10M Booster

[flintstone mop]

I had an unusually nice Sunday PM talking to some left coast ops on 10M. 25 watts from my radio is just barely getting through. I know when the band is really hot that 5 watts will work the world. I may have been on the edge of the 10M band retiring for the day.
Any suggestions of boosting the 25 watts to maybe a 200 or 300 W. Reports on my signal was "ok I read you and it is workable"....Focus would be 20-10M. Tubes or solid state amp?
I do not want to have to re-tune my AL1500 and play games reducing the carrier and miss making contacts. The band is not always there to be tweeking and tuning to answer someone calling CQ.
Thanks for any input
Fred

[W2VW]

A decent HF amplifier should have reset ability.  Tune it once on 29000 and it will always load the same way. If not it's cheesy.

I would think the AL-1500 would work fine with a cheat sheet just like an antenna tuner. Have not used one on 10 but a neighbor had the AL-1200 and I had a chance to see how that played.

My ancient 30S-1 gets used on 4 bands and I rarely tweek it. All I do is look at the tuning chart which I made after the initial tweek.

The first dollar in a 10 meter AM operation should go for a yagi.

I heard that QSO Fred : ) Not your side though. Skip zone and all.

10 is alive and well but it ain't 1957.

[flintstone mop]

Thanks Dave
I might try that and save some money.
Some fast tuning moves and it's up on 10M
I try to be a little like "Quick Draw McGraw" and jump into the action.
Ya I guess ballpark tuning cheat sheet and reduce the carrier from the exciter to drop the power down could be done.

[flintstone mop]

I'll have to call Ameritron for the mod to enable 10M. Someone cut the green wire on the bandswitch but still no RF out on 10M
PA current increases as I increase drive, but no dip in PA current when tuning the PLATE tune control. No RF out.
Must have been a two part mod to completely enable 10/12M in this amp.
Fred

[W2VW]

You probably already know the tuning may be pretty sharp compared to the low bands on 10.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=1794.0;wap2

http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/543/al-811-10-meter-mod/al811mod also covers AL-1200

[flintstone mop]

Roger Roger
Ya Dave a slower hand and this thing is not afraid to put the juice out. VERY sharp tuning .... after removing 20 some screws.
The only amp I have ever owned that puts out rated power all the way to 30Mhz.
I'm ok now
I did see an online pdf using 2 3CX1500's and some other mods to the power supply and a relay.
3KW out.
TNX
And thanks  Pete
Fred

[W2VW]

Glad it plays. Load it just like you would on slimeband. Just drive it with 12 to 18 or so watts carrier on AM and watch the grid I.

Do not retune with low drive or the peaks will go awaaaay.

[Steve - K4HX]

You'll be WHIRL WIDE Fred!