My first job was in a NASA space tracking station, and for 4 years, I was sent for training, 6 months at technical college, 6 months on at the tracking station, repeating. WEe were tracking deep space probes to other planets, not earth sartellites. At tech college, we learned about thermionic valves, TWT's, magnetrons, Masers, and the type of electronics in high frequency (as it was then - 2.2 GHz) communications with spacecraft. This video takes me right back to my tech days, but where we studied these devices in a classroom environment, this is the first time I have ever seen a TWT taken to pieces. Videos like this, I imagine, must have a _very_ minority appeal, but to the occasional person such as myself, this video is a real gem. Thanks for posting it.
Thank you for your comment, so much of education is often covered in theory and mathematics on white boards or handouts. Video is a great medium to attract the more practical and applied learner as they get so much more from seeing demonstrations like these. Unfortunately, it does make them appeal to a niche audience.
@@tuopeeks White-boards? When I was at tech, we were still on chalk and black-boards! My 7-year-old grandson, I can guarantee, is a future engineer, and I have often thought how much more he knows now than I did when I was twice his age - and it's due to the facility of learning presented by CZcams. Lego has also done him no harm at all!! But the Internet, and especially CZcams is such a terrific learning opportunity. Have you ever seen the game "Wired"? It's designed for people much older than he was, but he and I played through it when he was 4. At first, he was doing quite a bit of the solving, but towards the end, he was just watching me solve the rooms - but when he was 5, he decided to play through it again, and he got through, I would say, 95% of it on his own. Since then, he has played through it again without my help. wiredthegame.com/ I haven't showed him the internals of a TWTA (he's unlikely to ever encounter one), or even been through how thermionic valves work, but bit by bit, he's learning a lot - quite a bit from me, but a lot of it by taking random stuff apart - and by looking at the Internet.
@@DownhillAllTheWay I often wish the internet had been around when I was young. It was much slower finding information before and limited to what a school library thought you should know. Platforms, like this, also caters for different learning styles. Universities may have to rethink what they do for courses in the future. Glad to hear you grandson is a budding engineer.
Excellent! I have seen a couple of other TWT tear downs where the individuals had no clue. Very frustrating. You got everything correct. Yes. I have some experience with these devices. Science fiction brought to life.
While stationed in the uk in the USAF we used TWTA in our LOS LINE OF SIGHT microwave links. They had no other amplification steps. Out put was like 3-5 watts.
I would guess that was used as an IPA (intermediate power amplifier), used to drive a larger transmitter valve. TWTs are rarely used in receive paths as they are inherently noisy, mainly due to their very wide bandwidth. Incidentally, the anode is referred to as the collector in a TWT.
While x-rays have a frequency range on the EM spectrum it doesn't relate to microwave frequencies which are less than visible light. The danger of x-ray production occurs with electron acceleration voltage. Where anode voltages are above 20kV x-ray production can becomes a problem. Soft x-rays occur at lower voltages but don't have the ability to penetrate the enclosure.
My first job was in a NASA space tracking station, and for 4 years, I was sent for training, 6 months at technical college, 6 months on at the tracking station, repeating. WEe were tracking deep space probes to other planets, not earth sartellites. At tech college, we learned about thermionic valves, TWT's, magnetrons, Masers, and the type of electronics in high frequency (as it was then - 2.2 GHz) communications with spacecraft. This video takes me right back to my tech days, but where we studied these devices in a classroom environment, this is the first time I have ever seen a TWT taken to pieces.
Videos like this, I imagine, must have a _very_ minority appeal, but to the occasional person such as myself, this video is a real gem. Thanks for posting it.
Thank you for your comment, so much of education is often covered in theory and mathematics on white boards or handouts. Video is a great medium to attract the more practical and applied learner as they get so much more from seeing demonstrations like these. Unfortunately, it does make them appeal to a niche audience.
@@tuopeeks White-boards? When I was at tech, we were still on chalk and black-boards!
My 7-year-old grandson, I can guarantee, is a future engineer, and I have often thought how much more he knows now than I did when I was twice his age - and it's due to the facility of learning presented by CZcams. Lego has also done him no harm at all!! But the Internet, and especially CZcams is such a terrific learning opportunity. Have you ever seen the game "Wired"? It's designed for people much older than he was, but he and I played through it when he was 4. At first, he was doing quite a bit of the solving, but towards the end, he was just watching me solve the rooms - but when he was 5, he decided to play through it again, and he got through, I would say, 95% of it on his own. Since then, he has played through it again without my help.
wiredthegame.com/
I haven't showed him the internals of a TWTA (he's unlikely to ever encounter one), or even been through how thermionic valves work, but bit by bit, he's learning a lot - quite a bit from me, but a lot of it by taking random stuff apart - and by looking at the Internet.
@@DownhillAllTheWay I often wish the internet had been around when I was young. It was much slower finding information before and limited to what a school library thought you should know. Platforms, like this, also caters for different learning styles. Universities may have to rethink what they do for courses in the future. Glad to hear you grandson is a budding engineer.
Mike 👍
Excellent! I have seen a couple of other TWT tear downs where the individuals had no clue. Very frustrating. You got everything correct. Yes. I have some experience with these devices. Science fiction brought to life.
Thanks. Indeed, operation of these feels slightly out of this world. See you have some interesting CRT videos too. 🙂
TWT's are one of my favorite linear RF amps!! This was a great video, thanks for sharing.
While stationed in the uk in the USAF we used TWTA in our LOS LINE OF SIGHT microwave links. They had no other amplification steps. Out put was like 3-5 watts.
Thank you for this informative video, sir. I have an interview with a company that produces these tomorrow and feel a lot more prepared now 👍
Glad you found this useful. and good luck with your interview.
Thank you for sharing very informative video.
Awesome mate, interesting tech, would be great to see you get one running 😁. Good vid as always.
I would guess that was used as an IPA (intermediate power amplifier), used to drive a larger transmitter valve.
TWTs are rarely used in receive paths as they are inherently noisy, mainly due to their very wide bandwidth.
Incidentally, the anode is referred to as the collector in a TWT.
thanks, yes, force of habit, the anode is noted as collector in TWTs, not sure of the original use thought it might have been military.
@@tuopeeks The WG looks to be WG15 and you mentioned 9GHz, so X band and possibly military; did I spot a CV number on the label?
@@cambridgemart2075 yup, CV 6028
@@tuopeeks That's odd, CV6028 comes up as a TR cell.
@@cambridgemart2075 sorry, my typo CV6208
Great
Super we can understand
First view
Curiousmarc sent me here😊
Thanks
Wait a min.. what frequencies produce x rays... hmm BRB let me do some research.
While x-rays have a frequency range on the EM spectrum it doesn't relate to microwave frequencies which are less than visible light. The danger of x-ray production occurs with electron acceleration voltage. Where anode voltages are above 20kV x-ray production can becomes a problem. Soft x-rays occur at lower voltages but don't have the ability to penetrate the enclosure.