nitespark wrote:

...
Where do they get "1000 Watt Amp"?

"Power Output (RMS) 350 Watts
Power Output (PEP) 650 Watts
Driven Power (RMS) 450 Watts
Driven Power (PEP) 1000 Watts"

Sounds more like an attenuator to me.

Yeah, screwy specs. Although I have never used this particular amp, it
probably hits full out at ~40w-80w rms. That is what the small box amp
they usually sell is for (most will have them when selling amps this
big), takes 4w to ~80w then you drive the amp ...

I have an ancient CMI (has a Palo Alto/Menlo Park address and a couple
of hams/engineers there built and sold them) which does a solid 80m-10m,
500w rms at 40w rms drive (I drive it with ~25w), pep follows the same
linear curve ... it is marked "Amateur Amplifier" on the front panel and
was purchased at an electronics surplus store in Livermore, CA in the
80's. I got it for next to nothing thinking I would have to replace one
or more of the power transistors--it was only a diode in the thermal
protection circuit which had failed ...

It seems quite legal to me, even though I know they were marketed to
CB'ers in the 70's and enjoyed widespread "diesel usage." On a scope it
puts out a beautiful signal on all the bands I have used/measured,
however, as with any high power amp, the drive signal needs to be clean
to excellent tolerances. However, I would entertain arguments on how it
is "illegal."

I am guessing, but I guess it is the fact it spans 80m to ~40 Mhz which
makes it illegal? However, when it was sold, I don't believe it was
illegal to allow amps to cover the 10m and 11m bands ... but would have
to research that now to make sure ...

Nowadays, I don't believe you can even buy an amp which covers the 10m
band ... you must first "modify" the amp ... someone more knowledgeable
on the fine points of the rules/regs would know for sure ...

My antenna on the pickup has been though h*ll, bent, dented, etc. (I
have forgotten to fold it down on low overhangs), at one time the amp
was operating into a 4+:1 SWR by the time I noticed (smelled something
getting hot, grabbed the unit behind the seat and burnt my hand!) It is
one tough amp! I run a shortened 1/2 wave with a gamma match on 40m and
a simple 10m SS whip, switchable ...

Regards,
JS

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