Thanks to all for you're imput on the 3-500Z's.  I guess at this point the bottom line is that my Eimac 3-500Z's are still fine.

Amazingly, the tubes are dated 1982 and are still producing  good output.   But we'll start putting away change for a replacement set.  Now, which brand to buy?  That's another question for down the line.

Tnx
Ted

My linear, a homebrew based on the old Henry 2K circuitry prently has an output of of 1250w on 20m.
My MFJ tuner with wattmeter show an output of 1400w, while my Swan 3000 gives a more conservate 1250w.  At what point do you change the 3-500Z's?  What is should the output finally drop to in order to mark "replacement time".    There are 3000v on the plate, no load.   2700v with a load.  Any ideas?

Tnx
TED

My father, WA2MGB, recently passed away.  The FCC is in the process of moving the callsign from the "active" list.    I am looking for any record of when he first received his callsign.  It would have been between 1957 and 1960.  He held this call his entire life.

Any help would be appreicated.

Tnx,
Ted Jr.
WA2TED

Hopefully, there is an easy answer to this one.  How do you access the light bulbs behind the "blue" tuning dial? One of mine is out, you can see its shadow behind the  dial.....  How do I get to it?

Tnx,
Ted

Taking your advice I checked the voltage and the reading were erractic  between 4.0v and 6.3v.  Both bulbs had odd filament shapes, a bit saggy. The problem turned out to be two-fold.

1. a lose solder joint at the bulb socket. (at the VFO)

2. the replacement bulbs I had purchased at Radio Shack just a few months earlier were faulty and slowly failing. I thought bulbs were either good or burned out.

A quick solder repair and two new bulbs brought back the "Bright Blue"... I had to use new RS bulbs as that was the only source I was aware of for #47 bulbs.  I think they are not the best quality.  

Tnx to all.
Ted

My TR-3 has an unusual problem.  The #47 bulbs which illuminate the S Meter and the VFO(Main Tuning Dial) have suddenly gone very dim....while the two bulbs which light for the upper and lower sideband are perfect.  I changed out the bulbs, same problem.  The rig runs perfectly. Any ideas?

Tnx,
Ted/ WA2TED

I ask this question out of pure ignorance!  I run a Drake TR7...a great rig with great audio on receive as well as transmit.  However, my favorite is a (c.1963) Drake TR3.  One is all transitor, the other, containing at least 20 tubes.  Why is it that the tube rig has a much more mellow and rich receive audio and very good audio reports than the much newer TR7 (c. 1979)  Shouldn't "newer" be "better"

Tnx,
Ted

Does anyone have any experience with the a "new" lightweight beam called the Hexbeam?  See their website at www.hexbeam.com.   Is it possible they are as good as stated in their ads?

Tnx