How is THIS for an AMP?

[K1ZJH]

"He who dies with the most toys" is still dead, and you can't take it with you.

Priceless!!! And how true!!!!

[WA7PRC]

Using 250 watts of drive and the outboard variac(included) to increase the plate voltage,it will run about 6800 watts output...

IOW, it will run ... at best ... 10Log(6800/1500) = 6.6 dB more than a legal-limit amplifier. Never mind that, at typical Class AB1 efficiency (around 55%), it will pull 6800/0.55 = 12364W from the mains (plus 630W filament power). Even if it sells for the current $3800 offer, it's not worth it.

[KO6WB]

IOW, it will run ... at best ... 10Log(6800/1500) = 6.6 dB more than a legal-limit amplifier. Never mind that, at typical Class AB1 efficiency (around 55%), it will pull 6800/0.55 = 12364W from the mains (plus 630W filament power). Even if it sells for the current $3800 offer, it's not worth it.

If only those that do this would realize that an improvement in their antenna would get their signal out to more folks then such sillyness wouldn't occur. BTW that amplifier is built well and is very impressive. The shipping fee of $20 is a required entry for an eBay listing even though it is local pick up only.
I would not want to be the recipient of the electric bill.
Did you guys get a look at the stuff that is included in the price?
That amplifier will sell to somebody someday but perhaps not today.
73
Gary

[WA9SVD]

I also think the mega amps are rarer than most think.

I'm afraid I have to disagree. there are stations that keep calling , even after the DX station has acknowledged a specific station. Not JUST the "high power" stations of course, but they think their mega-power will "conquer all;" that power wins over all. Some DX stations actually ID some of the stations that reply to other than the specific station to which they are in contact, that the rude "intruder" will never be acknowledged. While I understand "conditions" may vary, when I hear stations from a general area that are at S-7, and claim they are already running legal limit, and a station from the same area blasts in at a (indicated by the S-Meter, whatever that means) at 40 dB over, I have to think the new station is running a tiny bit more power than the others.
I'd LIKE to think that all Amateurs follow the rules, but that's not always the fact.

[KO6WB]

I'm afraid I have to disagree. there are stations that keep calling , even after the DX station has acknowledged a specific station. Not JUST the "high power" stations of course, but they think their mega-power will "conquer all;" that power wins over all. Some DX stations actually ID some of the stations that reply to other than the specific station to which they are in contact, that the rude "intruder" will never be acknowledged. While I understand "conditions" may vary, when I hear stations from a general area that are at S-7, and claim they are already running legal limit, and a station from the same area blasts in at a (indicated by the S-Meter, whatever that means) at 40 dB over, I have to think the new station is running a tiny bit more power than the others.
I'd LIKE to think that all Amateurs follow the rules, but that's not always the fact.

I would be the one hoping everybody else was using a dummy load and that guy with 40 over was on stacked yagis.
When folks cheat like that they are only fooling themselves. They didn't really earn that award or contact or whatever in a legitiment way. Big deal, if that's what it takes to make them happy then I just pity them.
73
Gary

[WA9SVD]

IOW, it will run ... at best ... 10Log(6800/1500) = 6.6 dB more than a legal-limit amplifier. Never mind that, at typical Class AB1 efficiency (around 55%), it will pull 6800/0.55 = 12364W from the mains (plus 630W filament power). Even if it sells for the current $3800 offer, it's not worth it.

Define "worth." You are merely looking at the economic side of the issue. If some people can spend $300,000 for an automobile, then the electricity cost wouldn't be more than a blip on their electric bill.

[WA9SVD]

I would be the one hoping everybody else was using a dummy load and that guy with 40 over was on stacked yagis.
When folks cheat like that they are only fooling themselves. They didn't really earn that award or contact or whatever in a legitiment way. Big deal, if that's what it takes to make them happy then I just pity them.
73
Gary

I totally agree. It's SAD that there are some hams (and other people in the general population) that think they can somehow achieve greater honor by cheating.
Apparently they have no conscience; they have no qualms about cheating to achieve goals to which others strive through actual effort and experience.

[K5RT]

This thread is sad. I challenge Glen's account as well because I'm pretty sure I know who he's referring to and if I am right, the facts are incorrect about the amplifier. Also, calling a 9V is a myth. Are there contesters who run power, yes a few. However, these folks are well known by the contesting community and these guys are not the guys who win. I challenge anyone on this thread to contact me off this board and tell me the call signs of the contest stations that you think run excessive power. Enough of this nonsense!
Vy 73 Paul K5RT

[AG6K]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ham-radio-Ho...item2a1fb368db

No Chickenbander Linnyure here! This has FOUR (count'em!) 4-1000s and has really nice layout and workmanship! Bet this gets through the Pileups

 4, 4-1000As have 1/3 more feedback-C than a 8171 / 4CX10,000D, they have less peak emission even though they consume more filament-I, they are harder to cool, they only have 20% of the power-gain, and they take up more chassis space than a 4CX10,000D. More tubes are not always more better. . . Of course if you are building a VHF oscillator, more feedback-C is where you want to be.

[AG6K]

Sue, are you really that náive? (Do you really believe ALL contesters honor the legal power limit?)

 Indeed. When I was designing and building the "Plywood Box" 4cx5000A 20db amplifier, I got the impression that some Hams were getting pretty tight-jawed about me discussing the project openly on the air. Later on I found out from a Ham friend who was an FCC employee, who was a CW guest-op contester himself, that the complainants included big gun contesters who he knew ran 4cx5000A, 4cx10,000D and 4cx15,000A amplifiers because he had been a guest-CW-op at their contest stations before he graduated from college and got a job with the FCC.
Conclusion: There is not a whole lot of honour amoung thieves and contesters.