swinger 205

[KJ4PGE]

some one just gave it to me said it didnt key up so i opened it up and the tubes were basicly laying in the bottom of the case pushed em back in and waalllaaaa it puts out around 150w pep and around 100w dead key with 5w in just cant seem to find any information on it and the only name i know is swinger 205 on the front of the case. anyone know anything about this?

[WA6MHZ]

Ummm.......Is it tuned up on the 26-29 Mhz part of the spectrum?

I could have guessed!

[AF6LJ]

That's what it sounds like.
Bet there are Sweep tubes in it.

[N4CYA]

It's a Swinger 205A–10 Meter Linear Tube Amplifier.

Click this ---> http://hamradioware.com/swinger-205a-10-meter-linear-amplifier-110v

[KJ4PGE]

it looks similar to that one. here is a pic it has 2 6lq6 tubes in it. the switches go in order from left to right pwr on/off, operate/ stndby, bil/off(unsure what that does possibly bilateral or preamp), am/ssb, swing on/off http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs787.ash1/167777_490672877021_502252021_5804560_756862_n.jpg http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=490672877021&set=a.490672872021.272662.502252021

[WD5GWY]

Bil probably means Bi-Linear. Which means (more or less) that it has a preamp in it to boost receive signals. Might make a good parts donor.
james
WD5GWY

[K9STH]

PGE:

How clean is the power output? The vast majority of these amplifiers were made for illegal operation on "CB" and the output is VERY dirty. Also, I most certainly hope that the tests are being done on the 10-meter band and not the 11-meter band!

Glen, K9STH

[WA7PRC]

PGE:

How clean is the power output? The vast majority of these amplifiers were made for illegal operation on "CB" and the output is VERY dirty. Also, I most certainly hope that the tests are being done on the 11-meter band and not the 10-meter band!

Glen, K9STH
There. I fixed it for ya. :p

[W8JI]

I think we are heading for disaster on ten meters when the sunspots come back and all these CB amps get used with a wide open band..

[KD7MSC]

I think we are heading for disaster on ten meters when the sunspots come back and all these CB amps get used with a wide open band..

With roger beeps and echo :mad:

[KJ4PGE]

lol tested into a 500w dummy load wasnt broad casting at all and the tests were 10m into the dummy load after i tested it then i hooked it up to my antenna and broadcasted and reports were good.

[KB4QAA]

*holds head*

We are being over run.

[AG3Y]

Yeah, I think I will leave 10 meters to all the "kids, lids, and space cadets" ! ! !

BTW, just curious, how many "bird watts" does that thing SWING ? ? ?

[KJ4PGE]

dont currently own a bird meter (wish i did) but with the radio shack special that i do have it does around 150w pep and a little under 100w dead key

[K9STH]

PGE:

The likely hood of the Radio Shack meter being anywhere close to accurate is questionable. That meter was made for the "CB" / "freeband" market and are calibrated (if you can call it that) to show a high output reading even though no where near the power is being emitted. This was done to make the operator "feel good".

Glen, K9STH

[KJ4PGE]

would like a better meter but funds are holding me back lol i will get one some day still new to ham radio but slowly getting some gear in the shack

[W8JI]

lol tested into a 500w dummy load wasnt broad casting at all and the tests were 10m into the dummy load after i tested it then i hooked it up to my antenna and broadcasted and reports were good.

I believe you probably got good reports.

Most people are clueless about how to check a signal or amplifier.

The sad thing is amps like that are going to ruin ten meters.

[KJ4PGE]

i dont understand how it is going to ruin 10m when i opened it up it doesnt look like anyone has ever had the hands in it and if from the factory it was made for 10m then how would it ruin it? sure i understand that its old but i have a touch lamp in my shack and it doesnt even make it turn on and off like my old 25w realistic 10m mobile radio did? not starting a fight or anything just curious would like to know everything i can always been a book worm and studied lol

[K8BEC]

i dont understand how it is going to ruin 10m when i opened it up it doesnt look like anyone has ever had the hands in it and if from the factory it was made for 10m then how would it ruin it? sure i understand that its old but i have a touch lamp in my shack and it doesnt even make it turn on and off like my old 25w realistic 10m mobile radio did? not starting a fight or anything just curious would like to know everything i can always been a book worm and studied lol

Most of those type of amps were actually built for 11 meter use but marketed under the guise of 10m use,since using an amplifier on "cb" is illegal. Most of these amplifiers when used have excessively wide bandwidth and therefore cause all kinds of qrn. Using the touch lamp as a measuring point is like trying to use a caulender to measure water.

[W8JI]

i dont understand how it is going to ruin 10m when i opened it up it doesnt look like anyone has ever had the hands in it and if from the factory it was made for 10m then how would it ruin it? sure i understand that its old but i have a touch lamp in my shack and it doesnt even make it turn on and off like my old 25w realistic 10m mobile radio did? not starting a fight or anything just curious would like to know everything i can always been a book worm and studied lol

This is not meant personally, but as a general overall view the entire thread shows why we are heading for problems. Cheap poorly designed junk that never should have been sold and NEVER was intended for ham use is now finding its way into ham use.

This thread demonstrates why we are heading for disaster if we don't do something about CB gear and CB technology finding its way onto ten meters and other bands.

For example here is an RM Italy amplifier that was sold as 250-300 watt amp:

http://www.w8ji.com/rm_hla-150_test.htm

also

http://www.w8ji.com/cb_amplifiers_convert_ham.htm


As for your comments above.

It does not mean your "amplifier" is clean just because no one had their "hands in it". As a matter of fact, not being modified probably means it is NOT clean because most CB amps were built with self-bias. Self-bias means they adjust to various drive levels by automatically compressing gain as more drive power is applied. This causes non-linearity and splatter.

Second, most people on the air have no idea how to check a signal for quality. Many of those that do know how to check signals don't have a quiet enough location, the proper equipment, or have enough signal level from you to fully evaluate your signal.

Third, a REAL amplifier that is type-accepted probably has been gone through for linearity and performance, because the manufacturer is serious and making an investment that he does not want to see fail. YOUR amplifier is a cheap CB amplifier that was never type accepted or designed to be clean, it was a fast-buck here today gone tomorrow garage production.

Fourth, a schematic would reveal how clean the amp probably will be, but because your amplifier is an obscure CB amplifier none is available. The very fact it has a name like "Swinger 205" tends to indicate it is not linear, but rather is built to distort the RF signal to add the "swing" CB'ers seem to love. This unfortunately also causes splatter.

Fifth, you somehow view a touch-lamp as a bandwidth detection device. It is not even in any sense of the word even remotely useful for evaluating spectral purity or bandwidth. It is meaningless as a indicator of anything. This shows how little people making an equipment choice know about how to tell if a signal is actually clean.


As we get less and less technical and as users understand less about how radios really work, we have less of a chance to weed out nasty signals. Eventually ten meters will be like CB in the quality of emissions, almost exclusively from the cross-pollination of CB trash into Ham.

73 Tom

[KB4QAA]

K8BEC,
Please don't take the discussions here personally, but rather as a learning opportunity.

You obviously have an interest in amplifiers and performance. There are dozens of good amplifier designs published in QST and the ARRL Handbooks over the last 60 years. Use your Swinger as the core to build a clean efficient amplifier that you can be proud of, while increasing your knowledge.

73, Bill

[K8BEC]

K8BEC,
Please don't take the discussions here personally, but rather as a learning opportunity.

You obviously have an interest in amplifiers and performance. There are dozens of good amplifier designs published in QST and the ARRL Handbooks over the last 60 years. Use your Swinger as the core to build a clean efficient amplifier that you can be proud of, while increasing your knowledge.

73, Bill

I think you meant KJ4PGE not K8BEC:D
Don't worry though I don't take anything personal...hihi

[KB4QAA]

Ok, good you understand. Then I guess you also won't mind when I say your mouthwash ain't cutting it! :p

[KJ4PGE]

thank you for the info the use of it will be dismissed and probly start looking into either selling off the tubes and what not or begin a new project lol. i thought it was rather odd to not find any info on it but with what everyone said it was designed for 11m use and disguised as 10m equipment that explains it enough right there. i started into the hobby on 11m and just couldnt take all the jerks and obnoxious people that use it along with the ones running power that would splatter the whole band. rest assured that this ones found its last owner and will be retired. thank you again for all the info really learned alot. im not out anything with getting this amp i got it for free from an older gentleman that said his father had it and passed away.

[K8BEC]

Ok, good you understand. Then I guess you also won't mind when I say your mouthwash ain't cutting it! :p
HI Hi , thats the same thing my wife says to me all the time.:D