[BC] Gates BC-1F

[Craig Healy]

> Tom Dimeo wrote:
> When the station got authorization to go on at night with
> five hundred watts I was really surprised that to reduce
> power Gates provided a big resister to put in the plate
> circuit of the 833s.  It seemed to me that a variac would
> have been a more practical way to reduce power but I was very
> young and, well, you know how young people are treated
> sometimes.  I think when a question was asked it was taken as
> questioning a decision but my questions were asked because I
> wanted to learn.
>
> I did understand about modulator impedance but it seemed that
> if the voltage and current were reduced proportionally on the
> modulator tubes the impedance would stay the same.

One of the rigs I maintained was a GE XT-1A with the common compliment of
two 833As each for RF and modulator.  This client needed a range of output
powers during the day from a kilowatt to 168w.  A variac on both the plate
and bias transformers did it very well.  The rig sounded good from over 1kw
down to 25w or so.

FWIW, the whole audio input and driver stage was replaced with a Marantz amp
and UTC LS transformer into the 833A grids.  Feedback was routed into the
split secondary of the transformer.  Sounded great!  The 845s were getting
hard to find at that point.

That box was pulled from service around 1989 for a new Nautel solid state
rig.

Craig Healy
Providence, RI