[BC] Are there AM stations still using Tube Rigs?

[Xmitters at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/23/2009 5:00:26 AM Central Daylight Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

> Jeff & Others whom have made comments:
> 
>     We have rebuilt our antenna system with better, stronger, wire for the 
> folded unipole, but the ATU has to be rebuilt. New components are going in and 
> we are going back with the standard "T" Network.
> 
>     If we run into problems with the ATU, I'll just break down and buy the 
> matching network for the BE. I hate the idea of a tube transmitter. I miss 
> changing the tubes and tune up, but not the heat and the AC bill!
> 
>     Thanks all for the advice!
> 
> Scott

But Scott:

You should not run into problems with your ATU. If you *DO* then it is to 
your advantage to solve those ATU problems. I dare say that a simple Tee network 
could be designed/optomized for less than the 25K that you said BE's 
transmitter tuner costs. 

Even if you had the BE tuner, there is no way that the tuner itself, 
presenting 50 ohms at carrier to your transmitter, means that you have good Z 
characteristics across your channel. 

Jeff Glass
Northern Illinois University
Dell 2650 Win2000 AOL 7.0