Today, I finished a project I started over two years ago. It’s not that it took two years to build, it’s just that its taken me two years to get the parts together and build in my spare time! The upcoming 2nd 70MHz contest and PW 70MHz contest prompted me to get this finished.
Its a 300w 70MHz amplifier, using a BLF 278 MOSFET. Power supply is 50v @ 10A. The amplifier has 9dB attenuation at the PA input to bring the gain down to something usable, as without the attenuation, 2.5w input gives 300w output (21dB gain)! The input & output power, with 9dB ATT (total 12dB gain) is:
- 5w = 100w
- 7.5w = 150w
- 10w = 200w
- 15w = 300w
The amplifier uses ~7.5a @ 48v for 200w O/P, so it’s around 80% efficient. Bias is set to 750mA. The maximum power here in the UK on 70MHz is 160w, for which this amplifier requires 8w of input. Below is a picture of the inside. I will tidy up the cables at some point!
300w PA & LPF
I need a larger Bird element to measure the 300w output on the Bird 43!
Nice and clean inside solder cool project you made there…….
How did you do your switching for Rx/tx. I’m very keen to do something similar!
I just used a relay.
Good luck!
Hi John. I have a couple of the BLF devices and it might be a good project for me to build an amp like yours. Do you have any details you’d be happy to share? Thanks, Simon
Hi Simon.
I bought the board without the MOSFET, so if you have some, it might be worth looking for a PCB less MOSFET on the band you want.
Good luck, John.
Where did Jon find tne LPF / Directional coupler PCB John?
Hi David.
I bought this from a site that no longer exists.
Holy smokes, I know this is a very old post, but that website now links to a dodgy site.
Well spotted. That’s why bots buy up old domains, as they generally have links going to them from all over the internet. I have removed the link. Thanks!
Hi. Hey. Are you at some point giving up that 70Mhz power amplifier? I would be interested in buying it. Terho OH2FR
Hi Terho.
Well, yes maybe. I’ve been inactive for a while now, just don’t seem to have the time. Feel free to drop me an email!
Cheers, John.
Hi Sir. do you share schematic ?
I don’t have one, sorry.