[BC] In search of Harris SX1

[Mike McCarthy]

We have all been part of the shoe string operation where you know the owner 
who doesn't drive a BMW 700 series and lives in a three bedroom 2500 ft. 
house like the rest of us. However, we have also all been jaded by far more 
stingy owners who care more about what's in THEIR bank account/driveway 
than the station's.  The latter is far more prevalent these days.

I stand by my comment...harsh as it may seem. While I too am looking for a 
single phase 2.5 or 5KW box to light a station up while the main is built 
(timing...), that box will serve as the back-up when all is said and 
done.  It's an investment.  Not an expense.  And an incredibly important 
investment as I go by the Star Fleet rule:

"The reliability of the main is irrelevant.  The reliability of the back-up 
must be nothing short of absolute."

MM

At 03:01 PM 3/8/2009 -0500, Kevin Trueblood wrote
>I realize that a lot of stations are running on a budget as sharp as a 
>razor's edge right now, but the comments are right on the money.  The cost 
>of a BE AM-1A or the Nautel J1000 may be tough to justify today.  However, 
>I think if you look as close as 2 years at what the station spent in 
>acquiring, retuning, tubes, and energy costs you'll find the cost of a new 
>transmitter not so unreasonable.  Properly grounded facilities, whether 
>tube or solid state, should see minimal effects of lightning damage.  You 
>also can't get any smaller than the AM-1A or J1000.  You're talking about, 
>what, 10 rack units?  You could fit your transmitter, processor, mod 
>monitor, and EAS all in the same rack!
>
>In your defense, Paul, the comments made here about "If they can't afford 
>to do this then they shouldn't be on the air" are tough to swallow and are 
>a bit cold-hearted.  You're dealing with small operators trying to just 
>make it day to day in a crappy economy.  I can't pretend to know the 
>operator you're talking about, but I've dealt with and seen many just like 
>them. They want it done as cheaply and quickly as possible.  Most are not 
>opposed to reasonable logic and will spend a little more money of a good 
>argument is made.  After all, you are dealing with one piece of equipment 
>that is the end-all-be-all of the station.  You can run a station with few 
>people, minimal equipment, and no promotional budget.  You can't run a 
>station without a transmitter.
>
>Kevin