[AMRadio] New Guy Post

[Brett Gazdzinski]

Steve,
Great idea to get on AM.
Ignore the current flame war, most AM operators are not
like that...in fact, its quite rare (on the air).

These days, I guess it mostly depends on what you can find
to get on with.
In the old days, you could come up with a dx100 for $10.00,
two 32V3 transmitters for $100.00, and all the other rigs
for various prices,  most brands could be found
at hamfests for low prices.

Now days, the rigs command good prices, and are rare
except on ebay at very high prices.

You need a good hi fi AM receiver to enjoy AM operation,
a well working r390 or r390a with outboard audio, one of the
older tube receivers with push pull audio output, and a very 
few newer ones.
Most modern stuff is NOT good fidelity.


Then, the power you want to run and the money you want to
spend impacts your transmitter choice.

50 watt class has the Johnson ranger, some of the old mobile
rigs, screen modulated things like the dx60, etc,
and a few others....

100 watts is a dx100, Collins 32v series, Johnson valiant
or Viking 2, B+W 5100, and the odd mix of other brands.

100+ watts will be expensive, Johnson 500, Collins 30k-1,
BC610, T368, Johnson desk kilowatt, etc.

There is also the ft101 or ft102 into an amplifier
(a BIG amplifier) if you like the newer stuff.

For 40 meters in the daytime, often 100 watts
is a fine signal with a good antenna.

You can also build up a transmitter, and drive it with 
something you have around, like an 813, a pair of 813,s,
a 4-125/250/400, and use 811 modulators, etc.
The only hard to get part is a mod transformer, but
you can buy one form Peter Dahl if worst comes to worst.

Even a single band pair of 6146 tubes modulated by some
hi fi solid state amp could be done.

One of the best transmitters in the 100 watt class
was the 32v series...very easy to operate, mostly
reliable, good sounding with the correct microphone,
stable frequency control, but expensive these days...

Rigs in the 500 watt class are very desirable,
the Johnson 500, 30k-1, t368, as they will run the
legal limit...

If you want something BIG, there are plenty of old
broadcast transmitters to be had, sometimes for
free if you pick it up...

I went through a lot of the classic rigs, but eventually
got rid of most of them and built my own stuff.
Most of the ham stuff has flaws built in, and its
much more fun to build and operate your own stuff.

Brett
N2DTS





> -----Original Message-----
> From: amradio-admin at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:amradio-admin at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Mercxx at aol.com
> Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 2:20 PM
> To: amradio at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [AMRadio] New Guy Post
> 
> 
> Good afternoon,
>   I am new to the list and want to get up on the air with AM. 
> I have two questions, one what gear should I look for to 
> start off with and are there any AMers in the central Florida 
> area that could possibly give me a little help?  Thanks and 
> have a great day.
> 
> 73
> Steve
> N4TKP
> Bartow, Florida
> 
> _______________________________________________
> AMRadio mailing list
> AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio