Plans for an AM Rig

[Rod Fitz-Randolph]

Well, I can't keep it quiet any longer.  I am about to embark on
a project to make a combo AM rig that will allow me to get on
80 and 40 and 10 and anywhere else that AM is used, and have fun!
I've listened with some interest to the AM'ers on 3880 and I am
impressed with them.  They simply aren't like the crew on 3853 or
some of the other slop-bucket nets.  They are much more akin to
what I think of in terms of BoatAnchor users and are decent fellows.

I've looked in vain for a mint condition 32V3 or Viking Valiant or
Viking 500 and so have taken to doing the next best thing: build
my own AM rig.

My plans for the AM rig is to use my FT-1000MP as a signal source
for unmodulated RF.  I will use it on very low power (probably through
a T-pad, if necessary) to drive a pair of 6146Bs (maybe 3 of them)
in the RF final.  I have purchased a UTC CVM-3 modulation transformer
(120 watts with multi-taps for impedance matching) and will make a
120 watt modulator with optional compression capability.

I will use a series diode between the B+ and the "cold" side of the
output of the modulation transformer to afford negative peak clipping.
I will employ a splatter filter consisting of a 0.5 Henry choke and
two 3000 volt disk ceramic capacitors on either side of the choke to
assure a narrow and intelligible signal AND THEN I'M GONNA MODULATE
THE HELL OUT OF THE FINAL AT 200%!!!!!

I employed that same technique on a 32V3 and time after time, when I
would zero a SSB'er and call him, the SSB'er never had an inkling that
I was on AM.  Finally, one day, a ham on Midway Island tuned to both
sides of my signal and said, "I think you've got a little carrier
creeping in there".  When I informed him I was running 125 watts of
carrier and that I was on AM, he called me a bald-faced liar!!

Anyhoooo, I will be using the best signal generator I know of to be
the source of my rf and then, when I release the mic switch, I can
use the FT-1000MP's superb synchronous detected AM receiving ability
to listen on.

I realize this will make purists shrink with horror but it will afford
the ability to get on AM again with at least a partially homebrewed
rig, will be stable as hell, will be loud as hell, and be as much
fun as the Devil will allow with your clothes on!!!

Comments, please.  Listen for me on AM in a couple of months!

Rod, N5HV
w5hvv at aeneas.net

P.S.  Hope this didn't violate the purposes of the Reflector too much:
      I just had to tell someone!!!

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