Thread: DIY AMP's II
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Old 01-18-2005   #6 (permalink)
Thorn
Did you do the math?
 
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by streaker69
MW circuits are not like normal circuits. They take precise design and skill to manufacture. It isn't something that you throw together on a breadboard and hook up.
What streaker69 says here bears repeating. The precision* involved in the design and manufacture, not to mention having to certify each individual model (whether by the FCC or some other country's regulatory body) makes these things expensive to make and sell.

Can you design and build your own RF amplifier? Yes, but that isn't really the question. The real question is this: Do you have the time, knowledge, and necessary tools and equipment to actually do it.

From your earlier questions alone, we can tell that you don't possess the needed knowledge. However, that's the easiest part. Between Ham courses, the WWW and Inter-Library Loans, you can learn everything you need in relatively short order. Next comes the equipment. You will spend far more on test equipment alone to build an amplifier than buying one amp. Conservatively, figure about 5 times more, and that's buying used. (Yes, thats $2k, for used test equiment.) You can't do this with just a $19.99 multimeter. Of course, once you start on electronics you can use the equipment over and over on other projects, but the costs are still there. Finally there's the time. If you figure your time at an hourly rate, does it make sense to build or buy? It's one thing if it's a hobby and you're having fun doing it, but if not, then it's silly.

Finally, it hasn't been discussed here, but it's worth repeating again from other threads: RF can be dangerous to you, your family, your pets and your neighbors if you don't know what you're doing. The low levels involved in a single card won't be enough to hurt you. Adding gain (amplification) via an antenna, can raise the RF into the danger level. Adding an active amplifer will raise the RF into danger level. Simply: Microwaves cook meat. People are meat. Therefore microwaves can and will cook people.

The most susceptible areas to damage from RF are the eyes and the male testes. Cooking either of these on yourself is considered bad form. Doing that to someone else is usually grounds for a lawsuit.


*A difference of several thousands of an inch in the width of a micro-strip can throw a MW circuit off a significant amount.
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