[BC] In search of Harris SX1

[Mike McCarthy]

All due respect Paul,  If a station can't afford a new $13k transmitter, 
how are they going to take in a used 20+ year old transmitter, retune it, 
and keep it going when the manufacturer no longer supports the device or 
even has parts?  If they were talking about a 5KW or higher, I can see 
that.  But a 1KW...not really.    The manufacturers will work with the 
station to help finance the deal.  ESPECIALLY on a 1KW box.

Also, tube TX's are at least twice, if not three times more energy hungry 
than a new solid state TX and you have $1K/year in tubes. It sounds like 
someone is being cheap. This is less than the cost of a compact car to deal 
with.  But will end up costing SO MUCH MORE operationally.

I also happen to strongly disagree with your assessment of the lightning 
susceptibility of new TX's versus older tube TX's.   "For the most part" 
doesn't fly with me.  You imply your RCA TX took damage.  Well...that's 
more damage that my solid state boxes have taken in the last few years.

Years ago the FCC had financial ascertainment requirements for licensees to 
insure the licensee carried sufficient financial resources to sustain 
operation of the station.  One line item was the ability to replace any 
piece of equipment if required.  The technical plants of those stations 
fared better generally than those of today where cheapness is the #1 priority.

MM

At 04:11 AM 3/8/2009 -0600, Paul B. Walker, Jr. wrote
>I know the station in question well.
>
>There's a couple reasons said station is looking for what they're looking
>for.
>
>A.) The budget is NOT that big and they would NOT be able to afford a Nautel
>J1000 or anything brand new. Just being honest, 'cuse it's the truth.
>
>B.) Secondly, this station is in an area prone to thunder and lightning.
>Solid state transmitters, regardless of what you do to them to protect them,
>are NOT very forgiving at all like older tube type (not totally solid state)
>transmitters are.
>
>I'm sure there are other reasons an SX1 or MW-1 would work for this station
>and would be a better choice over something newer. Plus, an SX1 and an MW1
>are smaller then some of the ancient tube transmitters from the 50s and 60s
>
>Don't assume that because it wouldnt or can't work for you, that it doesn't
>or can't work for someone else.
>
>My RCA BTA1-M got 3 hits from  lightning and for the most part, was fine.
>
>Paul Walker