[BC] Re:Continental and Field service

[Xmitters@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/4/06 12:47:13 PM Central Standard Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

<< DHershberger at axcera.com >>

Dave:

Every time I go out on an emergency to fix someone's broken transmitter, I 
always get bitten by the Field Service bug. And you know how much I dig high 
power stuff, Doherty, SIM, PDM and Continental's long list of high power 
projects. I think you worked for them once, yes?

Maybe then you could tell me how possible it would be for an arrangement 
whereby I would be called on occasionally to fix a 500 kW MW or SW transmitter? I 
know I do not want to do field installation, and I'm not sure I would even 
want to leave the University here, but that would be a wonderful diversion a few 
times a year to go work on one of those monsters. And I would be smart enough 
not to bypass the plate overload for troubleshooting, on a 1000 kW  
transmitter :-) I know high power transmitters are different beasts for lots of reasons, 
but I am 100% sure I could repair one.

As geeky as it might sound, I like to mathematically analyze transmitter 
circuits and take an Eimac data sheet and derive all of the tabular meter 
readings. It's fun. We both know that what's in the book does not match what's 
practical, but then I have 25 years' experience too. Plus I have a burning desire and 
enthusiasm for this stuff that has been with me for 30 years.

I don't think I would want to do it on a full time basis and I would not want 
to be someplace for a month at a time, unless my wife could come along. 
Unfortunately, I know often times, field people are gone for that long sometimes. 
My compromise for this desire years ago was to buy manuals. When I was a kid, I 
spent every penny I made on transmitter manuals. Harris was sending me two or 
three manuals a month for several years :-)

Anyway at my age of 50, if I'm going to satisfy this passion to work on some 
big transmitters, it is going to have to be soon. I have no interest 
whatsoever in domestic field service, except for what I'm currently doing, which is for 
friends, on an as available basis. These days, domestic stations have too 
many hidden problems that have to be fixed before the real problem can be 
tackled. Besides that, to me 50 kW is flea power. Greater than 50 kW means overseas 
travel.

So do you think there is a practical possibility this could happen or have I 
just finally gone completely nuts?

Best Regards?

Jeff Glass