https://hoodsfinds.com/blog.html Bench-tested guides on CB and ham radio linear amplifiers, antennas, bias and RF construction. en-us Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:15:15 +0000 https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/linear-amplifier-wont-tune-or-load-common-causes.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/linear-amplifier-wont-tune-or-load-common-causes.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a linear amplifier stubbornly refuses to show a dip on the tune meter or fails to load the antenna, the frustration can be palpable. The symptoms usually boil down to two… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-the-2024-arrl-handbook-as-an-amplifier-builders-reference.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-the-2024-arrl-handbook-as-an-amplifier-builders-reference.html Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight A good build guide tells you how to build one specific amplifier. A good general reference tells you why the circuit works, what the numbers mean, and how to reason about a… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/cb-radio-has-power-but-no-modulation-what-to-check-first.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/cb-radio-has-power-but-no-modulation-what-to-check-first.html Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a CB or amateur radio transmitter is putting out full carrier power but the air is eerily silent, the problem is almost always in the modulation path. The good news is that… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-pl-259-connectors-for-building-amplifier-jumpers.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-pl-259-connectors-for-building-amplifier-jumpers.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight A lot of amplifier trouble turns out to be a jumper. A cold solder joint, a connector that never fit the cable, or a stray braid strand touching the center pin can produce SWR… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-balun-and-when-do-you-need-one.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-balun-and-when-do-you-need-one.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference When you first encounter the term “balun” it can feel like yet another acronym to add to the long list of radio‑frequency jargon. In practice, however, a balun is one of the most… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-400max-low-loss-coax-assemblies-behind-your-amplifier.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-400max-low-loss-coax-assemblies-behind-your-amplifier.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight Builders spend a lot of effort squeezing clean power out of an amplifier, then hand it to a feedline that quietly turns part of it into heat. The more power you run, the more that… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-duty-cycle-am-ssb-cw-and-digital-modes-compared.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-duty-cycle-am-ssb-cw-and-digital-modes-compared.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference When you fire up an amplifier, the heat it generates isn’t just a function of the peak power you set. It’s also a function of how long that power is applied – the duty cycle.… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-astron-vs-50m-ap-linear-power-supply-for-the-amplifier-bench.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-astron-vs-50m-ap-linear-power-supply-for-the-amplifier-bench.html Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight A solid-state amplifier or a mobile transceiver running from 13.8 Vdc is only as steady as the supply behind it. When a supply sags under load, you get distorted audio, amplifiers… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-drive-power-and-how-much-is-too-much.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-drive-power-and-how-much-is-too-much.html Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference When you add a linear amplifier to a CB or ham rig, the most common source of frustration isn’t the amp’s power rating—it’s the drive signal you’re feeding it. “Drive power” is… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-daiwa-cn-501h2-cross-needle-meter-for-tuning-a-linear-amp.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-daiwa-cn-501h2-cross-needle-meter-for-tuning-a-linear-amp.html Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight Tuning a linear amplifier without a meter in the line is guesswork. You need to know how much power is going forward, how much is coming back, and whether the match is getting… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-low-pass-filter-and-why-every-amplifier-needs-one.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-low-pass-filter-and-why-every-amplifier-needs-one.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference When a power amplifier pushes a signal into the air, it does more than just boost the fundamental carrier. The active devices inside the amp generate a spectrum of unwanted… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-dl1500u-dry-dummy-load-for-amplifier-testing.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/gear-spotlight-dx-engineering-dl1500u-dry-dummy-load-for-amplifier-testing.html Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Gear Spotlight Every amplifier build reaches the same moment: the bias is set, the wiring is checked, and it is time to see what the thing actually does under drive. The worst place to find out… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/choosing-coax-for-your-hf-station-what-actually-matters.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/choosing-coax-for-your-hf-station-what-actually-matters.html Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide When you’re fine‑tuning an HF station, the coaxial feedline often hides in plain sight while silently shaping your on‑air performance. The right coax can preserve the power you’ve… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/building-vs-buying-a-linear-amplifier-an-honest-comparison.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/building-vs-buying-a-linear-amplifier-an-honest-comparison.html Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide When the idea of a linear amplifier first surfaces, the seasoned builder’s mind instantly runs through a checklist: budget, skill set, test equipment, and the inevitable question… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/pill-amp-vs-ldmos-build-two-roads-to-solid-state-power.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/pill-amp-vs-ldmos-build-two-roads-to-solid-state-power.html Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide When you sit down to add a solid‑state power stage to a CB or amateur rig, the choice often narrows to two very different philosophies: the time‑tested bipolar “pill” amplifier… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/how-much-amplifier-power-do-you-actually-need.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/how-much-amplifier-power-do-you-actually-need.html Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide When you start thinking about adding an external linear amplifier to your CB or amateur station, the first question is always “how much power do I really need?” The answer isn’t a… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-irf510-in-rf-service-capabilities-and-honest-limits.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-irf510-in-rf-service-capabilities-and-honest-limits.html Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The IRF510 is a work‑horse N‑channel MOSFET that shows up in countless hobby‑level RF projects. Its low cost, decent voltage rating, and ubiquitous availability make it an… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-3-500z-transmitting-tube-in-amateur-service.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-3-500z-transmitting-tube-in-amateur-service.html Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference GROUND‑GRID OPERATION AND STABILITY The 3‑500Z is a directly‑heated power triode that shines when used in a grounded‑grid configuration. With the grid tied to ground, the tube… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-6146-family-the-tube-that-powered-a-generation.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-6146-family-the-tube-that-powered-a-generation.html Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The 6146 family is the quintessential beam‑power tetrode that defined the final era of tube‑based amateur transmitters. Its rugged construction, modest plate dissipation, and… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-2sc1969-driver-transistor-what-builders-should-know.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-2sc1969-driver-transistor-what-builders-should-know.html Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The 2SC1969 is a work‑horse silicon NPN bipolar RF power transistor that has earned a permanent spot in many CB and low‑power amateur builds. Its modest voltage requirements,… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/relay-chatter-and-hot-switching-protecting-your-tr-path.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/relay-chatter-and-hot-switching-protecting-your-tr-path.html Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a linear amplifier’s transmit/receive (T/R) relay misbehaves, the result is audible chatter, intermittent keying, and, in the worst case, burnt contacts that can take a radio… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/swr-reads-high-only-with-the-amp-on-finding-the-real-cause.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/swr-reads-high-only-with-the-amp-on-finding-the-real-cause.html Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When an SWR meter reads a perfect match with the antenna bare‑footed, yet suddenly spikes into the red as soon as the linear amplifier is powered, the instinct is to blame the… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/rf-in-the-shack-curing-rf-feedback-into-your-mic-and-gear.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/rf-in-the-shack-curing-rf-feedback-into-your-mic-and-gear.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When an amplifier fires up and the microphone suddenly sounds like a squealing antenna, the culprit is almost always unwanted RF finding its way into low‑impedance circuitry. Even… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/linear-amplifier-blows-fuses-when-keyed-what-to-check-first.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/linear-amplifier-blows-fuses-when-keyed-what-to-check-first.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a linear amplifier trips a fuse or breaker the moment you key the transmitter, the symptom is unmistakable but the cause can be anything from a simple rating mismatch to a… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/blf188xr-ldmos-the-modern-high-power-choice.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/blf188xr-ldmos-the-modern-high-power-choice.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The BLF188XR is a silicon LDMOS (laterally‑diffused MOSFET) RF power transistor from NXP/Ampleon. It is a solid‑state device, not a vacuum tube and not a bipolar (BJT) pill… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/why-your-linear-amplifier-runs-hot-and-how-to-cool-it.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/why-your-linear-amplifier-runs-hot-and-how-to-cool-it.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting Linear amplifiers are the workhorses of any serious CB or ham station, turning a modest driver signal into a robust RF output. Yet, when the case feels like a toaster, performance… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-dummy-load-and-when-to-use-one.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-a-dummy-load-and-when-to-use-one.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference In the world of radio communication, precision and safety are paramount. Whether you're a seasoned amateur radio operator or a dedicated CB enthusiast, understanding your… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-amplifier-bias-and-why-its-set-the-way-it-is.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-amplifier-bias-and-why-its-set-the-way-it-is.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference When you sit down with a final‑stage RF power amp, the first knob you reach for is usually the bias adjustment. It looks like a simple potentiometer, but the position of that pot… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-pep-peak-envelope-power.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-pep-peak-envelope-power.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference Peak Envelope Power, or PEP, is the metric most radio hobbyists encounter when dealing with amplitude‑modulated (AM) and single‑sideband (SSB) transmissions. While the term sounds… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-swr-and-why-it-matters-for-your-amplifier.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/what-is-swr-and-why-it-matters-for-your-amplifier.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference Standing Wave Ratio, or SWR, is the most common way hobbyists quantify how well an antenna system is matched to the output of a transmitter or amplifier. In plain terms, it tells… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/choosing-a-power-supply-for-your-linear-amplifier.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/choosing-a-power-supply-for-your-linear-amplifier.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide Choosing the right power supply is the single most critical decision you’ll make when building a linear amplifier. A supply that is too weak will clip, overheat, and distort; one… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/single-ended-vs-push-pull-amplifier-designs-explained.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/single-ended-vs-push-pull-amplifier-designs-explained.html Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide When you sit down to design or purchase an RF power amplifier for a CB or amateur station, the first architectural decision you’ll encounter is whether to go single‑ended or… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/tube-vs-transistor-linear-amplifiers-which-is-right-for-you.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/tube-vs-transistor-linear-amplifiers-which-is-right-for-you.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Buyer's Guide The choice between a tube (valve) and a solid-state (transistor) linear amplifier is a perennial discussion among radio enthusiasts. Both technologies have ardent proponents, and… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-811a-transmitting-tube-in-linear-amplifier-service.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-811a-transmitting-tube-in-linear-amplifier-service.html Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The 811A is a classic directly heated triode that has earned a permanent place in the toolbox of linear‑amplifier builders. Its reputation rests on a combination of rugged… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-2sc2879-rf-power-transistor-what-builders-should-know.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/the-2sc2879-rf-power-transistor-what-builders-should-know.html Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Reference The 2SC2879 is a silicon N‑PN RF power transistor that has become a staple in the world of CB and 10‑meter “pill” amplifiers. Its reputation stems from a combination of high gain,… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/amplifier-instability-and-rf-feedback-finding-the-cause.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/amplifier-instability-and-rf-feedback-finding-the-cause.html Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting Parasitic oscillation is the bane of every linear‑amp builder. One moment the amplifier sounds clean, the next a high‑pitched squeal or a sudden loss of output power appears, and… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/low-output-from-your-linear-amplifier-a-troubleshooting-checklist.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/low-output-from-your-linear-amplifier-a-troubleshooting-checklist.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a linear amplifier (lin‑amp) delivers noticeably less power than the numbers on the spec sheet, the disappointment is immediate and the troubleshooting can become a maze. For… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/cb-linear-amplifier-wont-key-up-causes-and-fixes.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/cb-linear-amplifier-wont-key-up-causes-and-fixes.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Troubleshooting When a linear amplifier sits silent while the base unit is clearly keyed, the frustration is immediate. The culprit can be anywhere from a missing relay drive to a blown fuse, and… https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/how-to-build-a-cb-linear-amplifier.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/how-to-build-a-cb-linear-amplifier.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Amplifiers A no-fluff roadmap to how to build a CB linear amplifier: the core blocks, 2SC2879 pill amps vs LDMOS, realistic power targets, T/R switching, and the tools and safety you actually need on the bench. https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/pill-amp-watts-2sc2879-explained.html https://hoodsfinds.com/blog/pill-amp-watts-2sc2879-explained.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Amplifiers A straight-talk guide to 2SC2879 pill amp watts: what a "pill" is, how 2/4/6/8-pill counts scale power as a design target, and why stacking more pills never hands you free output.