RM Italy BLA600 HF AMPLIFIER

[Mudfoot]

I wonder if this is supposed to compete with Elecraft's solid state amp? The specs sure look nice. It looks like a fine amp. The price scares me. If it did a true kilowatt, I might be tempted, but definitely not as is.

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/rmy-bla600

 

[nomadradio]

Hmmm. PIN diodes instead of a relay?

Does this mean the amplifier must be powered to use it as a barrel connector?

I remember Palomar made a mobile amplifier just before they went under 40 years ago that used PIN diodes and no relays.

The 12-Volt supply had to be connected to use it on standby, or turned "off".

Couldn't transmit barefoot through it with the main power removed.

People kept blowing up the PIN diodes trying to use it in "barrel connector" mode with no power supply attached. Trouble was, that once this happened it would blow up the RF transistors next time you powered it up and tried to transmit. Don't remember how many of them we converted back to relay switching.

73

 

[Mudfoot]

I remember reading something about that. I can't remember the discussion, though.