Overview
Palomar Electronics Corporation is a name historically associated with RF amplifiers and CB radio equipment, often overlapping or confused with Palomar Engineers. Unlike Palomar Engineers, which is a well-documented RF engineering company, Palomar Electronics Corp appears to have been a separate or loosely defined entity used in the CB amplifier market.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Palomar Electronics Corporation |
| Founded | Not well documented (likely 1970s era) |
| Headquarters | California, USA (associated) |
| Industry | CB radio equipment, RF amplifiers |
| Core Products | CB RF power amplifiers (“linears”) |
| Markets Served | CB radio hobbyists, aftermarket radio market |
| Documentation | Limited / informal sources |
Description
Palomar Electronics Corp is most commonly linked to CB radio power amplifiers marketed under the “Palomar” name. These devices were designed to increase transmit power for CB radios and were widely circulated through radio shops, mail-order catalogs, and informal distribution channels.
Products attributed to this name were typically:
- High-power RF amplifiers using bipolar transistors
- Built for 12V mobile or base station operation
- Marketed toward hobbyists seeking extended range
The branding and manufacturing were not always consistent, and multiple builders may have used the “Palomar” name, contributing to confusion with Palomar Engineers.
Physical Description
Amplifiers associated with Palomar Electronics Corp typically featured:
- Heavy metal chassis with large heatsinks
- RF input/output connectors (SO-239)
- High-current power leads
- Switches for power, standby, and SSB delay
- Cooling fans on higher-power units
History
The name Palomar Electronics Corporation appears during the CB radio boom of the 1970s, when demand for aftermarket amplifiers was high. During this period, many small manufacturers and builders produced RF amplifiers, often using recognizable or reused brand names.
Over time, as regulations tightened and the CB market declined, the amplifier segment became less formalized, and clear corporate records for Palomar Electronics Corp are scarce.
Key Clarification
- Not all “Palomar” amplifiers are from the same source
- The name was likely used by multiple builders or entities
- Documentation is limited and often based on community knowledge