[Milsurplus] NOS ART-13

[Hubert Miller]

>Hue -
I think some of the power-oscillator single-stage transmitter articles were based on ideas from the 1930s when crystals were gigantic compared to the 1940s and later FT-243s (and everything since that were much smaller still).  In my young ham days I built a single-tube 6L6 or 5881 rig and it cracked my favorite FT-243.  I'm still upset about it, 40 years later.
The modern, miniature crystals I use for many applications seem to work very well in multi-stage transmitters (where oscillator runs at lower power level) but I recommend against trying them in the power-oscillator single-stage transmitter projects.  To my surprise, I've heard from a few customers that they tried it anyway and the little crystals actually could stand the strain. It's likely a matter of how much is too much.  Some guys will strive for more watts out and may go too far.  
Some probably get "yoop" instead of chirp as the crystal heats.  Don't hold the key down too long!  Or find a 1930's "slab-o-quartz" crystal to run in it.
>Steve WD8DAS   

I suppose i'll get a chance to deal with the yoop goblin soon, as i recently bought the CONAR "Novice twins" sets. Something i never would have bought
off the internet, but...it was there, right in front of me locally. 
In high school, many decades ago, i had an electronics class, or it was called an electronics class, because i don't think the instructor could draw the circuit for a
pilot lamp. I found an AM broadcast band crystal in the classroom supplies and wired up a 6DQ6 single tube power oscillator. The instructor of course 
understood none of what was going on. I powered it up and it put out RF for "about that long". How long is "about that long" ? Just long enough for you to
wonder what happened. 
-Hue Miller