RadioBanter - View Single Post - Any recommendations for tube-type SSB transceivers?

September 7th 03, 09:22 PM

On Sun, 7 Sep 3903 14:51:24, wrote:

I think I mentioned elsewhere in these discussions that the main
reason I'm looking for an all-tube SSB/CW transceiver is for when (not
"if", unfortunately) terrorists manage to smuggle a nuclear weapon
into this country and set it off.

(Hell, no, I'm not paranoid, which one of my enemies told you that?)
:-(

No, you didn't mention it but most folk can read between the
lines.

I'm looking for something that has a reasonable chance of surviving
the resulting EMP, and that means tube gear.

Or it could mean that you keep a backup, inexpensive solid state
rig in a metal box. It could be anything, an old Tentec, an
IC-701, anything will work.

Now, someone else here said something about the KWM-2 having germanium
diodes in the balance modulator. Those aren't likely to survive any
meaningful EMP (they can't even survive a little heat from a soldering
iron, for Pete's sake) so that seems to let the KWM-2 out of the
running.

Of the other tube rigs mentioned ... Swan 260/270/350/500, Heath
SB100/101 and HW-100 (also HW-101?), Hallicrafters SR-150, NCX-5, etc.
.... how many of them have germanium diodes here and there that are
likely to get smoked? What other considerations are there that would
rule one of these other rigs in or out?

Rick WA1RKT

If you planned for it, you could have a spare set of diodes in the
impervious metal box and just sub them in when the balloon goes
up.

Anyway, I'm guessing that the EMP risk is overstated. If my
radios can ride out an electrical storm a mile away, what is the
risk of a one nuke in the entire country?

At the 50 mile range, I'd guess that it would be just some static.
Anyone know how big a problem this is?