Vintage 60’s RF Communications, Inc. RF-101 Linear Amplifier.
I saw a Classifieds Sale ad pop up for a “linear amplifier project” on a local radio club forum, and the best part of the project ad was it said; “FREE“! I like FREE!
I made the call and inquired. Next morning came and I grabbed the Expedition to go pick it up. With a little help from Ed and a two-wheeler, we brought it up out of his basement. HEAVY! Ed clued me in on the RF-101 amplifiers history and how he picked it up as surplus equipment when satellite communications arrived in the Alaskan Bush. Prior to satellites this amplifier was used with a matching transceiver to order supplies and communicate with schools in the Alaskan Bush. While I was there I bought a pair of Eimac 3-500Z’s and a pair of Eimac SK-406 Chimney’s Ed had sitting in boxes.
So far I’ve been able to piece the old RF-101 back together, switch it over to 220VAC, clean it up a bit and get the High Voltage up and stable at 3,300 VDC.
Over the next few months I’ll get the RF input & output sections up to speed and dialed in. There’s several boxes of pieces & parts I still have to sort out that came with this “project”. I have to say the pair of Eimac 3-400Z’s in the window look plain awesome! Getting it powered up with plate voltage is a damn good start to getting it on the air me thinks!
Stay tuned!
N0UN
what fun and for free.
looks good as is but be nice to see it working properly again. good luck on getting it up and running
Nice!
Thanks Fella’s! It’s just a cool little amplifier with history. The RF Input and Output sections are extremely complicated for me and will most probably be a Fall/Winter project ’round here. A solid learning experience. I feel good I got it powered up with B+ for now though!
N0UN
Wow how the Heck is it so clean looking!
It looks like it just came out of the factory Box.
Very Cool!
Nice catch and working 3-400s to boot!. Not as sexy as a pair of 4-1000s but close.
Looks beautiful! Enjoy it. 73 de Steve N2AJ
Sweet for sure!
Truly a thing of beauty Wayne… keep us posted on your progress.
Awesome project Wayne.. Nice looking amp..