[Boatanchors] 6146 vs 6146A vs 6146B or 6146W

[Glen Zook]

And they don't work in my Seneca and several others that I have worked on for others WITHOUT modification.  That is the key, MODIFICATION.  For those who think that the tubes can just be interchanged they are badly mistaken.  Sometimes they can and sometimes they cant.

Considering the severe disagreements between you and W8JI on QRZ.com, I am surprised that you are now mentioning him!  In fact, you have had some very uncomplimentary comments about his ideas!  W8JI has NOT rebuked my article.  He has commented that in his experience that he has not had problems and based on that he has his opinion.  Also, W8JI is VERY critical of Collins' designs and those of Motorola as well.  Of course, it just seems to me, that if the designs by Motorola and Collins were so bad that they would not have sold hundreds of thousands of radios in both the civilian and military markets!

By the way, it was not just Motorola that had problems with the 6146B/8298A, General Electric, RCA, and other commercial two-way radio manufacturers did as well.

I do not intend to edit my article.  It has been well received in the 9 years since it was written and the comments, letters, E-Mail, etc., received have run at least 10:1 confirming my observations.  The article has been reprinted in several countries besides the United States.

No where do I absolutely state that the 6146B/8298A should not be used.  I mention that there are operators who have had no problems at all.  But, I do recommend that the person who replaces the earlier versions of the tubes with the 6146B/8298A be aware that they may have problems and those problems happen much more times than not.

You have stated on QRZ.com that you have MODIFIED equipment to work with the 6146B/8298A.  I have MODIFIED equipment to work with the 6146B/8298A.  That is NOT a "plug and play" replacement.  Many operators are very comfortable with modifying their equipment but a much larger number are not comfortable doing so.  

Again, the article was written to inform operators that there are often problems using the 6146B/8298A in older equipment.  If they are aware of the potential problems then they can proceed knowing the situation.  If they are not aware, then when the do have problems then often that person doesn't have any idea as to the cause of the problems.

Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


--- On Tue, 7/5/11, Carl <km1h at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:

I agree with Lee and Glen has been preaching this nonsense way too long on these forums plus on QRZ.com where W8JI tore your comments up pretty bad.
 
Glen, its time to edit that web page and stick to basics and as mentioned nobody gives a damn about Motorola.
 
The 6146B's even work in a Heathkit Seneca and a Gonset G-50 just fine as well as every HF rig Ive ever tried.