AC/DC Adapters (Walwart) Power Supplies

[iMONITOR]

Are the old school, bigger, heavier linear AC/DC adapters better for low noise, especially on AM, than the newer, smaller, lighter switching power adapters?

 

[jonwienke]

If a switching power supply has the right RFI filtering, there is no disadvantage to a switching supply.

 

[mmckenna]

Used to be that the switching power supplies could be pretty noisy, especially on HF. They are much better than they used to be. Linear type power supplies used to be preferred since they were "cleaner".

A lot has changed. Switching power supplies are pretty clean. They are also lighter, and generate less heat (in most cases). That usually means more efficient.
Some purists and some people that are heavily in to HF still prefer the linear supplies.

Since most of my stuff is VHF and up, I've been perfectly happy with the various switching supplies I have. At work, our DC power plants used to be huge linear supplies, but over the years I've replaced all of them with smaller, more efficient switching supplies. What used to take up a full 7 foot tall, 23 inch equipment rack now fits in a few inches of 19 inch rack. I do not regret getting rid of the older transformer based power supplies at all.

As for AM, as in AM broadcast, you'd ideally want to try it out to make sure. With some of the crap electronics out there, I'd want to know what I was getting.

 

[iMONITOR]

As for AM, as in AM broadcast, you'd ideally want to try it out to make sure. With some of the crap electronics out there, I'd want to know what I was getting.

More for aircraft AM mode.

I picked one up from Jameco, made in Taiwan. You're right, much bigger, and heavier, almost 2lbs, like the old Uniden's.

12VDC, 1000ma, Regulated, Linear. UL listed.