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5kW Solid State versus 5kW Tube

T

TXengineer

Guest
I see that BE still sells a FM 5kW tube transmitter along with the 5kW Solid State one.

Why would you choose the tube model over the solid state one?

Curious.
 
> Why would you choose the tube model over the solid state
> one?

Traditionalist old fart like me?

Charitable; wanna help them get rid of all those tube models cluttering up
the warehouse?

Masochist with call-letters silk-screened on a shirt woven of horse hair?
<P ID="signature">______________
When you're done impeaching the prez, keep on going; recall every member of congress and lock 'em up! Let's try NO govt. for a while.</P>
 
1. A touchy antenna system.

Some directional arrays are rather unfriendly to solid state rigs.

2. Lightning

Tube rigs are tougher. Florida stations can appreciate this.

4. Price

Always a consideration

5. Operating considerations

If you have cheap electric power certain tube designs are actually more cost effective than solid state. Though not necessarily with AM.
 
> I see that BE still sells a FM 5kW tube transmitter along
> with the 5kW Solid State one.
>
> Why would you choose the tube model over the solid state
> one?
>
> Curious.
>

although the subject is FM's, after comparing the AM 'FIVE'to the MW-5A, why indeed ?

although seeing 62 Amps at 109 Volts takes some getting used to..........
 
Since BE doesn't make a tube AM, you're talking about FM here.

For FM transmitters the initial cost of a tube vs solid state is a big factor. Cost much more for solid state especially 10 kw and up.

On-going power cost will be higher for FM solid state. The tube BE 5-T series runs about 60% overall efficiency and the solid state BE 5-S runs about 50%. FETs aren't very effecient at FM frequencies.
 
> Since BE doesn't make a tube AM, you're talking about FM
> here.

Which is what I said in my original post

>>see that BE still sells a FM 5kW tube transmitter along with the 5kW Solid >>State one.
 
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