Plans for an AM Rig

[Brian Carling]

Good job, ROd!

I recently worked a fellow using a similar set-up with a Yaesu HF rig
driving a high-power linear final for about 200-300 watts of AM.

It sounded good. Of course it will sound even better if you use a
plate modulator for the same set-up!

I have a Valiant which I love. ALso a Harvey Wells Bandmaster which
is fun.

I am going to build some low power AM transmitters soon here.

Bry, AF4K


On  5 Apr 98 at 12:12, Rod wrote:


> 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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****************************************************
*** 73 from Radio AF4K/G3XLQ Gaithersburg, MD USA  *
**  E-mail to:  bry at mnsinc.com                     *
*** ICQ 6124470  ***
**  http://www.mnsinc.com/bry/                     *
****************************************************
AM International #1024, TENTEN #13582. GRID FM19. Rigs: Valiant, DX-60/HG-10, FT-840, TM-261A, Harvey Wells Bandmaster, Drake 2
C.
TEN-TEN #13582, DXCC #17763, Bicentennial WAS

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