[Boatanchors] 6146 vs 6146A vs 6146B or 6146W

[lee]

Yes, this is the article I am referring to, Glen and others.  That said, 
maybe Motorola had a problem a zillion years ago because their 
neutralization was fixed in their VHF rigs.  Maybe Collins had a problem 
with too marginal a neutralization cap in their earlier rigs so they put in 
a larger more beefy neutralization cap which should have been there in the 
first place, even when they used 6146A tubes.  I don't dispute much of what 
is written there.

However, that article has put fear in many a ham when wanting to put B tubes 
within Heath, Johnson, WRL, type HF gear.  As I said,  I have done a lot of 
it and so has a friend of mine in HF ham gear, not in Motorola VHF gear.  I 
don't know anything about Motorola VHF problems, nor do I care to know about 
them.  I am only concerned with ham HF gear.  We have never experienced a 
problem with the B or W tubes.   That is why I asked for members on here to 
reflect their actual findings and not always referring to this publication I 
find has no bearing for hams wanting to re tube their old HF ham equipment. 
I have been receiving a lot of "private" E-MAIL telling me the very exact 
thing.  NO PROBLEM.  Anyone on here ever have a problem using B tubes in 
their old Heath or Johnson type equipment?

I highly suggest list members find out for themselves what can really be put 
into your old ham HF gear and forget that misleading Motorola VHF article. 
Don't take my word for it.  Try them out and you decide what is correct.  I 
find the article has no merit for ham HF equipment.  There is no 
neutralization problem either.  I don't think publicized spec sheets lie 
either.  If they don't tell the full story, what good are tube spec sheets, 
when picking out what tubes could be used in a design?

The bottom line is, when you are restoring an old boat anchor ham HF 
transmitter,  using B or W tubes within it should be the least of your 
worries and concerns.

For you Glen,  I am truly not trying to pick a fight with you.  I understand 
your background and experience and what problems Motorola has had in the 
past with their fixed neutralized VHF gear, and also the neutralization cap 
change in Collins S-line gear.  I just think the background in your article 
has no real bearing when using B tubes in our old ham HF gear based on my 
real world experience when using these tubes.  A ham not knowing better 
after reading your article will many times avoid using a 6146B or W tubes 
when he needs to re tube his old HF ham gear.  I think that fear is 
misguided and the record should be corrected.

Lee, w0vt





"Being the person referred to:"

"Glen, K9STH"