[BC] The value of tube transmitters

[Phil Alexander]

On 20 Feb 2007 at 11:57, Robert Meuser wrote:


 > Now, please give me a logical reason to keep a 50 year old TX on air.

On the air? No, that increases expenses, but as a back up Tx, or one to
run when the thunder rolls ... that is good economy. They are also useful
for serious tuning work on DA's because they are tolerant of loads that
would choke any SS box off the air.

 > Please base this on what a person who is in broadcasting as a business
 > not as a hobby would do.  Also, please explain how you will continue to
 > keep the rig tubed and how it will  meet emission specs as they are
 > tightened.

Virtually any well maintained AM rig will pass 73.44. As for FM, perhaps
you may find 73.317(a) interesting reading. In short, when has the FCC
ever forced retirement of a properly operating transmitter that meets
the specs under which it was first approved?

While I see the merit of using a SS box as main, I also see advantages
in keeping the old box of tubes ready to deliver when all else fails,
and would be slow to throw it out if there was room to keep it, especially
if it was one of the well proven classics from the stables of Collins,
Gates/Harris or RCA.


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Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology