[BC] 26 Mhz RPU/IFB

[Tim Berry]

Brian trust of the engineering world,
 
Please allow me to step into this discussion. I would love to find a decent powered 26 MHZ transmitter to use as an IFB for my stations in Eastern Tennessee. There just doesn't seem to be one out there.
 
I am responsible for three formats on five signals, two of which are all-talk and all-sports. In September, we did over 100 remotes in one month, with as many as 14 in one day. We use our RPU equipment daily, and to have a RF-based IFB soloution for pre-delay audio and cueing would be perfect. I have been looking for a while for a 26 MHz transmitter to use in conjunction with our VHF and UHF RPU channels for an IFB back to the remote sites. I bought a Comrex 1 watt IFB transmitter about five years ago, and had a commercial amplifier company custom-build a 100 watt amplifier for it. The problem is that the Comrex transmitter's output circuit will not stay tuned to the input of the amplifier, Even on a dummy load, the output wanders. I called Comrex about this, and received a polite but stern warning not to use their transmitter in this type of application.
 
I have spoken with Daniels Electronics in Canada. They are about the only manufacturer I know of that is still manufacturing low-band commercial equipment, and they had a *mild* interest in trying to make their 30-50 MHz equipment work at 26 MHz. However,  with only me asking, their R&D costs would not be offset by selling just one or two transmitters. I was promised a return call after they had their yearly planning meetings, but nothing yet. I have also spoken with ISC technlogies in Qunicy, Illinois, where they repair and re-manufacture the paging transmitters that were mentioned. At last call, they have no low-band equipment to even try to modify. Even so, most of the paging transmitters that I was familiar with were in the 43 MHz range when they existed. I know there were some 35 Mhz paging frequencies out there,  but I don't know what happened to the equipment that was being used.  There is a standardization of "splits" in the 30-50 Mhz range, with the low end being the 30-36 Mhz range. So most of the low band paging equipment that I have seen is in the wrong range. There is a English company that I found called "Multi-tone," who makes transmitters in the 26 Mhz range for paging in their country. I have called them and left messages, but no one has returned my calls. I have spoken with Nautel, Ten-Tec (yes, that Ten-Tec...they make transmitters for the military)  and with the company that makes the IPA's for Harris transmitters...no luck. Once upon a time, Motorola and GE made land mobile transcievers in the 25-30 Mhz range. I had a lead on some a few years back, but it never worked out. I doubt that much of that equipment even exists anyomre.
 
As a person whose first gainful employment was working on low band radios, I know that this application would work, and I am willing to try it (even with the "freebanders" around). I have two frequencies licensed and am ready to go. If anyone finds any type-accepted, workable equipment in the 26 MHz area, I would like to talk to you.
 
Tim Berry WB4GBI
Chief Engineer
WIVK-FM   WNML AM/FM  WNRX-FM  WOKI-FM
Knoxville, TN
www.wb4gbi.com
timb447457 at aol.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas G. Osenkowsky <tosenkowsky at prodigy.net>

When I worked at WAVZ/KC-101 in CT we had a system on 26.31 MHz. The CB
outbanders made it almost impossible to use, especially when skip was in.
Mostly sideband, but we used carrier squelch and it was annoying to listen
to.

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE

>A LOT of 300 Watt base stations are now available since many low band
>paging companies have gone under.