6L6 TRANSMITTER
Here
is my newest transmitter. It uses a 6L6 with a 6X5 rectifier and
a 0D3 voltage regulator tube on the screen. The power output is only
about 5 watts. It can go almost twice that by pulling out the 0D3,
but the keying is not as good that way.
It is built on a 8 x 8 inch baking pan that I picked up at the grocery
store for $2.00. That was the only thing I had to buy. The
rest of the parts were already in the junk box. A coat of hammertone
gold paint gave it, in my opinion, a late-40's/early-50's look.
It is set up for 40-meter operation right now. That is my favorite
CW band. Most of my crystals are cut for the Novice portion of that
band.
My inspiration for building this rig was the Ameco AC-1 transmitter that
was popular in the mid-1960's. It used only a 6V6 and a 6X5 rectifier.
I saw one on WB1GFH's web site. The Ameco transmitter probably sounded
pretty bad on the air with the keyed oscillator and no regulation on the
screen. However, I remember seeing it advertised for
$21.95 in kit form. What could I expect for that price? Anyway,
I wanted one when I was a seventh grader in 1967, even though I was not
licensed until ten years later. I was sure I could get the Novice
ticket by the time it was put together. Somehow ham radio was pushed
aside by football, friends, motorcycles, girls, etc.
SCHEMATIC OF THE
6L6 TRANSMITTER
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