[Milsurplus] Germanium to silicon

[Hue Miller]

> For someone to try and hack up those designs 
> with solid state 'equivalents' is criminal.  At least as far 
> as I can see.  Leave the trusted circuits alone.  If you 
> don't trust them, then do a redesign using solid state as a 
> new basis.
> 
> Let the old stuff perform as it was intended.  If you need 
> more performance, then upgrade to better equipment.
> 
> I know that a few mods might make a difference.  I would 
> like nothing better than to be able to take a good tube 
> design and convert to modern standards, but unless you are 
> an expert at equipment design, your chances of making that 
> happen are slim and none. Besides, the 'experts' would never 
> attempt such butchering of a perfectly adequate piece of 
> equipment.
> 
> I am not opposed to making mods or trying to improve on a 
> good thing, but some of the mods I see do not provide 
> significant improvements.  Most just provide another way of 
> doing the same function and don't really turn a mediocre 
> piece of equipment into the superlative realm.
> 
> I am sure others might have different viewpoints.  Mine is 
> that if it works, don't fix it. Trying to use fets to 
> replace tubes in a proven tube design is counter productive 
> in my view.
> 
> Regards,
> Frank Kamp

As i recall, the Tubesters for the Collins 75S reciever did a pretty good job.
Now as to the rest of the argument: 
If the original equipment performance is "mediocre", in your words ( i would
describe it having limits ), then it's hardly likely that using FET substitutes 
would have a deleterious effect overall.
I for one hate to be stuck up for certain tubes that are uncommon. $20+
a limited life device is too much for me - consider that one radio i have may
have 10 or so of those.
Also, i take the long view. Those tubes are getting rarer, some of them anyway,
and the ones in stock are going to lose vacuum. Face it, someday and i don't 
mean geologic time, no vintage tubes are going to be around. Are folks going
to all want to donate their classic radios to the museums or metal recyclers,
and take up something like video games instead? ( Or using, for examle,
a video program that simulates a Heathkit HW-16 ? )  -Hue Miller