[AMRadio] Zero Hysteresis Clipper

[Rob Atkinson]

I've seen at least one 9000 for sale within the past year for around
$500, which is way less than what they went for 5 or 10 years ago, but
to me that's still too much for an AM processor.   There's a lot to
reckon with in an old Optimod too, if you want to get it reconditioned
back to working right.  There used to be a fellow over in Maryland I
believe, who had a business doing nothing but refurbing Optimods and
Orban compressors like the 422 and 424 but I think he's a SK now.  The
9000s are getting close to 40 years old and I've heard if one of those
potted modules craps out you have a doorstop.  Folks ought to start
parting them out to other Optimod owners when that happens.  But few
9000s and 9100s are in operation by hams because they were so good for
so long, they were sought after by broadcasters and that kept their
prices up.  Optimod was the gold standard and any AM except maybe the
smallest shoestring operation ran one.  The 9300 and 9400 are probably
pretty good too, but newer kids on the block are taking away
customers, mainly Frank Foti's Omnia line, and the Wheatsone gear.  I
don't know anything about that stuff because it's all super expensive
and DSP based.

> A problem with a lot of the current crop of  expensive hi-tech equipment,
> including some of the highly-touted plastic radios you see advertised in
> QST.  Within less than 5 years you may end up  with an expensive door stop
> because some $5 chip has been "discontinued".
>

Which is why I've lost interest in anything new, unless there is some
special and unique function that is nice but not vital, such as the
Sherwood sync detector, or a solid state audio processor.   Most good
processors came about when transistors for audio took over and don't
employ vacuum tubes, but it would be kind of cool to try to homebrew a
tube equivalent.  But anyway, yep you can get a plastic radio and in a
few years the PA mosfets are no longer being made.  Kenwood used to
use custom made chips in their rigs which are now unobtainium.

73

Rob
K5UJ