[ARC5] Filament Question

[Robert Eleazer]

I have recently gotten interested in firing up my RT-70/GRC, mainly because I started testing the tubes in it with my tube tester in attempt to identify the cause of missing transmit audio.  By the way, the first clue I found when I took the set out of its case was a broken 3Q4.....  

The RT-70 was designed to be powered by batteries in the PRC-16 version and so I guess that is why the tubes are DC powered instant heating filaments that cycle on and off depending on transmit and receive.

Would it be better for the longevity of those tubes to rewire the filaments so that they are ON at all times when the set is powered up from the AC power supply I built for it?

Thanks,

Wayne