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Tube Tinker — Electron Tube Database
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Specialized - Traveling Wave ·TravelingWave

X396

Backward-wave frequency converter covering approximately 3.85–6 GHz, combining amplifier and oscillator structures on a common electron beam to produce a 280 MHz intermediate-frequency output.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilarSpecialized
Sections
1
Base
-
Socket code
-
Base pins
-
Nominal heater
6.3 V / 1.9 A

Description

Backward-wave converter tube covering 3850–6000 MHz, combining backward-wave amplifier and oscillator RF structures in one envelope with a common electron beam; 280 MHz IF.

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base
-
Socket code
-
Base pins
-
Nominal heater voltage
6.3 V
Nominal heater current
1.9 A
Parallel heater voltage
-
Parallel heater current
-
Series capable
No

Terminal pinout

Electrical assignments shared by every tube using this base designation.

No verified pinout is recorded for this base designation.

Section ratings

1 physical section, each with unique specifications.

Section 1

TravelingWave

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances

No fixed ratings are recorded for this section.

Specialized microwave/image-intensifier device. Published beam, cathode, anode, helix, collector, RF, gain/noise, and optical ratings are preserved in TUBE_SECTION_PARAMETER rather than forced into unrelated promoted plate/screen fields.

Source-dependent data

Operating conditions by source

Each block preserves the test conditions and published values from one reference. Values from different sources are intentionally kept separate.

Data set 01

1962 ITT

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

TravelingWave

Characteristic

  • Operating Frequency Range

    3850 to 6000 MHz

  • Input Section Bandwidth

    12 to 60 MHz

  • Noise Figure

    20 dB

  • IF Output

    280 MHz

  • Image Rejection

    35 dB

Other

  • Conversion Gain

    2 dB

  • Heater Voltage Maximum

    6.5 V

  • Heater Current Maximum

    2 A

  • Cathode Voltage Range

    -1500 to -250 V

  • Cathode Current Maximum

    8 mA

  • Collector Voltage Maximum

    250 V

  • Amplifier Helix Current Maximum

    0.5 mA

  • Oscillator Helix Current Maximum

    0.3 mA

  • Collector Current Maximum

    8 mA

  • Typical RF Frequency

    5000 MHz

  • Typical LO Frequency

    4720 MHz

  • Typical Image Frequency

    4440 MHz

  • Typical IF Frequency

    280 MHz

  • Typical Heater Voltage

    6.3 V

  • Typical Heater Current

    1.9 A