Help ID old rf power amp - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Nonamebrand · 21st Jul 2018, 7:53 am

Hi
Im new and not very knowledgeable, and have an old rf amplifier that I cannot find information on. It’s a TPL Communications Inc. PA3-1DE R. There’s a picture attached. How old is this thing? Is it ok to try it out? Thanks for taking the time!

Herald1360 · 21st Jul 2018, 11:12 pm

Difficult to read that label, but it appears to be a fixed frequency VHF (136 MHz aircraft band?) amplifier.

Without a suitable dummy load rated for its output power and a suitable drive source and dc power supply to feed it you can't do anything sensible with it anyway. It's no use for anything legal for a private individual as it stands though a licensed radio amateur might be interested in it to modify, perhaps.

Edit: https://www.tessco.com/products/disp....do?sku=575663

provides a bit more info re spec etc and it looks like it could well be used for the 144 MHz amateur band as it is.

If the info from the link doesn't mean anything to you, then it's still no use for anything legal for a private individual though a licensed radio amateur might well be interested in it.

Radio Wrangler · 22nd Jul 2018, 9:00 am

I certainly wouldn't try it out on those frequencies. It looks like it's tuned for what is an air/ground comms channel.

These are probably the most thoroughly policed frequencies on earth. Leak even a fraction of its power and you'll likely get official visitors to shut it down and confiscate equipment.

As said, radio amateurs have a frequency assignment nearby and often shift these things to those frequencies. They turn up at amateur radio flea markets for scrap prices. so they're a cheap way to make a big signal.

David

dodgy-dxer · 22nd Jul 2018, 10:23 am

Why not use Google?

You would have found this

http://www.tplcom.com/pdf/2013brochure.pdf

Fred

kan_turk · 22nd Jul 2018, 1:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herald1360

Difficult to read that label, but it appears to be a fixed frequency VHF (136 MHz aircraft band?) amplifier.

Without a suitable dummy load rated for its output power and a suitable drive source and dc power supply to feed it you can't do anything sensible with it anyway. It's no use for anything legal for a private individual as it stands though a licensed radio amateur might be interested in it to modify, perhaps.

Edit: https://www.tessco.com/products/disp....do?sku=575663

provides a bit more info re spec etc and it looks like it could well be used for the 144 MHz amateur band as it is.

If the info from the link doesn't mean anything to you, then it's still no use for anything legal for a private individual though a licensed radio amateur might well be interested in it.

A closer look at the equipment label reveals frequency range of 136 - 174 MHz which agrees with link above - so all perfectly legal for a licensed radio amateur or indeed anyone licensed to operate on frequencies within this range eg marine but not otherwise

J

Radio Wrangler · 22nd Jul 2018, 4:31 pm

Better eyesight than me! The 6 is bold, but I thought it was a decimal after it. Makes more sense as a dash!

Legal for amateur use in 144-146 MHz, but although it covers the marine VHF band, only type-approved equipment is usually legal there. Is it 146-148 in Canada?

David

21st Jul 2018, 7:53 am	#1
Nonamebrand Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1	Help ID old rf power amp Hi Im new and not very knowledgeable, and have an old rf amplifier that I cannot find information on. It’s a TPL Communications Inc. PA3-1DE R. There’s a picture attached. How old is this thing? Is it ok to try it out? Thanks for taking the time! Attached Thumbnails

21st Jul 2018, 11:12 pm	#2
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Help ID old rf power amp Difficult to read that label, but it appears to be a fixed frequency VHF (136 MHz aircraft band?) amplifier. Without a suitable dummy load rated for its output power and a suitable drive source and dc power supply to feed it you can't do anything sensible with it anyway. It's no use for anything legal for a private individual as it stands though a licensed radio amateur might be interested in it to modify, perhaps. Edit: https://www.tessco.com/products/disp....do?sku=575663 provides a bit more info re spec etc and it looks like it could well be used for the 144 MHz amateur band as it is. If the info from the link doesn't mean anything to you, then it's still no use for anything legal for a private individual though a licensed radio amateur might well be interested in it. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O Last edited by Herald1360; 21st Jul 2018 at 11:21 pm.

22nd Jul 2018, 9:00 am	#3
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Help ID old rf power amp I certainly wouldn't try it out on those frequencies. It looks like it's tuned for what is an air/ground comms channel. These are probably the most thoroughly policed frequencies on earth. Leak even a fraction of its power and you'll likely get official visitors to shut it down and confiscate equipment. As said, radio amateurs have a frequency assignment nearby and often shift these things to those frequencies. They turn up at amateur radio flea markets for scrap prices. so they're a cheap way to make a big signal. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

22nd Jul 2018, 10:23 am	#4
dodgy-dxer Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 612	Re: Help ID old rf power amp Why not use Google? You would have found this http://www.tplcom.com/pdf/2013brochure.pdf Fred

22nd Jul 2018, 4:31 pm	#6
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: Help ID old rf power amp Better eyesight than me! The 6 is bold, but I thought it was a decimal after it. Makes more sense as a dash! Legal for amateur use in 144-146 MHz, but although it covers the marine VHF band, only type-approved equipment is usually legal there. Is it 146-148 in Canada? David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done