From: K0HB on Jan 2, 1:04 pm


wrote

on high-power linear RF amplifier


Sounds rather ILLEGAL to me if "used on 80m" as claimed by
the seller.

Nothing illegal, so long as it's used within the rules.

That's the crux of the whole thing, isn't it?

"Legality." :-)


I have a couple of
different amplifiers which could easily be driven beyond 1500W out, but are
perfectly legal so long as the power output rule is observed.

...and just who checks your "legal status" in operating?

Oh, my, there's LOTS of different "technical" regulations
in Part 97, Title 47 C.F.R., aren't there?

The same can be said of Citizens Band Radio Service. It was
"okay" once and legal to have a linear amplifier connected to
a CB transmitter provided one did not exceed the regulatory
limits found in Part 95, Title 47 C.F.R. Uh huh... :-)

A company called General Radiotelephone once operated in
Burbank, CA, on Magnolia Blvd a few blocks from Hollywood
Way. They had - once - a cramped, busy assembly line
operation going on the second floor of one building on
the north side of Magnolia Blvd. Their major product was
a CB transceiver which was ready to increase its power
output from 5 to 35 Watts (by removing a jumper) "if and
when the FCC allows a power output change." It SOLD in
quantity with that "feature." The company planned to
expand in the near future and had put up most of a triangle
tower for their CB antenna...tower still visible half-
erected on the roof today. Of course the FCC never did
increase CB power output. The offshore import CB rigs
arrived to undercut their prices and they went Chapter
something and quit the business. [no, I didn't have one
of those General Radiotelephone rigs, but they were in
my vicinity and I was up on their second floor factory]

Now and for some years there has been a legal no-no on
even being able to PURCHASE a linear amplifier in a certain
frequency range...which could be used for a CB radio...or a
10m amateur radio. Can you connect the dots and see a trend
for the future there?

If someone has a 10 KW linear that covers all of "the bands"
(HF) then it is tempting both faith and human nature to say
that a legally-licensed (certificated, tested, got their
legal license in the nave of the Church of St.Hiram) amateur
will ALWAYS OBEY THE RULES. The temptation is GREAT...just
sitting there, ready to go, beside the operating position
in the "shack."

Of course YOU will always be scrupulously honest. [was
there any doubt?] Are all the other legal amateurs just
as scrupulously honest?

Be honest now...