[BC] In search of Harris SX1

[Mike McCarthy]

At 03:02 PM 3/8/2009 -0500, Paul B. Walker, Jr. wrote
>I spoke with my friend who owns the station and is the one in need of said
>transmitter.. that this is all a temporary lash up to get the station on the
>air from rented space where room is at a premium after we discovered some
>technical issues.
>
>Paul

Hmmm...those never ending technical issues.... Where is the consultant in 
all of this?  Is the consultant not part of the picture?  Remember, there's 
got to be impedance verification when everything is done.  OTOH, I wouldn't 
be a bit surprised to hear he quit if his advice wasn't being taken. 
BTW...if you haven't figured it out yet...lashed up some times lasts a 
really long time.  The best intentions of mice and men.

I "get" the fact the permittee doesn't want a permanent TX.  But I will 
repeat what I said because it hasn't reached the permittee.  The cost 
differential on-air for a 1KW new versus used is typically not much.  And 
the difference is often not enough to fret about as it will be more than 
made up when 1) the new box is quickly installed and made operational; and 
2) repairable versus the old which isn't or needs a special part to be 
custom made.  Plus both the BE and Nautel are shippable by UPS. Anything 
older isn't by any stretch of the imagination. There's a few hundred $$$ 
right there in favor of the new box.  Oh, and let's not forget type 
acceptance of the box because it's moved channels.  So besides the various 
changes for the new channel, the box needs to be swept for emission purity.

Oh and let's not also forget the cost to "sell" the transmitter when the 
box is no longer wanted.  The market for 1KW TX's these days is not a high 
demand.  So they'll be stuck with it or end up giving it away to some ham 
when the leased space goes away.

Might as well get a good box which can be a RELIABLE back-up and avoid all 
those headaches for a 1KW box. Anyone who understands RF knows the benefit 
of a few watts RF over none......  You'll be very surprised to hear what 5 
watts (or 500) can do on a clear channel even if the main is a 10KW or more.

Now you add to the picture that space is an issue.  Well, that pretty much 
narrows down the options away from ANYTHING but a rack mount TX (Nautel and 
BE) if what you're NOW saying is even remotely accurate.

Horse...dead....

MM