Homebrew PCBs

1980s technology:

Back in the day, one of my CBer friends got some plans for a 2-transistor push-pull RF amplifier that used a double-sided PC board.  He had no way to make a 2-sided board with both sides in registration.

So he made two one-sided boards and carefully drilled the four corner holes to mount the board(s) in the chassis, and then stuck them together and drilled the through holes.

It worked.

I was amazed.

However, I was more amazed when one of the RF transistors literally exploded and the amp kept working, but only at half power.


Nowadays you can buy this exact same PCB from a number of vendors, pre-drilled and with thru-plated vias.  Progress .... along with the 21st century invention of "competition" amplifiers that are made by cutting PCB "islands" and glueing them to a substrate, allowing the builder to construct multi-pair amps Manhattan-style / dead-bug style with essentially no need for etching a board.  Only a hacksaw is required, or big tin snips, or a shear brake.

73
Jim N6OTQ



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