[BC] Harris Corp. Seeks Cuts in Transmitter Business

[Robert Meuser]

get down around the controller and all the other stuff bolted to the 
sides and bottom of the case. The PA boards and tuning coils are easy.

R

Jeff Allen wrote:

>I've taken a Gates 5 and Gates 1 apart (PA boards to tuning coils) and back
>together again, didn't need a contortionist.  I've always liked the
>Harris/Gates gear.
>
>J Allen
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Robert Meuser" <Robertm at broadcast.net>
>To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
>Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 10:55 AM
>Subject: Re: [BC] Harris Corp. Seeks Cuts in Transmitter Business
>
>
>  
>
>>No argument. I am merely repeating what I was taught as a kid by some
>>very accomplished engineers. I will, however, stand by my comments
>>regarding Gates 1 2.5 and 5.  As long as they work, great. When they
>>quit, I hope you have a contortionist on staff to do the repairs.
>>Regarding catalogs as a kid I got every Collins, Gates, Continental and
>>RCA catalogs publish up until they longer existed.  Maybe it was your
>>regional guy. At one time Gates (or was it Harris) had a street level
>>store front in NYC.
>>
>>R
>>
>>
>>Douglas B. Pritchett wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>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.
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>
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>>
>>
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>>
>1:30 AM
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>>    
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>
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>_______________________________________________
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>The BROADCAST [BC] list is sponsored by SystemsStore On-Line Sales
>Cable-Connectors-Blocks-Racks-Wire Management-Test Gear-Tools and More! 
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>