|
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
Must be on the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
This listing sold on Thu, 9 Jan at 4:18 PM GMT ...
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Must be on the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
Still can't find it? Is this a European Ebay?
This listing sold on Thu, 9 Jan at 4:18 PM GMT ...
Must be on the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
Yes, but board was in Portugal.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 9 Jan 2025, at 18:04, mike repinski via groups.io <mikflathead@...> wrote:
Still can't find it? Is this a European Ebay?
This listing sold on Thu, 9 Jan at 4:18 PM GMT ...
Must be on the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
Thanks for the link. I was thinking more than what it sold for.
Yes, but board was in Portugal.
On 9 Jan 2025, at 18:04, mike repinski via groups.io <mikflathead@...> wrote:
Still can't find it? Is this a European Ebay?
This listing sold on Thu, 9 Jan at 4:18 PM GMT ...
Must be on the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
I have a complete, unbuilt WD7S Triode Kit, which I'm never going
to use.
See
I would entertain the thought of selling it if it is of interest
to anyone.
73, Alek VK6APK.
On 10/01/2025 1:24 am, Jeremy Maris
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
This listing sold on
Thu, 9 Jan at 4:18 PM GMT ...
Must be on
the European Ebay? Does not show up on mine.
These are now as rare as hen's teeth, so I thought
that I'd flag it to the list in case anybody is
interested.
I have no connection with the seller.
See eBay Item No. 116441758244
73s Tracey G5VU
|
Is there a reason why we couldn't do a run of these, if G3SEK doesn't want to produce them (looking at the website, looks like it was last updated in 2020)?
?
I have one of these I purchased a very long time ago around here somewhere with the manual that I've never built.?
?
-Brian N9ADG
?
|
RE: GM3SEK Tetrode Controller?????????????
?
Somewhere in the collection of 50 some years of
building amplifiers there exists a new, pristine
collection of Tetrode Controller stuff.
?
There are two boards, unpopulated as yet.
?
If I wanted to duplicate these boards where
is a recommended tech?
?
TNX
?
Hal Mandel
W4HBM
|
Hullo Tracey and the Group,
?
Does anyone chat about with Ian, GM3SEK?
?
He’s a member of the Oxford University Radio
club, and still active on VHF, I believe.
?
Perhaps he might “Pass along the ball” to
the next generation, seeing as how his
design has been growing in popularity.
?
Hal Mandel
W4HBM
|
The Art Work for the PCBs is the property G3SEK. The circuitry is nothing special and is Public Domain. Using any one of the popular PCB Design CAD Programs (Altium Designer/Circuit Studio/Maker), Novram Diptrace, or Kicad those boards could be designed and the Gerber Files generated with a weeks worth of work.
Hullo Tracey and the Group,
?
Does anyone chat about with Ian, GM3SEK?
?
He’s a member of the Oxford University Radio
club, and still active on VHF, I believe.
?
Perhaps he might “Pass along the ball” to
the next generation, seeing as how his
design has been growing in popularity.
?
Hal Mandel
W4HBM
|
I contacted a friend of Ian's and he dialed him up and asked to comment on the subject at hand.
Ian said he basically was unable to help, here's his reply
?
"There have been a few inquiries about reissuing the boards, but I'm afraid that is no longer workable. Here's why:
1. Those boards were designed more than 25 years ago, and many of the components are now obsolete. This was already becoming a problem when I closed the business, and of course has only become worse. Also the software that I used to create the boards and schematics is way out of date, so I can't even edit the files any more.
2. Even if by some miracle I could find the Gerber files, all of those other changes mean that re-issued boards would in reality be new products, each with its own new range of support issues. I always took the "lifetime support" commitment very seriously, but today I don't even have the amplifiers or the test rigs to simulate faults or provide support. Too many things have changed."
?
That's life, things change.
73
Reid Brandon? W6MTF
?
|
I was reminded there is another source for boards to use with a triode OR tetrode, one built in France
A couple of years ago I was in a discussion about using one of them on a larger tetrode in Europe.
Not certain how that turned out but I bought one of the boards but never completed the project.
Check out the link, it may come up in French but there is a button to translate to English.
?
Dom is an active designer and quite friendly and able to communicate despite the language barrier.
This should then be considered a new source of boards for use with tube linears.?
73,
Reid W6MTF
|
Thanks for that insight, Reid. With all that?being said, the electronic methods for control and protection of triode and tetrode amplifiers haven't changed....Ian's circuits, from an electronics standpoint, are still valid. That being the case, duplicating the circuits with modern components on new boards is entirely feasible for someone with PCB design experience. Whether or not anyone is willing to take up the project is really the crux of the matter, and support of the product is an option entirely up to the person doing the work. I'm not willing to take on that project, but it seems likely to me that someone?would.
Thanks,
Robin Midgett K4IDC
I contacted a friend of Ian's and he dialed him up and asked to comment on the subject at hand.
Ian said he basically was unable to help, here's his reply
?
"There have been a few inquiries about reissuing the boards, but I'm afraid that is no longer workable. Here's why:
1. Those boards were designed more than 25 years ago, and many of the components are now obsolete. This was already becoming a problem when I closed the business, and of course has only become worse. Also the software that I used to create the boards and schematics is way out of date, so I can't even edit the files any more.
2. Even if by some miracle I could find the Gerber files, all of those other changes mean that re-issued boards would in reality be new products, each with its own new range of support issues. I always took the "lifetime support" commitment very seriously, but today I don't even have the amplifiers or the test rigs to simulate faults or provide support. Too many things have changed."
?
That's life, things change.
73
Reid Brandon? W6MTF
?
|
I have a set of tetrode boards on my GS23B amplifier and
understand the design pretty well. Their primary functions are
voltage regulation and screen current trip, which has saved me
countless times over the years.?
Keeping with GM3SEK's original design philosophy, the boards
could be re-engineered with a modern microcontroller that could
also implement a versatile sequencer function, thermal protection,
along with surface mount components. I could take a crack at this
sometime this spring when I expect to have more time. It would be
completely open-source using KiCAD for PCB layout and a Github
page for community collaboration.
Mike WB2FKO
On 1/13/25 11:17, Robin Midgett via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Thanks
for that insight, Reid.
With all
that?being said, the electronic methods for control and
protection of triode and tetrode amplifiers haven't
changed....Ian's circuits, from an electronics standpoint,
are still valid. That being the case, duplicating the
circuits with modern components on new boards is entirely
feasible for someone with PCB design experience. Whether or
not anyone is willing to take up the project is really the
crux of the matter, and support of the product is an option
entirely up to the person doing the work. I'm not willing to
take on that project, but it seems likely to me that
someone?would.
Thanks,
Robin Midgett K4IDC
I contacted a friend of Ian's and he dialed him up and
asked to comment on the subject at hand.
Ian said he basically was unable to help, here's his
reply
?
"There have been a few inquiries about reissuing the
boards, but I'm afraid that is no longer workable. Here's
why:
1. Those boards were designed more than 25 years ago, and
many of the components are now obsolete. This was already
becoming a problem when I closed the business, and of
course has only become worse. Also the software that I
used to create the boards and schematics is way out of
date, so I can't even edit the files any more.
2. Even if by some miracle I could find the Gerber files,
all of those other changes mean that re-issued boards
would in reality be new products, each with its own new
range of support issues. I always took the "lifetime
support" commitment very seriously, but today I don't even
have the amplifiers or the test rigs to simulate faults or
provide support. Too many things have changed."
?
That's life, things change.
73
Reid Brandon? W6MTF
?
|
WB2FKO said:?
"Keeping with GM3SEK's original design philosophy, the boards could be re-engineered with a modern microcontroller that could also implement a versatile sequencer function, thermal protection, along with surface mount components. I could take a crack at this sometime this spring when I expect to have more time. It would be completely open-source using KiCAD for PCB layout and a Github page for community collaboration.
Mike WB2FKO"
Hey Mike that would be an interesting concept, having a heater timer that could be set for the popular warmup times, including 6 minutes for the YC-156 (do folks still find those tubes anymore?). I started to say there are SMD optoisolators at $.75 each but if I were making it I would use a 6 pin socketed variety so they can be replaced when/if something causes one to fail from excessive current or rf getting into it.? On that subj, be sure to put rf bypassing on I/O pins to keep rf from regurgitating it like the Alpha Radio linears did when they first came out.? I forget the model but it had a row of LED's on the front panel, it tested good into a dummy load at the factory but the first couple of customers found it went bonkers when they used 80M and had rf in the shack so they returned them for Gordon to add rf bypass or ferrite beads or something on the micro. Just a thought but as they say, history seems to repeat itself.
73,? Reid? W6MTF
|
For simple GG triodes,? do u really require a triode control board ?? ?The step started HV supply, and step started? fil supply can be done? without the triode control board.? ?Ditto with grid and plate and cathode overload, soft key and anything else u can think of.? ?I looked at Ian's board eons ago, but it required a lot of mods to work with the bigger triodes.?
The WD7S? triode board did have a unique feature....... where if the B+ dropped below a set threshold, it kicked the amp offline.?
That was my fear if the HV fuse I have in series with the 50 ohm glitch resistor ever opened up.? ? With no B+....and drive applied? to any high mu? GG triode,? you will peg the grid meter? with very very? little drive applied.?
WD7S stated since his triode board already has grid over current protection, his ......" B+? below a set threshold"? ?feature is really not needed.?
I came up with my own version of grid over current protection.......and also a newer version in the last year... which I have not yet tested.? On paper, it should work good.?
|
Yes. I bought the complete WD7S kit years ago and then decided
that it was much simpler to include the features that I wanted in
my amp constructions without the board.?
I still have it here, as I bought it, complete and unmade. It
definitely is a quality bit of gear but I don't need it.
73, Alek VK6APK.
On 16/01/2025 4:47 am, Jim VE7RF via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
For simple GG triodes,? do u really require a triode control
board ?? ?The step started HV supply, and step started? fil
supply can be done? without the triode control board.? ?Ditto
with grid and plate and cathode overload, soft key and anything
else u can think of.? ?I looked at Ian's board eons ago, but it
required a lot of mods to work with the bigger triodes.?
The WD7S? triode board did have a unique feature....... where if
the B+ dropped below a set threshold, it kicked the amp
offline.?
That was my fear if the HV fuse I have in series with the 50 ohm
glitch resistor ever opened up.? ? With no B+....and drive
applied? to any high mu? GG triode,? you will peg the grid
meter? with very very? little drive applied.?
WD7S stated since his triode board already has grid over
current protection, his ......" B+? below a set threshold"?
?feature is really not needed.?
I came up with my own version of grid over current
protection.......and also a newer version in the last year...
which I have not yet tested.? On paper, it should work good.?
|
The relay control on the GM3SEK board became messy when using tetrodes or triodes with handles.
?
There was also external parts that there were not documented? that had to be added externally for tubes like the YC156.
?
There was no easy way to regulate or protect the screen? with voltages greater than 800 volts.
?
So like most it was easier to use? your own protection circuits on? its own island connected with logic to protect the tube.
?
F1FRV has set of triode and tetrode boards that will regulate screen voltages upto 1500 volts while handling the protection and sequencing eloquently.
?
?
These boards are popular in Europe and have no rfi or other issues.
?
I came across this video that was sent to me via a link of a CB operator building? a 4cx5000.? He has his own take on the Tsunami amplifier and has some interesting ideas for protection and metering
?
?
Henry
|
Alek,
?
Can I send you an email on this? I possibly would be interested in it, just need to talk to someone and see if we still need it or not.
?
Thanks
?
On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 08:17 PM, Alek Petkovic wrote:
Yes. I bought the complete WD7S kit years ago and then decided that it was much simpler to include the features that I wanted in my amp constructions without the board.?
I still have it here, as I bought it, complete and unmade. It definitely is a quality bit of gear but I don't need it.
73, Alek VK6APK.
On 16/01/2025 4:47 am, Jim VE7RF via groups.io wrote:
For simple GG triodes,? do u really require a triode control board ?? ?The step started HV supply, and step started? fil supply can be done? without the triode control board.? ?Ditto with grid and plate and cathode overload, soft key and anything else u can think of.? ?I looked at Ian's board eons ago, but it required a lot of mods to work with the bigger triodes.?
The WD7S? triode board did have a unique feature....... where if the B+ dropped below a set threshold, it kicked the amp offline.?
That was my fear if the HV fuse I have in series with the 50 ohm glitch resistor ever opened up.? ? With no B+....and drive applied? to any high mu? GG triode,? you will peg the grid meter? with very very? little drive applied.?
WD7S stated since his triode board already has grid over current protection, his ......" B+? below a set threshold"? ?feature is really not needed.?
I came up with my own version of grid over current protection.......and also a newer version in the last year... which I have not yet tested.? On paper, it should work good.?
|
HaL Mandel
Brandon DX
Robin Midgett