Switching between 1.5w and 15w

[gtodd]

is there easier way to switch the unit on in the 1.5watt mode

 

[bigdonho]

Eons ago I worked at a station with a 6 W PSA. They ran the 1 kW transmitter into a dummy load at 250 W and pulled the 6 W off of the mod monitor output. Sort of wasteful but how many transmitters will run at 6 W let alone 1.5 W?

 

[PTBoardOp93]

What unit are we talking about?

 

[Radio Bob]

Eons ago I worked at a station with a 6 W PSA. They ran the 1 kW transmitter into a dummy load at 250 W and pulled the 6 W off of the mod monitor output. Sort of wasteful but how many transmitters will run at 6 W let alone 1.5 W?

When I worked at WLRO AM in Lorain Ohio we dumped our 500 watt transmitter down to 250 watts and burned 150 watts off into resisters to get presunrise power. of 100 watts. Had we attempted to modify the transmitter down to 100 watts it would have sounded awful as many did not have the ability to operate that low

 

[Cold Coffee]

is there easier way to switch the unit on in the 1.5watt mode

Are you writing about a foreign FM transmitter like one finds on eBay?

 

[Grounded Grid]

Eons ago I worked at a station with a 6 W PSA. They ran the 1 kW transmitter into a dummy load at 250 W and pulled the 6 W off of the mod monitor output. Sort of wasteful but how many transmitters will run at 6 W let alone 1.5 W?

The BE AM-1 (AM-500) specs to run as low as 5 watts. You might get a lower level, but I haven't tried. Nautel's J1000 specs at a minimum of 10. I have an old Nautel P400 in service that specs out at 25 watts minimum. The book says you can get lower levels out if with increased distortion. A former engineer tried that years ago, but gave up.

You might look into one of the TIS transmitters, or maybe one of the old carrier current rigs. I've seen a couple of cases where the FCC is allowing "lifeline" STAs, using those transmitters, where the stations have lost their towers.

The worst example I saw of swamping power out with a resistor network was at a station with a Collins 21B. It had a low power level of 1,000 watts and our PSA was 89. That made for a nice space heater.

 

[fybush]

If the OP would like to clarify this thread so we know what transmitter is being discussed, and that it's being used legally, we'll keep this thread open. Otherwise it's going to be deleted.

 

[davideduardo]

If the OP would like to clarify this thread so we know what transmitter is being discussed, and that it's being used legally, we'll keep this thread open. Otherwise it's going to be deleted.

Yes, the OP does not even state whether this is an AM or FM operation, its frequency, how it is licensed to broadcast with 1.5 watts, as well as the make and model of the transmitter.

 

[AMRadioGuy]

The BE AM-1 (AM-500) specs to run as low as 5 watts. You might get a lower level, but I haven't tried. Nautel's J1000 specs at a minimum of 10. I have an old Nautel P400 in service that specs out at 25 watts minimum. The book says you can get lower levels out if with increased distortion. A former engineer tried that years ago, but gave up.

You might look into one of the TIS transmitters, or maybe one of the old carrier current rigs. I've seen a couple of cases where the FCC is allowing "lifeline" STAs, using those transmitters, where the stations have lost their towers.

The worst example I saw of swamping power out with a resistor network was at a station with a Collins 21B. It had a low power level of 1,000 watts and our PSA was 89. That made for a nice space heater.

I just did some work on a Nautel P400 that ended up having a broken wire. Nice transmitter - and it's simple! Frequency agile, too. A real nice backup unit or low powered rig.

 

[Cold Coffee]

The transmitter that advertises that it can be switched between 15 and 1.5 watts is a pirate transmitter found on eBay. It also falsely claims to be FCC legal. I understand that many who aren't familiar with FCC rules in the US might think it's OK to do it here. But be warned. You can't do this in the US unless you want trouble.