[BC] Harris Corp. Seeks Cuts in Transmitter Business

Sun Feb 4 13:00:30 CST 2007

Been there done, that.  Replaced the controller board and caps bolted to the
sides.  Previous engineer had a Gates one in pieces that I put back
together.  Only thing I haven't done on the Gates 5/1 is pull out any of the
transformers.  It's still easier to work on than the old tube transmitters.
I used to take care of an old RCA FM TX that I had to take yoga classes just
to change out the IPA tube sockets.

JAllen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Meuser" <Robertm at broadcast.net>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] Harris Corp. Seeks Cuts in Transmitter Business

>
> 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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2/4/2007
> >>
> >>
> >1:30 AM
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >
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> >Cable-Connectors-Blocks-Racks-Wire Management-Test Gear-Tools and More!
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> >
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> The BROADCAST [BC] list is sponsored by SystemsStore On-Line Sales
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>
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>
> -- 
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1:30 AM
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>