[BC] While Jeff's away...

[JYRussell@academicplanet.com]

Ok, I'll ask...
Description:
   the unit is a 1996 ND1 1Kw  AM non-d 184' stick, 1400cycles.  Got a 
really strong ground system... I'm not looking at the license right now, but 
it's got the full complement of both long and interspersed short radials... 
it all works out to at least 1 degree apart spacing.

   Traditionally, this rig shows total TPO and reflected power rock steady. 
No IBUZ , just straight stereo audio.   About 21amps/71volts.    1Kout, 
around 4 watts reflected.
ATU looks fine, no fire ants, or weirdness.

The only fluctuations come about seasonally with ground water saturation... 
in the wetter months, the soil conductivity improves significantly, so the 
reflected power drops to nearly 0, the transmitter can then start to show an 
increase TPO which you'll have to trim out manually until the unit settles 
in to the new "wetter" conditions.

Of course, the opposite is true as the soil dries out.

Well... here we go.
   This is NE texas, and we've again had a serious drought. Cracks in the 
soil as much as 6 inches across, and you can look down into them several 
feet.  Of course this is exposing radials, haven't as yet had the chance to 
see if any are broken, but remember, as the soil shrinks, it also shrinks 
AWAY from most fixed items which cannot also shrink... so the radials are 
likely doing fine... just loose and very dry., at least for the vast 
majority, as well as the ones I can reach in a wiggle, I'm sure.

    PROBLEM this year is that I'm running out of 'twiddle room' for the TX. 
You can twiddle it all you want... 925 or so is all you're going to get. 
Maybe 950. Normally, you can dial it up and down well beyond the +5 -10 
percent...
Now, it's just down with a ceiling below 1k.

So....
    I thought before I pulled any of the "sticky dots" off pots inside to 
get a bit more range on the front adjust ment, I'd start asking to see how 
likely it's simply a matter of soil wetness... or if I need to look 
somewhere else.
the reflected power is still low, but I am noticing more +125 spikes on the 
mod monitor than is proper, so I've pulled things back a bit coming out of 
the processing.

   I've even thought about asking the local FD to start flushing their tanks 
on the property (without blasting holes, TYVM!) to see if that helps.

   Think I ought to just leave it be?  If it continues to drop it will be 
too low for the license.

Jason

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stevan A. White" <w5saw at pathwayz.com>
To: "'Broadcasters' Mailing List'" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 12:01 PM
Subject: RE: [BC] Calling Jeff Welton


> Ask your question here, if you're game, or email Jeff at 
> jwelton at nautel.com.
>
> Best Regards,
> Steve White, W5SAW
> SW Commercial Electronics
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: JYRussell at academicplanet.com [mailto:jyrussell at academicplanet.com]
> Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:28 PM
> To: broadcast at radiolists.net
> Subject: [BC] Calling Jeff Welton
>
>
> Anybody seen or heard from Jeff Welton lately?
> I've got a question for him re: a Nautel ND1...
>
>  Or you - if you're really good at 'em..
> Jason
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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