,
philip de cadenet <ph...@two-way.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>You'll have a problem locating a true broadband (1.8-30MHz) HF solid
>state amp although you do have several options.
>1) Ted Henry, henry...@earthlink.net now offers a 28v 1200w output amp
>for 2150 USD.
>2) Lee Martin at RF Electronics, rfele...@aol.com offers either a
>ready built or kit form 1200w output unit that runs off 12v.
>
>You did not state if you are actually after a mobile unit or base?
>
>There are several other mobile solid state amp's such as Made From Junk,
>SGC, Tokyo HiPower, but these three are micky mouse QRP, around 500w
>out.
>
>Lots of units that are available for the 11m band but which would
You've described the problem in a nutshell. No one seems to make
a full legal limit (i.e. 1500W PEP output at reasonable IMD, continous
duty cycle) amplifier for 1.8 to 30 MHz. I'm looking for 50V unit,
since I'm not going to use it mobile.
>These units I have up to 96 x 2SC2879, around 12 to 15kw out if you can
Anyone know what 2SC2879's sell for, and where to buy?
Rick Karlquist N6RK
ri...@area.com
Rick Mainhart
Try Harris Corporation, Sunair Corporation, Rockwell Collins, Motorola
among others that build big solid state amplifiers that cover 1.6-30
MHz.
You might wish to check "Janes Military Communications Handbook", a
companion to "Janes Aircraft" and "Janes Fighting Ships" at a larger
library. The list of HF manufacturers is a bit longer than what I
provided, I'm going from memory (about 3 years and two jobs ago).
73,
Rick, WB3EXR
philip de cadenet wrote:
>
> Rich
> >>You'll have a problem locating a true broadband (1.8-30MHz) HF solid
> >>state amp although you do have several options.
--
It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them --
Beaumarchais
philip de cadenet
Rich
>>You'll have a problem locating a true broadband (1.8-30MHz) HF solid
>>state amp although you do have several options.
>>for 2150 USD.
>>2) Lee Martin at RF Electronics, rfele...@aol.com offers either a
>>ready built or kit form 1200w output unit that runs off 12v.
>>
>>You did not state if you are actually after a mobile unit or base?
>>
>>There are several other mobile solid state amp's such as Made From Junk,
>>SGC, Tokyo HiPower, but these three are micky mouse QRP, around 500w
>>out.
>>
>>Lots of units that are available for the 11m band but which would
>
>You've described the problem in a nutshell. No one seems to make
>a full legal limit (i.e. 1500W PEP output at reasonable IMD, continous
>duty cycle) amplifier for 1.8 to 30 MHz. I'm looking for 50V unit,
>since I'm not going to use it mobile.
>
>>These units I have up to 96 x 2SC2879, around 12 to 15kw out if you can
>
>Anyone know what 2SC2879's sell for, and where to buy?
>
>Rick Karlquist N6RK
>ri...@area.com
17.75 each in lots of 12 or more.
How's that?
Phil G4ZOW/M
Can't find a thing here in the UK.
Got to find me a wife and a visa, or should I learn espanol?
Solomon Fernblatt
In article <345792...@sprintmail.com>, main...@sprintmail.com utters...
>
>Try Harris Corporation, Sunair Corporation, Rockwell Collins, Motorola
>among others that build big solid state amplifiers that cover 1.6-30
>MHz.
Yes, they are available from Harris and such. I was in Broadcast Engineering in
the 80's
and installed many solid state 1 to 10 Kw AM units and a few FM transmitters as
well.
Have wondered myself if the technology has been around why it isnt used as often
as
it could be. Perhaps it is because most of the designs tend to use a higher voltage
( Harris for instance uses I think 48 volts in its "lower power" 1-5 Kw if I remember
correctly, which I may not...) But this gear is made for continuous duty and the
amps
( as well as the transmitters I fooled with ) will be priced accordingly.
Best bet is to look at the latest Handbook and such... Other than that? *shrug*
Good luck
Tom KA4RKT
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> I would like to hear from anyone with experience homebrewing
> a solid state HF power amplifier, especially at the legal limit
> level. I see a lot of postings about tube amplifiers, but
> no solid state. Outside of ham radio, I believe that no
> new designs are using tubes at the 1500 watt level. Am I
> unaware of some reason why tubes are great for ham amplifiers?
> Also, is anyone aware of a commercially available ham linear
> that runs 1500W PEP output using solid state devices? All
> the solid state ham linears I've seen are not legal limit.
>
> Rick Karlquist N6RK
> ri...@area.com
Woody, WW1WW