For anyone about to embark upon an amplifier construction project, I would high recommend the following publications:

Tube Amplifiers

"The Care and Feeding of Power Grid Tubes" by EIMAC.

This is regarded as the "Bible" for tube amplifier designers, and contains a wealth of invaluable information.

Unfortunately the printed version of this book is now out of print, but it available in pdf format and can be downloaded from the Eimac website. Printed copies do come up from time to time on Ebay and other secondhand booksellers.

Articles by Rich Measures AG6K

For many years, Rich was the editor of the HF Amplifier's section of the ARRL Handbook. He has an internet website which gives all the essentials of practical amplifier design.

Ian White G3SEK's articles

G3SEK is probably the "authority" for the design of protection circuits and screen power supplies for Tetrode amplifiers, and has written a number of articles which have appeared in the RSGB's Radcom and the ARRL's QEX magazines. His website also contains some material.

ARRL Handbook

The amplifier's section contains most of the formula which is needed for the design of an amplifier. Most of the texts containing these formula are simply a repeat from one year to the next, so any modern copy of the handbook will suffice.

The RSGB's VHF/UHF Manual

For those interested in designing and building amplifiers for the VHF and UHF bands, this is probably one of the best reference books.

"Radio Transmitters : R.F. Power Amplification" by V.O. Stokes published by the Marconi Company/Van Nostrand Rienhold.

Although mostly conceptual in content and primarily dealing with transmitters in the 100kW class, the book does contain some very useful descriptions and illustrations of assemblies which can be adapted for amateur use.

Solid State Amplifiers

For solid state amplifiers, the study material is somewhat more limited. The device manufacturer's datasheets are an obvious starting point, by one excellent source of material are the "Motorola RF Applications Reports" although obviously these are written around Motorola devices.

One of Motorola's staff technical authors, H.O. Granberg, also had a number of articles published in the ARRL's QST and QEX magazines, although again, most of the articles are based upon Motorola devices.

Page last updated 1 Sept 2003