[] [] To Amp or Not to Amp from Don Keith, N4KC on January 4, 2018 Website: To Amp or Not to Amp By Don Keith, N4KC ©2017 by Don Keith Since I write extensively about our wonderful hobby of amateur radio, including several best-selling books, I often get questions from folks—newcomers and old-timers alike—asking about setting up their stations, antenna recommendations, modes of operation and more. One of the most common queries is whether or not it is worth it to add an outboard amplifier to the station. (“Outboard” because technically most of our transceivers today have a final output amplifier contained within.) My answer: “Man, are you asking the wrong guy!” See, I was first licensed in 1961 when John F. Kennedy was president and Roy Orbison and Del Shannon had the top songs on the radio. But I did not add an accessory amplifier until almost fifty years later.
Even then, I deliberately delayed my purchase because of a weird personal challenge: I vowed to work and confirm more than 250 DXCC entities with 100 watts or less and simple wire antennas. Granted, I began this effort in 2005 when I became active again after a mostly inactive decade. But the truth is, I did just fine all those years before with my various power levels ranging from QRP to a powerful, pulsating 100 watts PEP.
Gonset GSB-100 manual, reprint. This is a digitally copied and enhanced manual for the Gonset GSB-100 SSB Transmitter. It is clear, clean, and easy to read. The GSB-101 manual is about 8 1/2' X 11' with about 33 pages and a large one piece 11' X 25' fold out schematic. Topics include specifications, installation, antennas, operation.
Ends at 9:59 GMT on 13 March 2019. Composed by Albert Franz Doppler (1821-1883). Flute and piano - intermediate to advanced Flute and Piano. Doppler concerto for two flutes program notes haydn.
Though I often wished for more oomph in an abundance of rowdy pile-ups, I had plenty of reasons (or excuses) to avoid an amp for all those amp-less years. And I did get my 250 countries before adding a hex beam and an amplifier. Even then, it took a special cause to push me over the kicker-edge. When a local ham passed away, I decided to help the widow by purchasing his Ameritron AL-811 amplifier. I almost felt guilty, leaving abandoned the legion of non-boostered operators. But not much. Now, does that half a century of procrastination mean I am vehemently anti-amp?
I had perfectly good reasons—just as many of those who ask my opinion do—about whether or not to add “shoes” to my station. Among those are: - The cost.
Today’s solid-state amplifiers are great, reliable, quiet, convenient and much more, but they are not cheap. “Hollow state” (tube-type) kickers have not really escalated much in price unless they use exotic final tubes or come equipped with lots of added features, but the cost-per-watt can vary considerably and be at least as much as a decent transceiver. And for big amps much, much more.