(Araucaria) ENC: RF Concepts/Alpha Amplifiers Monthly newsletter

[Adriano Perazio]

Para os proprietários de lineares da ALPHA, segue abaixo um email sobre
uma promoção de um boné gratuito da marca para aqueles que postarem
comentários no eham.net
Como eu não tenho vou ficar sem o boné :(

73´s PY2ADR / ZY2C

-----Mensagem original-----
De: Steve Farkas [mailto:molly em alpharadioproducts.ccsend.com] Em nome de
Steve Farkas
Enviada em: quarta-feira, 10 de novembro de 2010 20:19
Para: adriano.perazio em uol.com.br
Assunto: RF Concepts/Alpha Amplifiers Monthly newsletter

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ALPHA NEWSLETTER
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Our new Alpha 8406
Full Legal Limit
No Time Limit
6 Meter Amplifier Is Shipping!
If you're looking for the most robust, six meter amplifier in the
market, check 
it out.  We've posted some new pictures of the amps guts on the website.
Last month we shipped the first few amps and our customers love it.
We've got another
20 going through the line right now, but it won't fill the outstanding
backlog. 
 More to follow next month.  So, if you're in the market for a great 6
meter amp,
get your order in so we can build one for you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

November, 2010
You can call us at 303-473-9232 or visit our website at
www.rfconcepts.com
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=eka89lcab&et=1103840911843&s=3704&e=001DF
5ErJcMsiBSJgPg4Z5Y_8yExZcpKSgAJhoHKDCo8Tn4HiI8rWv92efXeJ9gIftNdhObTTaitu
2xAykuvI5uXxoctlFnNNpt5CqhRuirmRNUUDhmQ3WzRg==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Write an Article for our Newsletter and get a Gift Certificate worth
$200 [http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102056358212]
If you have an interesting Alpha Amplifier story, send it to us.  If we
publish 
it, we'll send you a $200 Alpha Gift Certificate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

HELP WANTED
We're looking for an Electro Mechanical Engineer that would like to help
us with
 a project we're working on.
If you'd like to help, send me an email with your resume.
stevef em rfconcepts.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Newsletter Signup
[http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102056358212]
Go to our website at www.rfconcepts.com
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=eka89lcab&et=1103840911843&s=3704&e=001DF
5ErJcMsiBSJgPg4Z5Y_8yExZcpKSgAJhoHKDCo8Tn4HiI8rWv92efXeJ9gIftNdhObTTaitu
2xAykuvI5uXxoctlFnNNpt5CqhRuirmRNUUDhmQ3WzRg==]
fill in your email address on the front page to sign up for our
Newsletter.  We 
send a newsletter about once a month.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Free Hat!
Post a review of a current model Alpha product on eHam or your favorite
online review
system and receive a FREE hat with YOUR CALL embroidered on the back

We want you to tell the world about your experience with Alpha products.
It's the
best advertising we can find.
If you post a review of a current model Alpha amplifier on
the eHam review system at www.eHam.net
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=eka89lcab&et=1103840911843&s=3704&e=001DF
5ErJcMsiAWHnn-v95qYRt3KczWYolGxB30tXSuTXydX9x0x3LO4ApyS8cqh_9WelCNEaV522
-FtfJL5gMHF3Z83R0b8yGN5Z3qxflrJg4=]and/or
any other online review
system that you feel comfortable using, and send us a note pointing it
out, WE WILL
SEND YOU A FREE HAT WITH YOUR CALL EMBROIDERED ON THE BACK.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Just ok.  We're building more amps than ever.
Demand for both the Alpha 8410, 8406, and Alpha 9500 amplifiers have
driven us back
into a slight backlog position.  We've increased the build plan and will
be back
 to "IN STOCK" soon.  If you're looking for an amp for this season, get
your order
into the system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

The New Alpha Tube Warranty Extension Program
available now

We've put together an extended tube warranty program for new amplifier
sales.  Our
normal (industry leading) warranty is four years on the amplifier, and
one year 
on the tube(s).  We're now offering a 4/4 warranty to cover the amp and
extend the
tube warranty for the coincident amp warranty.  This offer is only
available to 
NEW orders. The prices for the extension are as follows:
Alpha 9500 Autotune
one 3CX1500A7 - $275
Alpha 8410 - Manual Tune
both 4CX1000's - $375
Alpha 8406 - 6 Meter amp
one 4CX1500 - $325
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Not well.  We have about 30 days of repairs in the shop.  One day last
week we received
10 legacy  amps
We've got brad working along with the others repairing amps, and he'll
be on it 
until the number is down to at least two weeks.  Sorry for the delay.
It's a busy
season for us
Remember - we have some NOS (new, old stock) parts that are 40 years
old!  We still
repair amplifiers that were purchased new in the 70's.  If you're
looking for QRO
parts, call us!
We're turning amps in  about a 4 weeks.  The only amps in the shop that
have been
there longer than 4 weeks are ones we're waiting on parts from our
vendors.  We're
still trying to get it down below a couple of weeks, but if you've got
an amp that
needs some service, get the amp over here so we can get it fixed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Thinking about a new amplifier but just can't quite swing a new 9500 or
8410?
Here's a picture of an 87A.  We get trade-ins all the time.  Our techs
go through
them, make sure they're up to par, and we post them in the preowned
section.
A PREOWNED Alpha amplifier will get you legendary ALPHA quality without
the new 
amp price tag.
Why buy a lesser amplifier from a different manufacture when you can get
a preowned
ALPHA for about the same price?
Why not own the best.
There's a special section on our website listing our certified preowned
equipment
HERE
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=eka89lcab&et=1103840911843&s=3704&e=001DF
5ErJcMsiDJpI3n9clQhLYdNSSupO3oHq9H1FYkw0dvqHXZfnJ79ytFD3SFLQ8vVBSAaDFkOc
Vy3c9FVhwp4FblPOPqjtIii2OCiutohAr9qTtp28IxHS9rCM3DuTsRYLjn9mH9zZl9fnjOEe
pkYUOaW7qL2SgI].
Or call Molly at 303-473-9232 and ask her about the Preowned Alpha
Inventory.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

to all of our Alpha customers and enthusiasts.
We're thrilled you're enjoying our products. Let us know if you have any
questions
or comments.
All the best, and 73's from the whole gang at RF Concepts/Alpha
Amplifiers.
Steve, WA2NFR
Michael, AA6DY
Glenn, AEØQ
Brad, KØHM
Carey, KXØR
Mike, K6AER
Molly, WØMOM
Gordon, WØRUN
Mike
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Letter from the President, Steve Farkas, WA2NFR
November 2010 -
During the month of October, we shipped more amplifiers than any month
in the last
year - and ended with a backlog.  Check out the reviews on eHam if you
get a chance.
 Customers are happy with the product and they're telling other hams
about it.  
And, at last, we shipped the first few 8406 amps to the first people on
the list.
 There's a production run of 20 moving through the factory right now and
they will
ship in the next week or so.  If you're looking for one and haven't
ordered, get
 that order in and we'll get it built.
As you know, it was moving month at Alpha.  Here's one for you:  we
moved right 
next to the contract manufacturer who's building many of our boards.
We've got 
a great relationship with them, and they have tons of surface mount
equipment and
skilled assemblers.  We've been working together for quite a while now
and they're
doing great work for us.  This should help us get ahead of this 'out of
stock' issue
we've been fighting for a year.  My goal is to get these products on the
shelf in
sufficient quantity so that we're ALWAYS shipping from stock.  Between
our dealers
Amateur Electronic Supply, Ham Radio Outlet, and Radioworld, plus the
orders we 
take on our own, demand has never been higher for our amps.  Although
more expensive
than many in the market, the real cost of owning one of these is the
difference 
between the purchase price and the sales price (if you ever decide to
part with 
your alpha).  Check out the resale values of these amps in the market.
Many of 
the amps sell for close to or over the original purchase price.  Can't
say that 
about too many pieces of equipment these days.
We post some of the comments we receive on our website.  Check them out.
It's a
 proud group of people that own an Alpha.
Well, time to go.  We're working on some other projects to expand our
line of fine
products.  Got to get back to the bench.  Speaking of getting back to
the bench,
 we're looking for a couple of great engineers - you don't have to live
in the Denver
area to apply - if you're looking for a place to work, even part time,
and have 
your license and a lab, maybe you'd like to help?
Although we've got a couple of projects in the works, we're looking for
people that
can help us expand our line of wonderful radio products quicker.
To do this we need electrical and mechanical engineers that have an
appreciation
 for our ham community and a passion for excellence.  If you're
interested in helping
us with either electronics and/or electromechanical projects - call me.
If you have a product designed or an idea for a great project that would
help the
ham community and would look good with an Alpha or RF Concepts name on
it - call
 me.
One of the specific projects we want to build is a Switch Mode Power
Supply that's
capable of delivering the 3600VA of power we need for our amps.  If you
know of 
anyone that would be interested in designing one for us, please drop me
an email
 or call me at the company - 303-473-9232.
We're also looking for a machinist who has his own equipment.  We've got
some specific
electro-mechanical work that needs to be done.  If you're retired and
know your 
way around a shop, give me a call.  You could help us build one of the
coolest new
products around.
We're having a great time building our company.  As always, if there are
any comments,
please feel free to drop me a note any time or just say Hi at
stevef em rfconcepts.com.
 Over the last few months, I've met some of the nicest hams.  It's a
wonderful hobby,
isn't it?
73
Steve, WA2NFR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Letter from the Vice President of Sales and Support, Molly Hardman,
W0MOM

Well this month there's good news, bad news and GOOD news.

Good news:  We have finally really and truly completed our move 12 miles
NE of our
home for the past 10+ years.  I'm tired but really excited to be in new
digs and
 with new energy as we gear up for our busiest time of the year.

Bad news: I know people in sales aren't ever supposed to report bad
news, however
most of you know me too well to hide this:-  I lost my bet with Steve
and Michael
that the delay in our moving would have us moving in the snow......  I'm
not yet
 sure what the penalty will be - I'm banking on a HUGE snowstorm between
Christmas
and New Year.  We have been very fortunate to have enjoyed wonderful
weather for
 the past two weeks with only 1cold and windy day. High has been in the
60's and
 70's for the past few days.....

GOOD news:  Actually this section should be GOOD news, GOOD news and
more GOOD news.

I hope many of you had the opportunity work the new Caribbean entities -
it even
 got me on the air and it was great to hear the 8410 signals coming out
of the group
at PJ7E.  The amps they used are on their way back to us and if any of
you might
 be interested in one of them, please give me a call.  They will carry
the full 
Alpha 4 year warranty and the cache of owning a DXpedition proven
amplifier.

Our new space is working out really well - whilst we're not quite ready
to receive
visitors, this is a great move for Alpha.

Moving production as smoothly as possible and with as little downtime as
possible
was always our goal and the good news on this front is that our
production staff
 are in the midst of building the next 20 8406 amplifiers!  We hardly
missed a beat
in this department.  We have plans to build more amplifiers in November
than even
I thought possible, so now please call me and order them, hi, hi!

I've saved best part for last - after 6 years of working with a great
group of customers
and a wonderful product in a windowless cave of an office I now have a
window AND
a view AND I get to keep the same customers and the same wonderful
products!

73,
Molly, WØMOM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Letter from the Vice President of Engineering,
Gordon Hardman, W0RUN

Calibrating Wattmeters at RFC

Gordon Hardman

Accurately measuring RF power is a tricky business, to put it mildly.
Doing so accurately
in a meter, such as the AP4510, that can be sold at a reasonable price
and used 
in a typical radio shack for years is even trickier. One of the keys to
the dependability
of the AP4510 and others in the family is the careful calibration that
each meter
undergoes during production. As we were breaking down and moving the
production 
setup for the RF Concepts wattmeters to our new location last week, I
was reminded
of this and thought it would be worth sharing a little of it with you.

Power, defined as the rate of doing work, is not a fundamental quantity,
such as
 energy, that can be referred to a single fundamental standard. The best
that can
usually be done is to use some proxy, such as temperature, to compare
one power 
reading against another. In many practical meters for use in radio power
measurements,
it is really voltage that is being measured. Since we know the impedance
of the 
system in which the voltage measurement is being made (often 50 ohms),
the power
 can be inferred from the voltage measurement.

At the heart of the 4510 series of meters is a rugged directional
coupler constructed
out of strip line in a four layer printed circuit board. This coupler is
designed
to maintain its high directionality (ability to discriminate between
forward and
 reflected power) over time. The coupled arms are terminated in high
stability resistors,
and the voltage across these resistors is what is measured by the
instrument. The
RF voltage is turned into DC using wide dynamic range logarithmic
detectors. In 
addition, a sample of the RF voltage on the "through" arm of the coupler
is used
 to estimate the frequency of the power being applied to it. These are
all digitized
by the RF microprocessor (there is a second "display" micro as well).
One final 
parameter that is sensed by the micro is the temperature of the strip
line PC board
in the vicinity of the coupler.

In a more simple wattmeter, there would be generally only one adjustment
to calibrate
the power sensor at a particular power and frequency. This would be the
case, for
instance, in the venerable Bird 43 wattmeter. If you want to calibrate,
say, the
 "2-30 MHz 2.5kW" sensor, you would have to pick the power and frequency
at which
you want to do this. If done with care, the power at this calibration
point could
be "dead on". At other powers and frequencies, you would have to rely on
the basic
design of the instrument to yield a reading that is as accurate as the
designer 
could make it. There is no ability to compensate for errors due to
non-linearities
in the detector, errors due to different coupling factors at different
frequencies,
and finally, no compensation for errors due to temperature changes. The
4510 compensates
for all of these, not just by hardware design, but by applying
mathematical adjustments
to the measurements to yield readings of improved accuracy.

The 4510 series is specified over a wide frequency range (1.8-30 MHz), a
large range
of power (300mW to 3,000W) and over the -25 to +65C temperature range.
Each meter
is calibrated to determine a set of coefficients which form the basis of
the mathematical
corrections that are applied to the readings taken by the micro. This
could be a
 formidable set of data if it was in the form of a table at every
frequency, power,
and temperature combination. Fortunately, this is not necessary. It was
determined
that a set of so-called fourth-order-polynomials is sufficient to turn a
set of 
raw readings of voltage, temperature and frequency into a highly
accurate measurement
of forward power, reflected power and SWR. About twenty coefficients are
sufficient
to describe these polynomials. The coefficients are determined in two
stages during
manufacturing.

The first step is frequency calibration. After being assembled and
undergoing a 
basic functional test, each RF board is connected to a computer
automated test (CAT)
setup. A computer controlled signal generator applies power to one port
of the board,
and an accurate power meter with a computer interface is connected to
the other.
 The computer communicates with the micro on the RF board over its
serial interface.
The CAT computer steps through from 1800 kHz to 29700 kHz in 100 kHz
steps, and 
records the forward and reflected power readings. These data are stored
in a file.

The second step is the temperature compensation. In this test, a group
of six boards
is placed in a temperature chamber, and again the CAT computer controls
everything.
The temperature of the boards is first taken down to -25C. Once their
temperature
(as reported via their own individual on-board sensors) has stabilized,
then the
 readings from all the boards are recorded in files. Two different power
levels 
are recorded here, since one of the major effects we are measuring is
the drift 
of the log detectors intercept point with temperature, and a minimum of
two measurements
is needed to determine this. The temperature is then increased in steps
up to a 
high of +65C, and measurements are recorded along the way.

The third step is to "crunch" all this data and distill it down to the
twenty coefficients
needed by each board when it is part of a meter. This calibration data
is stored
 in yet another file on one of the CAT computers. In order to keep all
these files
from getting mixed up, we use a unique electronic serial number (ESN)
which we get
by using a specific temperature sensor which has a unique code embedded
in it. All
files for a particular board have this ESN as part of their filename.

The fourth and final step is to upload the coefficients into the board.
Again, the
CAT computer makes sure that the ESN of the target board matches the
filename of
 the coefficient file, and passes the data over the serial port to the
RF board.
 There it is stored in non-volatile EEPROM, and the calibration is
complete.

We have been using this process for many years, and found it to be quite
reliable.
The equipment is being cleaned, re-calibrated and installed at our new
location,
 and so wattmeter production will continue there to the same high
standards as at
the old location.

Gordon, WØRUN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~



The second installment of a three part article on Lightning Protection
by Mike Higgins
- K6AER

Grounding and Hardware- Part Two

In the second series we will discuss the AC panel surge protectors,
ground rods,
 sphere of influence of ground systems, grounding in poor soil and
grounding material.

As mentioned in the first part of the series the AC panel in your home
needs a surge
protector attached to the main panel. Surge protectors on plug strips
are too far
from the panel to do any good. Also the AC panel needs to have its
ground bonded
 with all other grounds so that all of the grounds are at the same
potential. This
is an NEC (National Electrical Code) requirement for electrical shock.
First let
 us talk about Panel grounds in a home application. The NEC code
requires a resistance
to be below 37 ohms. If the ground rod resistance is above that point a
second ground
must be added. The problem with this is the actual ground resistance is
not stated.
Two ground rods may still be an inadequate ground when it comes to
lightning. Again
think of a voltage divider. If your ground resistance is 34 ohms and
your ground
 potential is 3000 volts during a lightning surge that is a very high
voltage on
 the safety ground. If you can add a much deeper ground rod you could
lower the 
ground rod resistance to 3.4 ohm, in which case your ground potential
during the
 same strike would be 300 volts. A much easier voltage potential to
mitigate for
 your sensitive electronic equipment.

Surge protectors are generally flash over tubes and MOV's, Metal Oxide
Varistors.
These semiconductors devices start conducting at a set voltage. All
surge protectors
must be connected through a circuit breaker because they will develop a
permanent
short during a very high level strike. MOV's take a few microseconds to
conduct 
during a strike and some energy may get by before they go into full
conduction.

Ground rods have what is known as a Sphere of Influence. The cubic
volume of the
 "sphere" is the area of a circle around the ground rod times twice the
length of
the ground rod. This is the volume where the ground rod will have an
effect on ground
conduction. An 8 foot ground rod will have a circle with radius of the
length of
 the ground rod times twice its depth. For an 8 foot ground rod this is
16 feet 
diameter circle and 16 feet deep or 3215 Cubic feet of earth.

If you were to use a 20 foot ground rod the Sphere of Influence would be
a 40 diameter
and 40 feet deep or 50,240 cubic feet of earth. This is 15.6 times as
much earth
 conductivity as a 8 foot ground rod. It is much easier in most cases to
put in 
a single deep ground rod rather than 15, 8 foot ground rods.

In addition your ground Sphere of Influence for each ground rod must not
overlap.
If it does you are not getting the maximum earth connection due to
overlapping Spheres.

Ground resistance is measured with a Megar impedance meter. This is not
a DVM meter
but a meter that looks at the earth impedance with an AC signal from
several ground
points as laid out at specific distances from the ground rod. Meters
such as AEMC,
Fluke, Extech and others. The meters can use a ground probes or they can
be the 
clamp on types.

Homes must be below 37 ohms. Commercial applications such as high rise
buildings
 must be below 10 ohms. In tower technologies we like to have the tower
locations
below 4 ohms in resistance. Never trust the impedance of ground rods
that have been
in the soil for some time. The soil can be very acidic and the ground
rod might 
be gone just below the surface.

In the case of very poor soil condition you may have to use soil
enhancers or use
conductive backfill such as Bentonite or other chemical backfills. This
is poured
in and around the coring hole dug for the ground rod. You can read about
conductive
back fill HERE.
[http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=eka89lcab&et=1103840911843&s=3704&e=001DF
5ErJcMsiDi-ROMDAbWZVhfjAl3zTkiRtLvqeQ1-Q_MlVHW3ByjWt-WvhSh2j45_iACg-5OYi
bAUvB2svlgkIpeeQT9DFgcebg2T9Gja_n3_7fk8E-O5aCa4NRFpaOJGBjf1bR8RA0VFIdGxC
8m_BK8rjSXrqGyxauTOGXbDvDHbvLKCj0EQQ==]

Grounding material is generally copper. Copper does not have to be the
only material
but for most purposes it is preferred due to its low resistance. With
many millions
of volts and amps during a lighting strike any resistance translates
into higher
 voltage potential. Lightning strikes are very short in duration and
tales of cars
being vaporized are myth. A typical lightning strike is about 8
microseconds in 
80% strength trailing off to about 20 microseconds in total duration.
The cloud 
will act as a relaxation oscillator providing many of these short
duration strikes
until the cloud has discharged to below its potential and the ionized
path dissipates.
When cloud friction builds up another potential to earth and lightning
strike will
occur again.

For those of you who disconnect the coax during a storm remember that a
lightning
strike can travel several miles and ten feet inside your ham shack in
nothing. It
is much better to have your coaxes grounded than to let the lightning
travel around
the home looking for a good ground path.

Most grounding cable is round solid copper. Remember that much of the
lightning 
energy is RF in nature and long ground runs will behave as an antenna at
resonant
frequencies. For instance 33 feet is a quarter wave at 7 MHz and very
little grounding
of RF energy would take place from 3-14 MHz. For this reason your ground
cable should
be as short as possible.

Flat copper strap is best for grounding for the surface area has better
skin effect
for RF grounding. Outdoor only use solid copper grounding strap. Weather
will corrode
a braided strap in no time. Braided strap is OK to use indoors.

Route all coaxes and control lines from surge protectors close to the
ground and
 place all surge protectors as close as possible to the grounding
demarcation point.
The further the surge protectors are from the lowest impedance of ground
the higher
the voltage during a lightning strike.

The best ground rods are copper plated steel rods. The can be obtained
in several
lengths and may be screwed together end to end for driving into the
ground. Unless
you are just busting for exercise, ground rods are easiest driven into
the ground
with a jack hammer/ground rod attachment. For deep grounds it is best to
have a 
drilling rig drill the hole and have the back fill placed into the hole
after completion.
For drilled holes copper pipe can be used providing there is good
mechanical connection
between sections and they are electrically well connected.

73, Mike - K6AER
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~

Notes from Mike Adell, Director of Channel Sales.

Thanks to all of you and other ardent Alpha supporters, October has been
one of 
our best months ever. We exhibited in HRO's Pacificom booth which
produced much 
interest; we introduced our 502525 Deferred Payment plan that created
interest,
 we shipped more Alpha Amplifiers and Accessory products than in any
previous month
and we started shipping our new 8406 Alpha Amplifier. All of this was
done while
 we moved to a new location just down the road in Longmont, CO.

And there is other news. Effective 11/1 Jack Ciaccia has accepted our
offer to be
Director of Government Sales and Marketing and will help us drive
additional opportunities
in to the Federal Government.  If any of you work for one of our
government agencies
and/or know of opportunities within please mention Alpha  to the
purchasing agent
and give Jack a call with the details. A lead means a new Alpha logoed
baseball 
style hat for you or a family member.

Many of you know Jack as WMØG, President of the Boulder Amateur Radio
Club, a member
of the Mile High DX Association and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager
for the State
of Colorado. You can reach Jack at wm0g em comcast.net
[mailto:wm0g em comcast.net] and
303- 587-0993. Keep those Government leads coming!

Our business with HRO, AES and Radioworld continues to flourish. Stop by
one of 
their locations if you are in the neighborhood. In fact, I was just
notified that
HRO's Atlanta location has been completely remodeled and there is a
Grand Opening
scheduled for 12/4.

All of our resellers now have a 9500 Front Panel Display which is a most
impressive
way to see some of the 9500 functionality.

Last - I have a thought. Many of you belong to your local Ham Radio
Club. Are there
things other manufacturers do to support your membership?  I wonder if
we should
 be considering similar or unique activities as well. Any suggestions
send them 
to me at mikea em rfconcepts.com [mailto:mikea em rfconcepts.com].  You, too,
may receive
one of our prized Alpha logoed hats. If you want to have your call
letters embroidered
on the back send me that information along with your address and, of
course, your
suggestion(s).

Thanks and have fun out there.

Mike



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