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1kw FM transmitters

H

HadYourPhil

I need to purchase a couple for a translator project. Anyone have opinions or comments? I've looked at Crown, QEI, Ptek, Nautel, Energy-Onix and the oddly named Broadcast Warehouse. I'm a Nautel fan but very open to suggestions.
 
Amazing how much more expensive the Crown is than the Nautel. The Crown does come with a built-in processor, but it isn't worth the 5k difference.
 
There's a used BE 1kw modular that was on flee-bay recently for 4k. You might check occationally and see what shows up. With that being said, I have Crown translators and have been real happy with them. They are rock-solid. Harris ZX (or Z for that matter) rigs are probably my first choice, but the cost may be an issue. The Nautel VS line of stuff is ok. I have a VS2.5. I had the displeasure of owning one of the first ones in that power level. The web gui is goofy as hell. Although support tries to help, they are still in learning mode really. Don't use the "sample port" for anything. It's spurious as hell. It would be a real pain to repair if the PA modules ever failed. Lucky me... It hasn't missed a beat so I haven't been down that road yet. Also, no real decent manual is another thing I didn't really care for about the thing. Other than that, it's OK for it's price. At this point I'd run from BE. They seem to have a lot of infant mortality issues lately...
 
I have a BW Broadcast TX-1000 for a translator. Running at 1080 watts out, 24/7, for over a year now without a hiccup. I am not using the internal audio processing or stereo gen. Composite in only.
I would purchase again. Good value. SCMS keeps them in stock.

Also have a Harris ZX-5000 that works great. Not as many hours on it, as it is a backup for a main FM.
 
1080 watts out for a translator?? Okay, assuming an antenna with .5 gain... that's still 540 watts. Okay, I forgot line loss. 500w is evaporating up the line. What line are you using to feed the antenna, 400' of RG-8? Or what's the antenna being used?

Not sure how that all goes down to 250w ERP.
 
Just bought a BE 1 kw for a backup. Looks like a nice transmitter, but haven't had any need to run it for very long. Not much bigger than my Continental 802B exciter--but much deeper (long box).
 
WNTIRadio said:
1080 watts out for a translator?? Okay, assuming an antenna with .5 gain... that's still 540 watts. Okay, I forgot line loss. 500w is evaporating up the line. What line are you using to feed the antenna, 400' of RG-8? Or what's the antenna being used?

Not sure how that all goes down to 250w ERP.
Click to expand...

You are close. One bay Jampro antenna and 840 feet of 7/8 foam heliax. ERP=250w.
The line was already on the tower and not in use. Hence the larger TX. Less expensive alternative to installing new line. Initially anyway.
256 meters HAAT. This thing gets out. Rivals the Class A's in the area, other than building penetration.
 
TomT said:
Just bought a BE 1 kw for a backup. Looks like a nice transmitter, but haven't had any need to run it for very long. Not much bigger than my Continental 802B exciter--but much deeper (long box).
Click to expand...
Had one of them running 1KW at a high school station for about a year now...it's been a workhorse. That small size included a built in exciter. Lot of power in a small rack-print (is that a word?).
 
You can also get a built in stereo geni as well...which would probably be more useful for a translator than for broadcast if you have a source of processed audio to feed it.
 
Pardon the obvious spam, but I've got a BE FM-2C and an Orban 2200D for sale. It runs very efficiently 800w-2200w. Perfect, one-rack, solution for a translator. E-me at dtube1 aT gmail dawt com.
-D
 
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