[BC] Why an older transmitter may be a good choice

[Kevin C. Kidd, CSRE]

I once bet a station that they could borrow the money and 
make payments for 5 years on a new 1kw Energy Onyx for the 
same as maintenance and energy costs on the old RCA.  I 
told them that I would pay the difference if they couldn't 
do it.  I should have put a stipulation in that they had to 
pay me the difference if it was less.  They paid it off in 
a little over 4 years of maintenance and energy 
savings.  It was running a bunch of PSSA power into a dummy 
all night.

The new transmitter has operated over 4 years with no 
maintenance other than cleaning and a couple of high 
current bridge rectifiers.

At some point it just doesn't make CENTS to keep throwing 
money at an old transmitter.

Later,



At 12:10 PM 2/20/2007, Paul B. Walker, Jr. wrote
I can afford, if I need, the "new" 833 tubes along with any 
minor repairs. I
have a slight "bubble" built in every month for a tube or 
two, etc if i need
it.  I can also afford to and justify the cost of 
electricity... that's just
the cost of doing business.




On 2/20/07, Gary Glaenzer <gglaenzer at todaysbestradio.com> 
wrote:

Scott;

I'm not going to argue the points you make, because they 
are valid.

However, my initial rsponse was to a blanket statement by 
someone else who
seems to think that every station has the wherewithall to 
replace the
transmitter just because 'it's old'.

It may be 'old', but if it is performing what needs done, 
and you can
budget
for the maintenance but not the cost of a replacement, 
where's the problem
with running it ?

G




----- Original Message -----
From: "Bailey, Scott" <sbailey at nespower.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: [BC] Why an older transmitter may be a good 
choice


Your going spent more money on keeping that old rig going, 
than to just
turn around and by a new one.  The higher powered AM 
stations, I can
understand, somewhat, but an AM at 1 KW, that's crazy!

I know of 2 AM's in this area that are still running tube 
transmitters.
I was talking to a GM at an AM/FM combo in this area and I 
couldn't
believe the price he was paying for 4-400's, 807's, just to 
keep up a
Collins 20V-2.

My studio is with the transmitter/tower site. My AC bill 
this month was
only 160.00. Gee, I my electric bill at home was higher 
than that! My
little 1 KW Armstrong box burns way less electric than the 
central heat
and air system.

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Gary 
Glaenzer
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:40 AM
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: [BC] Why an older transmitter may be a good choice

one word:  finances

I'm sure you canfigure out the rest for yourself



----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Meuser" <Robertm at broadcast.net>

 > That was not an opinion it is a fact. Please enlighten 
me other wise.
 >
 > R
 >
 >
 > Gary Glaenzer wrote:
 >
 > >"There is no good excuse for running  something that 
old"
 > >
 > >Oh, give us a break
 > >
 > >While some other party's justifications may not agree 
with your
opinions
on
 > >the subject, a blanket statement such as above is 
nonsense.
 > >
 > >


--
Paul B. Walker, Jr.
www.walkerbroadcasting.com
walkerbroadcasting at gmail.com
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-- 

Kevin Kidd, CSRE
WD4RAT
mailto:kkidd at kkbc.com

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