I'm still not sure what I'm going to do, but I'm not too fond of spending $350 for a set of 572b's.
The Taylor 572b is $80 and the 811a prc is $55. What is the advantage of the 572b over the prc? Plate dissipation on both are 160 watts....[/QUOTE
160 watts for the PRC tube doesn't sound right.
Cool! Nothing like first-hand experience.
Does leave me with one nagging suspicion, though.
Were you running it from a 120-Volt circuit? This type tube does not like voltage drop on the filament. Causes the temperature of the filament to run too low. Fouls up the chemistry of the tungsten alloy and causes the tube to become prematurely weak.
As a rule, directly-heated filament tubes last longer on a 240-Volt circuit.
Might explain your experience.
Might not.
Just a thought.
73
The Taylor 572b is $80 and the 811a prc is $55. What is the advantage of the 572b over the prc? Plate dissipation on both are 160 watts.
I keep seeing to keep the key time under 5 seconds with a 15 second cool down when tuning. Would the 572b or PRC allow me 10 or 15 seconds of key? That could make sense to spend the extra money to tune much faster.
Welcome to "How to blow your ham Radio Budget" 101.The only part I don't understand is why no one actually complains about the 811a not lasting. Surely there must be some 811a's still in use, or has everyone upgraded?
For just a few hundred more I could have 572b's, but for just a few hundred more I could have 3-500z's, for just a few hundred more I could have... see where this is going?
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do, but I'm not too fond of spending $350 for a set of 572b's.
Nomad and Captain Kilowatt are the two best tube aficionados I know of,We will have to see what the amp looks like. Hopefully it just needs a good cleaning and minor repairs. I appreciate all of the input, and I'm sure I will have many more questions when this thing shows up.
Nomad and Captain Kilowatt are the two best tube aficionados I know of,
Well I'll put it this way, not many that I would take amps to beside myself.You must not know many people do you.