[BC] Harris Corp. Seeks Cuts in Transmitter Business

[Douglas B. Pritchett]

You don't have anything else to do on a Sunday morning but start a fight?

Robert Meuser wrote:

> Maybe I am spoiled, but I never had to work on original Gates gear. I 
> was taught that it was inferior and real broadcasters used Collins or 
> if high power they used Continental or they used RCA. 

You expect a civil response to that? Real broadcasters use what they can 
afford and what's available. The Gates equipment was solid, reliable, 
affordable, but not pretty. And from past experience, trying to get 
someone from Collins to even ship you a catalog was a PIA. I'll explain 
at the end.

> That being said, my real world observations pretty much agreed with 
> what I was taught.  When the Gates One came out, my impression was it 
> was named that way because it was a cheap transmitter that adhered to 
> the old Quincy Tin Works standard that Harris after many years had 
> purged from their newer gear. 

Our station (what you would not call real broadcasters) uses a Gates One 
and it's been reliable and trouble-free.

> I have had to work on those and they certainly are not up to current 
> Harris standards. 

Don't take this the wrong way Robert, but with that kind of attitude, I 
would not want you working on my gear.

> Then there are a number of other brands that could not meet the Quincy 
> Tin Works standard on a good day. 

Robert, dude, you've got to work on this attitude of yours.

> Then there is Nautel that learned well from Continental in their glory 
> days.

Good companies, both. But, when we needed a transmitter on a tight time 
line, Nautel was very gracious, but could not make our deadline. BE 
could, but wanted to ding us for the rush. Harris had one ready and we 
drove to Quincy, drove home, and it worked right outta da box.

About Collins. In the early 70's as a student, I was tasked with putting 
together the action plan for upgrading our carrier current AM and Class 
D FM facilities. With a CP in hand for 3kw for the FM, I called Collins 
and was told to write for a catalog. I did, on station/University 
letterhead. I received a terse reply from the Collins rep stating ( and 
I've kept the letter ) "since I don't see your name in the Broadcasting 
Yearbook as a principal of the station, and since I don't have any 
record of your so-called construction permit, we can not send you a 
catalog. Douglas, you are probably a student looking for an easy way to 
complete your homework assignment. As you continue with your education, 
you will learn that companies can not waste money sending expensive 
equipment to every broadcasting student at you college. Best 
wishes.............."
Harris sent a catalog, as did every other manufacturer. Needless to say, 
the university spent their $255,000 budget elsewhere.  I never specified 
Collins anywhere I went. And yes, I had the chance many times.

Robert, you are entitled to your opinion about Gates being garbage. I'll 
stick with my opinion that Collins we're elitist snobs, and I'm not for 
a moment saying you are.
Happy Sunday.

-- 
Douglas B. Pritchett
Fort Wayne, IN (really, don't laugh)
wbzq1300 at verizon.net