Building linear amplifier prototypes - Hack a Day

Building linear amplifier prototypes

posted Jan 28th 2011 2:00pm by Mike Szczys
filed under: radio hacks

We know way too little about this subject but hopefully [Bob4analog] helped us learn a little bit more this time around. He’s building his own linear amplifiers on what looks like sheets of MDF. This is an evolving design and the two videos after the break show two different iterations. He’s salvaged several components, like transformers from microwaves, as well as built his own components like the plate choke to the right of the tubes in the image above. In standby, the amp sits at 2800 volts, warming the filament before the unit is switched on.

So what’s he got planned for this? Good question, but it appears that there’s more than enough power to drive a long-range transmitter.

First iteration: two tubes

Second iteration: single tube

[via Make]

572B Breadboard Linear Amplifier

Video Link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB8cVwZyVmc&feature=player_embedded

His Channel bob4analog...
http://www.youtube.com/user/bob4analog#p/a/u/0/zB8cVwZyVmc

tagged: high voltage, linear amplifier, microwave, transformer, transmitter, tube

Go there...
http://hackaday.com/2011/01/28/building-linear-amplifier-prototypes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hackaday%2FLgoM+%28Hack+a+Day%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Wow! This guy must be a Radio or TV Station Engineer!:) I worked as a Master Control Operator at a local TV Station for a while. And we did the Switching in the Antenna Tower Building where the Transmitter Equipment was located. It was cool just setting there looking at all of that Equipment and listening to the Hum, while the shows were playing. All I really ever learned about the actual Transmitter was how to take the nightly readings and turn the Power up and down as needed. That and much respect for our Engineer and to now realize just what an accomplishment building his own linear amplifiers is!:) I'm an Audio Video Production Guy... both Live Mixing for Concerts and Recording Music. So, I was able to contribute one good suggestion on the Audio Setup. They were using an Ancient 4 Channel Sure Microphone Mixer for the Audio Out to the Live TV Signal. This was pretty hard to use, since we were Manually Starting the Tapes, while hitting the Buttons on the Switcher (just a Rack Mounted in Line Switcher), with the other hand always on the Sure Mic Mixer to try and keep the Differences in the Recorded Volumes on the Tapes form Blasting the TV Watching Public!:O I suggested a small Mackie Mixer and an Automatic Audio Level Control like they already had on a Radio Stations Automated Control Setup in the Rack (There were a couple of Radio Stations Renting Space on the Transmitter). This made the Audio Mixing allot easier and made the Station Sound allot Better too!;)

Don