Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Recently (2024) I have posted videos about my 40M Hybrid SSB transceiver that employs vacuum tubes in the lower level stages and solid state devices in the transmitter RF stages. That has worked well delivering about 6 watts to the antenna. I an now looking to up the power to 20 Watts PEP output.
There will be some innovations in this rigs and the 1st is the use of a Band Pass Coupler from the 12DQ7 (like a 12BY7) to the final Stage which will use a 12GE5. Again a bit innovation as I am attempting to use a broad band (Not Ina Rae Hutton's gaggle) no tune output. This will be fun.
A word about the tubes.The 12DQ7 was chosen as I have a few in the junk box and they worked well taking a low level solid state drive signal and providing sufficient output to drive a pair of 6GB5's to 60 watts on the SBE-34 SSB Transceiver.
The single 12GE5 is an interesting choice for an output tube ans there are four main reasons for its choice. The first is that the 6GE5 (a pair) is used in the Heathkit single band radios good for 100 watts out from the pair so circuitry exists. The second reason is that the plate connection is made to a socket pin and not a plate cap as this puts any high voltage below the chassis. The third reason is that it can operate with low plate voltage like 275 volts and 185 volts on the screen. Finally is a cost issue -- NIB NOS 12GE5 tubes were found on eBay for about $5.
I intend to feed the plate circuit of the 12GE5 with the FT-82-43 core used like an RF Choke but have a link coupling to a W3NQN LPF and on to 50 Ohms. Metering will be in the Cathode circuit of the 12GE5 and we can expect about 100 ma of cathode current. The Bias will be set for about -22 VDC.
Join in on the adventure.. build this SSB Transceiver.
73
Pete N6QW
Then that know, can make it go!
Recently (2024) I have posted videos about my 40M Hybrid SSB transceiver that employs vacuum tubes in the lower level stages and solid state devices in the transmitter RF stages. That has worked well delivering about 6 watts to the antenna. I an now looking to up the power to 20 Watts PEP output.
There will be some innovations in this rigs and the 1st is the use of a Band Pass Coupler from the 12DQ7 (like a 12BY7) to the final Stage which will use a 12GE5. Again a bit innovation as I am attempting to use a broad band (Not Ina Rae Hutton's gaggle) no tune output. This will be fun.
A word about the tubes.The 12DQ7 was chosen as I have a few in the junk box and they worked well taking a low level solid state drive signal and providing sufficient output to drive a pair of 6GB5's to 60 watts on the SBE-34 SSB Transceiver.
The single 12GE5 is an interesting choice for an output tube ans there are four main reasons for its choice. The first is that the 6GE5 (a pair) is used in the Heathkit single band radios good for 100 watts out from the pair so circuitry exists. The second reason is that the plate connection is made to a socket pin and not a plate cap as this puts any high voltage below the chassis. The third reason is that it can operate with low plate voltage like 275 volts and 185 volts on the screen. Finally is a cost issue -- NIB NOS 12GE5 tubes were found on eBay for about $5.
I intend to feed the plate circuit of the 12GE5 with the FT-82-43 core used like an RF Choke but have a link coupling to a W3NQN LPF and on to 50 Ohms. Metering will be in the Cathode circuit of the 12GE5 and we can expect about 100 ma of cathode current. The Bias will be set for about -22 VDC.
Join in on the adventure.. build this SSB Transceiver.
73
Pete N6QW
Then that know, can make it go!
