This amplifier was designed for high-power, high duty cycle operation on the 2M band (144.000 to 144.200 MHz). It supports both CW and the high duty cycle WSJT modes (FSK441, JT44, JT65, etc) for EME and meteor scatter contacts. Linear amplification for SSB was not desired. However, the base design would likely support this mode at lower power levels. EDITOR'S NOTE: Go HERE to see operating parameters supporting GS-23B linear operation. The design uses a W6PO-derived output tank circuit (go HERE for calculations), and a T-input tuned circuit. It employs a Russian GS-23B tetrode tube (4CX1600U), with the cathode driven by the input tank and at 47 VDC bias above the control grid, the control grid (G1) is grounded for both RF and DC, and the screen grid (G2) is at RF ground but operates at 600 VDC with respect to the cathode. The design parameters are based on a high plate voltage, roughly 3750 VDC under load. Here are the design and typical operating parameters: Parameter Range @ 1500W output Pin (drive to cathode): 0 - 30W         30W Eg1 (wrt cathode): -47 VDC (regulated)         -47 VDC Ig1 (max): 0 - 30 mA         25 mA Eg2 (wrt cathode): 600 VDC (shunt regulated)         600 VDC Ig2: -20 to +20 mA         15 mA Ep: 3750 VDC         3750 VDC Ip: 0 - 1.2A         0.8A Eff:           50-55% J1 - Type "N" connector, visible in the upper-right quarter of the cabinet rear view. J2 - Type SO-239 connector, near the lower-center of the rear of the cabinet. C1 - 680 to 1000 pF, 500VDC silver mica C2 - Input tune; 2 - 20 pF, 500VDC air variable (values not critical) C3 & C4 - 2 x 100 pF, 7.5KV or more, high RF amperage doorknob capacitors C5 - tune capacitor, 4" X 2.5" Cu plates; separation variable from 1/4" to 3/4" C6 - load capacitor, 1.75" X 1.75" Cu plates; separation variable from 1/4" to 3/4" C7 - 1000 pF doorknob, 5KV or more; could use properly rated feedthrough, as well C10 & C11 - 1000 pF feedthrough capacitors, voltage rating above 20VAC Cg2 - 6 x 470 pF chip capacitors, Mouser 5982-22-1000V470 L1 - 4 turns #14 enamelled wire, 3/4" dia L2 - 2 turns #14 enamelled wire, 3/4" dia L3 & L4 - Filament choke, 13 closely packed bifilar turns, 3/4" dia. L5 & L6 - Resonator pipes, 1 1/8" OD thinwall copper tubing, 8.5" long L7 - Plate choke, 6 turns #14 3/4" dia RFC1 - 10 turns of 24 over a 100 ohm 3 W metal oxide resistor or Ohmite Z-144 taps 5 & 16 - connect to 6.3 VAC filament supply The base chassis was the W6PO kit sold by K3IWK. The chassis was assembled and the various components mounted using short "standoffs" (Mouser 532-1560B). These standoffs were easy to install with hand tools (a cone chisel was used to flare the standoff flange into the base cabinet metal), and resemble the popular "PEM nuts" in operation. Much of the miscellaneous sheet metal and tubing was obtained from online metals. Click on picture for chassis details. The tube "mounting box" (podest) was shortened to 4" (originally 6") high to provide more clearance between the tube anode and the top of the amplifier enclosure. The pictures to left and right show the shortened "mounting box" and the input circuit wiring. An SO-239 chassis mount connector is used to connect to the heater pin and cathode rings below the G1 surface. The outer portion of the connector is mounted on a brass flange which is isolated from the G1 surface by nylon bolts (this flange must float at 47 VDC with respect to G1, and it will be driven by the tuned input circuit. A shortened 3/8" brass pipe nipple was used to bush the outside of the SO-239; small fingerstock was used to form the connection between this nipple and the cathode ring on the tube. The GS-23B is located near the center, the plate load capacitor is to the left. The strap connecting the movable plate to the "N" connector is visible. Above this is the doorknob bypass capacitor, the plate choke, and the Millen HV connector. The two-doorknob set that blocks DC from the resonator tubes is C10. Far right is the tune capacitor. Note that on the mechanical apparatus that moves the capacitor plates that the teflon plug extends all the way into the anode compartment. Also visible is the lock screw that prevents these plugs from rotating when the knobs are turned, and the nylon mounting screw that holds the movable plate to the teflon plug and also prevents the plates from getting too close. It is also clear that a teflon chimney is constructed to vent air from the anode fins through the top of the amplifier. This chimney must also insulate the chassis from the HV on the tube anode. Click on picture for more construction details. The "Tetrode Boards," developed by G3SEK and marketed by Tom's Tubes were used to develop most of the DC voltages, TR switching, and handle control and safety duties during amplifier operation. They were built by closely following the instructions that come with the boards, "The Tetrode Boards - Control and Protection for your Tetrode RF Power Amplifier." Given the operating conditions for the GS-23B tube, However, and the requirements of the amplifier, several changes were made. Click on picture for details on tetrode boards. A conservative cooling circuit, based on a Dayton 4C006 blower, was designed to keep the tube cool under long skeds involving the high duty cycles of the WSJT JT65 mode popular in EME. The mechanical construction of this amplifier was purposely very robust to eliminate thermal tuning drift or tuning sensitivity caused by external disturbances. The cooling flow path is designed to keep the GS-23B cool under extreme duty cycle conditions. The blower mounts to the back of the chassis with the motor shaft vertical and the air inlet to the blower on the bottom. This arrangement both decreases the chance that a foreign object can fall into the blower impeller (as it is pointed downward), and allows half of the blower stream to be directed above the tube mounting box (podest), with the other half used to pressurize the grid compartment. Hardware cloth is used to shield these inlet rectangles such that RF cannot pass into the blower outlet. The grid compartment stream cools the underside of the tube (the G1/cathode/heater area), the cathode flange, and the input tank, then it leaves the grid compartment through holes drilled near the bottom of the compartment. It then cools the resonator tubes and sides of the chassis, then rejoins the stream of air that was directed above the tube mounting box. The two streams then pass through the tube anode fins, up the teflon chimney, and out of the chassis through the hardware cloth shield on top of the cabinet (see picture at right). This shield reduces the chance that objects will be dropped onto the tube anode and provides RF shielding. One should enclose the final amplifier in a suitable rack such that screwdrivers and such cannot be dropped past the hardware cloth. If this happens, the screwdriver shaft will become energized to the tube anode potential of 4 kV, with possibly-disasterous results. Many hours of EME operation have shown that both the tube anode and base temperatures remain quite cool with this cooling design, even at high elevations (7200 ft ASL). It is not recommended that a smaller blower be substituted, however. The 4C006 is relatively quiet given this design. Furthermore, the chassis remains quite cool, which adequately dissipates the heat generated by Q2 and R12, and reduces any thermal tuning drift caused by cyclical chassis heating to negligible levels.