Stay at Home Special: Adding an HF Linear Amp to Your Station (

[@randman32]

Dave: You are doing a great job on these Stay at Home Specials. How about a video on tuning your linear tube amp !!! Thanks 73

[@jimmymurphy7789]

Thank You ! 73s 2 U & your Dental well-being !

[@royceschuening]

Thanks for all of the videos Dave! You have been a wealth of knowledge.

[@davecasler]

Thanks for watching!

[@allenmiddendorff2068]

Thank for clearing up AMPs.

[@jay-rus4437]

As a fairly new HAM....tech earlier in 2020, and then General and Extra following....I spent most of my time, effort, and cost in my antenna, coax, and grounding system. I don’t personally work DX, nor have I tried, but I regularly work coast to coast (albeit from Oklahoma) and consistently get compliments on my signal and audio. My newbie experience says that RFI, antenna height, antenna type and quality, grounding system, and separation from AC to DC power are all very important factors. Yes Ferrite can cost money, lmr400 ultra flex can cost money, grounding systems with quality flat strap and copper rods can be expensive....but my observation is that it pays off. Im running a first generation ft-991 at 95w through a Chameleon Emcomm III (65’ version). The antenna is setup in an Inverted L Config, vertical section to 32’ and then horizontal from there. Some hate end feds....me? Im just having fun 😁

[@cplpinker]

Missed you, Hope it heals well and you feel better.

[@ChrisKeller]

Thanks for the rundown, Dave!

[@brianrose2487]

Great video, been watching the used market for a amp, but no hurry. So this video was a great help as always! Take care Dave and hope you get to feeling better. 73

[@thormusique]

Excellent video, thanks! You've once again managed to answer all the important questions I've had on this topic. One other question I have is, can you reduce the output power of a linear amp? So, for example, if you're running a 600W amp but wish to use only 300W, is that possible? Love your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@bobdushkoff2528]

Your amplifier output can be decreased by decreasing the power out from your transceiver that is going into the amp.

[@indrajitR]

You are second dave i love. one is my elmer vu2dev (now sk-dev guru) and then you are living one. thanks.

[@graywolf1911]

Very good explanation Dave, very helpful.

[@amudlifecrisis]

Great video! Answers many many questions!

[@davecasler]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wb4huc10]

Hello, Dave. I was just thinking that one thing to add to the amplifier discussion is the increased possibility of RF inside the shack at higher power levels. When I added an Elecraft KPA500 to my station weird things started to happen. Anytime the output power was more than a couple hundred watts the computer would chime like USB cables were being plugged and unplugged, and the transmit audio was a bit raspy, and a couple other things were happening. I did two things to correct that. I put a small snap on choke at the computer end of each USB cable. Those things are magic (well, not magic, but they work!) The computer chiming stopped. I also replaced a bunch of really old RG-58 coax jumpers that were used to connect equipment together, like rig to amp, amp to tuner, tuner to swr/wattmeter, etc. I used good quality coax jumpers made from RG-8X that had at least 95% shield, and the other weird problems disappeared. Also, make sure the coax is large enough for whatever power you plan to run through it. After I did all that, things worked great. The KPA500 just does its job, and you hardly know it's there until the fan ramps up. 73, Mike - WB4HUC

[@patrickbuick5459]

My thought has always been that I'm not trying to go from S7 to S9, but S0 to S2, and THAT is a big difference. Not that an amp is at the top of my list. Yes, the input power required is amazing! I agree. It is MUCH easier to get 3dB or more from a better antenna and lower loss coax than an amplifier. I keep eyeing bigger and / or directional antennas, but for 80m, they are tougher to fit!

[@jimlanigan7298]

Excellent video Dave. You answered all of my amplifier questions plus a few more

[@markbolin6651]

Very good information. Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into helping the rest of us Hams. 73s, N6AEB

[@davecasler]

My pleasure!

[@K3KTB]

Another great video. Learned a lot.

[@jptucsonaz8503]

Hi Dave, Yes! Hope you feel much better soon, aching teeth can just sap a person's energy. Are tube amplifiers suited well to digital modes? Being as I have a nearly 25 year old solid-state transceiver, I need to keep the power down as I really don't want to over stress the finals. So if I could find an affordable 250W tube amp that I could use say 15 W to drive 50 W out or on occasion 75-100W for really long DX into central Africa, Asia & the mountains of the EU; using that 100% duty cycle on digital, everything I hope would stay cool. 73 - John - N7GHZ

[@davecasler]

Linear amplifiers are mode-agnostic. That said, some have restrictions on so-called 100% duty cycle modes such as RTTY. Such an amp would have trouble with high power digital. Usually they're okay for CW because the actual duty cycle for CW is 50% or less.

[@elwood.downey]

Great job, many thanks. Also worth mentioning an amp does nothing for receive.

[@James_Bowie]

Excellent advice. 👍

[@howardandrus8828]

David, thank you as always, great info. Question, have heard over the years matched feedine verse a feedline you don't have to cut using a 25'-100' coax? So, a different feedline for each band you want to operate. Which is better? Aloha, HOWARD, WH6CLZ

[@davecasler]

I use one feed line per antenna. If you have multiple antennas in one place, such as a tower, there are remote-control switches you can use to share coax. These tend to be a little expensive, so compare the cost to the amount of coax and lightning protectors saved.

[@stevenhammond1353]

My QTH is on a 1 acre lot surrounded by houses (no HOA). I have a 60' tower. I'm wondering if a small amp (400-600W) will cause a lot of interference with the neighbors. I figured 1500W is out (ha). I currently only have a 7 band OCFD but I'm looking at either a tribander (Mosley) or something similar. KY5M

[@rajeshhuddar3470]

I connected my UBITX to Minipa 100w linear. The resultant SWR has almost doubled. I use a folded endfed, terminated antenna. The output of the amplifier feeds into SWR meter and the other SO239 socket on the SWR meter goes to the antenna. I am using 9:1 balun with the antenna. Requesting for your inputs. What am I doing wrong or what has gone wrong. Thank you.

[@marklowe7431]

This is why you use wires strippers. Pulling that cover off on the 1/2" coax is pretty tough....... :)

[@John-xl4eu]

As an almost new ham, the pool of equipment available is staggering. My question is do I stay with an HF all band set up or find something with UHF and VHF to get my feet wet ?

[@davecasler]

I think you're referring to SSB, CW, and FT-8 on 2m and up. Some folks use rigs like the FT-991A for that. I think the amount of additional activity to be found may not be worth the extra expense (over) unless your goal is to work things like meteor scatter, aurora propagation, or moon bounce.

[@John-xl4eu]

David Casler thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. I have recently become certified and have been working 10m a bit and have to say I love it. It’s what I remember my grandpa doing when I was very little. Sitting on his lap listening to him talk on SSB to other states and sometimes countries. Maybe we will cross paths on the air some day!? 73’s KE8OPF

[@ericdee6802]

There is a Man on youtube who is a Genius with Linears and recently he has physically and mathematically proven that "Ameritron" uses inadiquate power wires on their amplifiers. He has a couple of videos i highly suggest anyone getting ready to purchase an amp to watch his video, His channel is "BBI" (Box Builder Idaho) Great channel.

[@rebelliners]

Thanks Dave I asked for this it helps a lot truly, now can you get a Al 80b Amp and do a video on set up and tuning with your 7300 LOL

[@Rainbient]

Thanks for all the great info. 73, KE4RF

[@1crazynordlander]

Thanks for sharing. After owning my first HF rig back in November of last year. I find that there are ares I cannot reach in the states and others I can. It varies between bands. I have a base rig with a wire antenna. I have a mobile with a vertical antenna and a portable with a wolf river coil antenna. All are 100 watt radios and It doesn't change anything. I would think that a hex beam would be the answer because I have a 45 ft tower. Do they stand up to snow and wind? Thanks Kevin KA0KAE

[@bobgerzoff5072]

I'm in Atlanta and I can't speak to snow, but my Hexbeam (K4KIO) has survived plenty of ice and wind for many years now, probably at least 10.

[@1crazynordlander]

@@bobgerzoff5072 Thanks! Did you build this yourself? Did you get it with all the bands 20-6?

[@fredbissnette3104]

thanks dave

[@toevlugsoord]

Hi there - what time is your live stream tonight, Thursday?

[@davecasler]

Tonight, 7pm Mountain Daylight Time

[@sosas1606]

I love Dave , I remember when Dave punched my v card what a thrilling time. xoxoxoxo

[@brynjenkins5321]

Nice discussion but the ticking clock in the background was a little bit distracting..

[@Andy2e0ree]

Great show David very informative many thanks 2e0ree

[@Ei2iP]

I'm hearing all these 1kw stations, but most can't hear a 100w station... So what's the point?? Two S points from 100 to 1.5KW!!

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

:) yes Robbie 2 S points for 1500 "fire in the wire watts+ + the gain of the 4 element or more yagi, = to another 2 to3 S - points maybe pointing away from you. The old saying goes and is still true,"Get more fire in the wire or get the wire up higher. On a more serious note, consider this instead of s7 , lets say your signal is s1 to 2 at the dx station, will he hear you with all of EU , JA, USA calling ? now add 2 Spoints and except the 4/9, off to bed worked e'm...the 100 watters can try all night i'm done :)... just a honest scenario Robbie. I built many amps, rarely use them these days, Radio is sort off the last place where i sit these days.

[@henrycross8776]

I run a 600watt solid state amp off of 110v and have ZERO issues, maybe your wiring is dodgy ?

[@MoTown44240]

I have never used an amplifier for HF communications. 72 de KB8AMZ

[@twohandsandaradio]

Power is no substitute for skill. 73

[@leoriccardi]

Excelent

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

amps are fun, built many over the years, wether am mf or ssb busters, did not matter, working topband from dark Africa requires power in dire conditions, EU and USA are next door to each other, to get attention run the fire in the wire, the only way in a pile up from down under, lucky, ? yes sometimes a 100 watts is enough , especially if you get the dx first as they set up station and start to call, once chaos set in, god help you, i mean Rf :),,, now 80m and topband , try work dx on another continent with 1 watts. hmmm..you betta have a high dipole or some good vertical setup to cross oceans...

[@unclequack5445]

Dave? who? Dave? Dave's not here man........