[ARC5] What the......?

[Bill Cromwell]

On 03/14/2014 05:45 PM, J. Forster wrote:
> Yes on the VHF sets. My question is more why d0 they need the big tubes
> for the IF and audio? Maybe just 'tradition'?
>
> -John
>
>
Hi,

What I read about is the loctals "lock" into the socket. At least some 
people thought was important in an environment where vibration and 
various G forces might be applied. It has turned out that the miniature 
tubes can be clipped into their socket in various ways and offer the 
needed reliability while using less space but maybe that is hindsight. I 
wasn't there when those decisions were made and of course they didn't 
consult me. But I DID read the old articles and the big deal about the 
loctals was said to be the lock-in feature. Don't ask me for citations 
as I read those things years ago - and they were aging when I read them.

I acquired several dozen loctals to use in projects that might be riding 
around in the back of my station wagon to play in parks, campgrounds, or 
in mobile operation. They won't rattle out of the sockets. I got all of 
mine "used" and I also didn't find any bad ones. I made my decision at 
Field Day one year when the rig I took failed due to one trip too many 
over the railroad tracks. Lock-in tubes will help resist that kind of thing.

73,

Bill  KU8H