I've heard this one before!  Why not just buy a nice multi-band radio from the late 1930's and restore it?  I have a number of such radios from that period, and can assure you that the performance of any one of them far exceeds that of modern solid-state radios that have the SW bands added as an after-thought.  I've restored a number of the late 30's models for people who want their grandfather's radio to work again.  They're always amazed at what they can hear with just s 6 foot piece of wire as an antenna.

Dave said:
<<snip>>
My Drake C-line and the other guys Collins stations generally don't suffer from some of the things that you mention.
<<snip>>

Perhaps a minor point Dave, but I used to think as you do regarding the Drake and Collins performance.  If you'll take a look at the numbers at the Sherwood Engineering site (http://www.sherweng.com/table.html), you'll find that your beliefs regarding Drake and Collins performance in regard to dynamic range are without foundation.  The shape of the filter passband and ultimate attenuation are of little interest if the dynamic range performance is not good.  A lot of "cheap" gear ranks higher than either Drake (in its stock form) or the S-Line receivers.  Some of the garbage you're hearing may indeed be due to dynamic range shortcomings of your Drake or Collins gear. There's nothing like the old gear when it comes to operating fun, but technology has moved on!

K8AC

Those of you who use software to keep your DXCC records: I'm looking for the logging program that correctly tracks CW DXCC information.  I've used DX4WIN for years, but it does NOT track correctly and likely never will.  Here is the problem:

Say I worked 1SAA on Spratly in 1974 on CW and never worked Spratly again.  Since the CW DXCC cuts off at 1975, this QSO would count OK towards the MIXED DXCC, but NOT the CW DXCC.  However, DX4WIN incorrectly shows it as worked on CW.  All the program need do is be sensitive to the QSO dates for DXCC counters.  An acceptable alternative would be to allow me to manually disqualify a QSO from Mixed or CW counts by setting a flag.  

I use DX4WIN because I like the job it does in coloring DX spots based on your DXCC needs as recorded in the log.  However, with the mishandling of the CW DXCC counters, the spots are wrong for those countries worked before 1975 on CW.  For example, if a spot for 1SXX on CW comes up on the cluster today, it would show as not needed, even though it is in fact needed due to the date problem I described.  So, if you know FOR SURE that a particular logging program handles this situation correctly, please identify it!  Life is too short to download, intall, and test every one of them.  Thanks for any help.

K8AC

I don't own an ALS 600, but found some information for you.  The ALS 600 manual is available from Ameritron in PDF format. Maybe your software would be able to read that format to you.  I've extracted the information regarding the ALC operation and adjustment from the manual and posted it here. The first part is an explanation of how the ALS 600 ALC circuitry works.  That's followed by info on how to adjust the ALC.

ALC (Automatic Level Control)

The ALC circuit functions by using a comparator (IC103A) to reduce the exciter drive
power if the output power of the ALS-600 exceeds a preset value. The ALC circuit also
reduces the drive power if the SWR increases while operating with the ALC controlling the
amplifier output power level. The ALS-600 ALC output should be connected to the
proper exciter external ALC connection point with a shielded audio type cable. Consult the
exciter manual for the proper exciter connection details.
Operation at high audio gain levels on SSB with ALC has the same effect as an RF speech
compressor. RF compression increases SSB "talk power". Background noise pickup also
increases when the exciter gain is operated at high levels to increase compression. Audio
distortion does not normally occur with this type of speech processing if the ALC circuit
in the exciter is properly designed.
Do not attempt to limit the CW power more than a few percent solely with the amplifier
ALC circuit. Using the amplifier ALC to reduce CW power levels may result in pumping of
the output power during dots and dashes. The "ALC SET" control will be correctly
adjusted when the "ALC" LED gives a small flash while transmitting on CW. This can be
accomplished by adjusting the "ALC SET" control on the front panel so that the "ALC"
LED just barely lights when the desired power level power level (below 400 watts) is
reached with a steady carrier.
The ALC circuit can be used to reduce power by any amount on constant amplitude
carrier modes such as RTTY or FM. The ALC can not cause modulation distortion or
pumping on these modes.
Never use the ALC to control the level of AM transmissions. Using the amplifier's ALC
circuit to control AM output power will cause pumping of carrier amplitude on AM
transmissions during modulation.
The ALC indicator on the front panel of the ALS-600 is driven by comparitor IC3B.
Resistors R24 and R25 set the turn-on level of the front panel "ALC" indicator. Factory
selected resistor values cause the "ALC" LED to illuminate as soon as negative ALC
voltage begins to appear at the ALC output jack.
If the exciter used with this amplifier does not "fold back" until appreciable ALC voltage is
developed, the "ALC" LED may become fully lit even under operating conditions that are
producing very light ALC action.
Caution: There are no industry standards for transceiver or exciter ALC input voltage
levels, input resistance, or attack and decay times. While every attempt has
been made to make the ALC circuit in this amplifier compatible with various
exciters, the exact operation of the ALC circuit will vary with the exciters
response to external ALC control voltages. This ALC circuit will function with
negative voltage ALC control systems requiring less than 10 volts.

ALC Adjustment

The Amplifier's back panel has an ALC limit control. This control is to limit the amount
of ALC voltage sent to the transceiver. This is necessary due to there is not a standardize
ALC voltage on transceivers. To set the ALC limit control, adjust the ALC set knob on
front of the amplifier to 10 (fully clockwise). Apply enough drive into the amplifier until
the amplifier's power meter reads about 400 to 500 watts. Note: The amplifier's power
meter should never exceed 700 watts at anytime. Plug the ALC into the back of the
amplifier (if not already done). Turn the ALC set knob (on front of amplifier) to 0
(counter-clockwise). Key amplifier with RF applied. Adjust the ALC limit control (on back
of amplifier) until the ALC light on front of amplifier just comes on. No other adjustment
needs to be done to the ALC limit control, unless a different transceiver is used. The only
adjustments for ALC will be done on front of the amplifier. Follow the operator's manual
for ALC adjustment.
The following sections describe how to adjust the exciter and ALC control for proper
operation. If the ALC is not used the exciter output controls must be used to limit the
power to the levels described in the text that follows.

SSB Operation

SSB voice operation normally does not have transmit time limits. Reflected power levels
should be kept below 50 watts peak on SSB.
The most accurate way to maintain linear operation on SSB is with an oscilloscope. The
output waveform should be closely observed for clipping or reduction of peaks and should
closely resemble the waveform that the exciter produces barefoot.
If any peak clipping is evident the output power should be reduced until peak clipping is at
a minimum.
The proper operating level can also be determined by operating the exciter at full power
output (not to exceed 100 watts peak) and normal voice modulation with the amplifier
"ALC SET" control fully clockwise. The "ALC SET" control should be adjusted until the
amplifier's RF output meter just begins to drop.
The exciter output level should then be reduced with the audio gain control or output
control until the desired amount of ALC compression is obtained. See the ALC
(Automatic Level Control) section for more details.

CW Operation

The exciter output should be restricted to a level that limits the amplifier to 500 watts
output on a steady carrier or 50 watts reflected power, whichever is greater.
The ALC should not be used to control the power level more than a few percent on CW.
The "ALC" LED should just barely light or flash on CW.

PIEXX sells an interface board for the 940 that has everything you need.  See their website.  

There's a good chance that Ameritron never had any info on this amp.  I bought one back around 1984 when they first came out, and at that time they were a product of Dennis Had, K8KXK, of Dentron history.  Can't recall whether he was using the name Ameritron at that time or not.  Beware of this amp's tendency to burn the contacts off of the bandswitch.  I believe that was more common on 160 meters than on the other bands.  I seem to recall reading somewhere on the Web that the real problem was the high voltage that developed on the switch contact and the very sharp edges of the switch contact terminal lead to high voltage breakdown and burning.  

Yes- the output is proportional to the driving power.  For less output, you apply less drive from the transceiver.  

Anyone know the current address for N1TO, who either was VQ9VK or the QSL manager for same?  The Atkinson, NH address listed in QRZ and elsewhere appears not to be good any longer.  That's the same address that's in the FCC database for N1TO.  Any leads appreciated.

What are you thinking when you say: "assuming band conditions are consistent"?  The power difference won't mean a thing when conditions are good.  When conditions are marginal or very poor, and your signal is at the threshold of readability, it can mean the difference between being copied, or not.  Most hams buy the line that an S unit is 6 dB - ever measure your receiver?  I have, using an accurate attenuator and found it not unusual for an S unit to be as little as 1.6 dB on the lower portion of the scale, and that's on a fairly expensive transceiver.  Anyway, the answer to your question depends upon which bands you operate and whether you chase DX or participate in nets on 40 SSB.  If you're chasing a new one on the other side of the world on 10 meters and signals are down in the noise, it might make all the difference in the world.  If you're checking into a net on 40 and all the signals are at S9 or better, it won't matter in the least.

One thing for certain, the difference between 100 watts and 1000 watts will usually be very, very noticeable.  Don't be fooled by the old line: "it's ONLY a 10 dB difference!"

Take a look at the SWR that the transceiver sees when feeding the amplifier.  If the SWR is excessive on any band or portion of a band, you might want to tweak the input coil for that band. A better way to do this is with an analyzer like the MFJ-259B in place of the transceiver.  If you use that approach, don't forget to key the amplifier relay so the analyzer is seeing the input network and not the antenna.  I don't know how the AL-811 input is designed, but I assume it's like some of the other Ameritron amps (AL-80B, AL-800H) where 20/30 meters shares a common input coil as does 15/17, and 12/10.  In that case, you'd want to adjust for an SWR as low as possible on the two bands.  Unless the input SWR is high enough to cause your transceiver to fold back the output power, there's probably no reason to fiddle with the coils.  If your transceiver has an internal tuner, you can always turn that on to reduce the SWR to a low value anyway.

I had a few NPNs in the junk box and found that the specs on the 2N2222 say it can handle 800ma. OK.  Wasn't aware that it would be that high for a 2N2222.  Anyway, built and installed the circuit and it works just as advertised.  

There's at least one rig (Elecraft K2) that's sensitive to the amp's relay switching speed.  It brings up carrier very fast before the amp's relay has transferred, thus seeing a high SWR from the open circuit.  The mod results in a higher than normal DC voltage being applied to the relay coil momentarily, thus speeding up the relay activation.  

I have the amp on the bench today and thought I'd install the K6XX circuit for speeding up the antenna relay.  I wonder what transistor other Ameritron amp owners have used in this circuit -the relay reportedly draws around 100ma.  

I believe the 201 MK III came factory equipped with 572Bs.  MK II was the last with 811As.

Wrong forum.  This one is for amateur RF amplifiers.

As long as you have a peak reading wattmeter, the CW dits should work just fine.