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In Reply to: RE: Fixed Bias? posted by Mr_Steady on November 18, 2014 at 17:28:02
Plasma fires are interesting. When I was a kid, I loved to listen to a A.C.-D.C. radio that I had hooked up via an old extension cord. This thing had 4 (count 'em-- 4!) tuned R.F. stages and many tubes. I was given it because it's case was busted... I had already found extra tubes for it and had learned how to "sharpen" the TRF's. The old radio had push/pull 6V6 output tubes and had a nice 6 X 9 inch speaker.
I would lay there in bed, loving the way-cool sounds emanating from far-away AM radio stations that had real DJ's.. Nights in the Ranch house were something I looked forward to....
I rolled over, and pulled the radio (sitting atop a nightstand) closer to me so I could keep it set on the AM station I liked, or "DX" it all across the country and listen for more cool stuff.. Yes, I had rigged an outside antenna in a nearby tree. It got a LOT of stations!
Right about then, a small lightning strike hit near the Ranch House I was in.
This caused me to jerk on the extension cord and set off a short-circuit inside the 3-way extension cord outlet box.
BAM!----- Shhhhhhh---hh! It went. The coolest blue plasma flames you ever saw emanated from the two plug-blade slots in each of the cord's two unused outlets.
I was amazed! It was long-- about 14 inches, steady and VERY pretty. I just stared at it with kiddie delight. The radio kept right on playing.... Eventually the plasma quit after roasting a 6 inch deep by 1 1/2 inch wide hole in my pillow. The radio still played on!
That was from plain, old 115 V.A.C., 60 Hz. household power.
I don't like adjustable bias for several reasons, reliability being among them, but I have to admit that there are some good amps out there that use it.
I will state one thing: the adjustment "pot" should be VERY high quality.
---Dennis---
Follow Ups:
Okay, we'll see if someone else says whether it's fixed bias or not, or I guess I could check their site.
Did you listen to the Carter Family from the megawatt AM station in Mexico? I would have liked being at that ranch house listening to that station in 194?
Head'n to the bunkhouse.
Jamie
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!
nt
Oh, I was singing that song in my head while I wrote the post. :)
Jamie
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!
Hi, Mr Steady. You must mean XERF licensed at 250,000 Watts with studios
in Del Rio TX.
My late brother-in-law got it back up to full power a few decades ago
although the 'owners' preferred 50,000 Watts to save money on electricity.
The transmitter was serial #1 - RCA - custom built for a South American dictator but never delivered.
XERF was before 1939 XERA - operated by John Romulus Brinkley, the
'goat gland' doctor who was chased across the border by US authorities
egged on by the American Medical Association. Dr. Brinkley used to call
them the American Meatcutters Association.
Ah, memories memories.
Hi elektron,
Thanks for the post!
I checked the Carter Family site, and it said XET across the boader from Del Rio Texas, 500K watts. I bet two stations like that in one town caused problems. I have read all the big Mexican stations caused problems. They might still do it for all I know.
Oh, they played from 38 to 43, so sorry Dennis.
Jamie
Big speakers and little amps blew my mind!
Hi Mr Steady You are most welcome. The 250,000 Watt RCA transmitter was
an Ampliphase which at the time and properly tuned produced a very high
quality signal. Properly tuned it facilitated higher fidelity audio than the other transmitter at the time.
I remember one 50,000 Watt A1 clear channel station in the US that switched from a water cooled Western Electric transmitter to an RCA
ampliphase. The difference in radio reception audio quality was pretty
startling - startlingly better.
Most of what I liked was on KXEL Waterloo, Iowa-- KFAB Omaha, NE.-- Dallas-Fort Worth (forgot the call letters)-- KGHL Billings,-- others I don't remember and many up in Canada.
Los Angeles and Sacramento stations-- several good ones live, local stuff-- cool!
I'd love to see the comeback of really good local D.J.'s who regained the ability to obtain music for promotion for free and didn't have to lease it-- or have it "canned" into categories designed to "target" certain tastes.
I prefer a D.J. who just plays whatever he likes from a collection that includes all kinds of music, especially the latest efforts from good talent. I like to see the radio stations involved in promotion of songs as well.
I still collect L.P.'s and buy hard copies of good CDs.
I have computer files of great music, but what happens if the computer quits?
---Dennis---
out of Garberville/Redway is still that way, off the deep end ultra aware politics too, surprised they haven't been shut down (you'd dig it Dennis, seriously, I do, and because I do, doesn't mean you wouldn't, this a different topic) vinyl spinners with crunch, live raw stuff, bluegrass banjos etc.., Irish monday, midnight raggae, recipes, gardening tips, how to make the best compost tea, on and on. There's still life out there!
Garberville, California!
Oh yeah, I'd dig that! I spent time above Bakersfield-- up in the Sierras. I grew to love going down into L.A. and doing the town and especially the Beaches where I could challenge the surf. I grew to love it, together with California's young people you can be proud of.
In Bakersfield, Buck Owen's Crystal Palace was where one could meet Buck, his son, and Emmylou Harris-- even Mary Black (England) on a lucky weekend.
Buck and Emmylou owned several radio & T.V. stations. Buck had a live radio show locally. It started Saturday at Noon and ran up through the evening. They would play way past midnight-- you could "cruise Chester"-- the main street thru town-- and hear great talent over the radio.
I was there for about 14 years. My first two amps were designed there-- Lakerfan has a pair of the 1990 ones-- 3rd pair ever built.
After a while, I travelled all over California, and I tell people that California's people are among the best on this Planet. I loved every minute of the whole 14 years.
Von Gaylord Audio is in Sacramento. Whenever I went into one of his demo rooms-- anywhere, it was like being in California-- it sparkled with life, it sounded both real and lifelike.
They played Mary Black a lot. Mary Black's Warner Bros. CD's were what they played, not the greatest ever recordings. But on their good equipment, Mary shined through in great style.
Californians!
You can be proud of where you're from.
-Dennis-
.
Missed it, but some of that Mexican music is wonderful.
Only music I know where the notes don't all match up and it sounds great!
---Dennis---
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