I noticed the availability and cost of transistors I had previously used had become an issue. I decided to test a range of low cost widely available transistors to determine what might be suitable.
Output stage
I left the output stage as a through hole part because heat sinking a 1W Class A transistor is difficult with a surface mount part.
Driver
The 2N4427 works very well here, but is obsolete. A SOT89 package looked suitable for the 230mW of dissipation and numerous transistor choices wer available.
Pre-driver
The 2N2219 I had previously used was very expensive now if your junk box lacked any. Seemed complete overkill for a stage delivering 5dBm so a SOT23 package was decided upon.
PCB's were fabricated which would allow me to systematically try alternative transistors and test output levels, gain and frequency response.
Pre-driver 2N2219 2N2219 SOT-23 5dBm Very expensive
Driver 2N4427 SOT-89 SOT-89 15dBm Obsolete, but good if you have one
Output 2SC3230 TO-220 TO-220 30dBm Obsolete now.
After a record heatwave last week (6 days of +38 degrees) I'm about to endure another hot weekend so progress will be slow. But as test results come to hand I'll post them.
73's
Richard