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fm transmitter

BW Broadcast (aka "Broadcast Warehouse") is a good brand for LPFM. Their transmitters are reasonably priced for the budget-minded, and they're just about an "all-in-one" product. Their "V2" transmitters include full web interface, alarm notification and a reasonably decent, if not lightweight 4-band processor. If you feel you need more processing, just add your own. Otherwise, it's a pretty good product.
 
The top of the line is the Nautel VS300. The Nautel, while about $2,000 more than the BW mentioned earlier, it's what the BW transmitter is designed after...a Nautel knockoff. It seems the Nautel "Orban inside" is a better processor package than the BW. From folks I've talked to, both make solid, reliable transmitters with good after the sale support.
 
b-turner said:
The top of the line is the Nautel VS300. The Nautel, while about $2,000 more than the BW mentioned earlier, it's what the BW transmitter is designed after...a Nautel knockoff. It seems the Nautel "Orban inside" is a better processor package than the BW. From folks I've talked to, both make solid, reliable transmitters with good after the sale support.
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If you've got the money, I'd buy Nautel over anything else in a heartbeat. In the real world though, I don't see many posts from LPFM groups with large budgets.

I'm not sure why BW Broadcast put the "lite" processor in the V2 design. They already had a simple comp-limiter in there. Maybe a marketing thing, but they do make it clear they'd just as soon sell you an outboard box. I've used a few of the V2 internals and, while they are certainly adequate for the job, I would tend to use some additional gear in a competitive environment.

As for reliability... I have a lot of them out there and have had only one power supply problem. Certainly as good a record as anything else I've used.
 
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I hear you and agree. But I'd still be interested in if anyone has used the Low powered TX's and how they hold up against the brands said above.
 
That is a big consideration: there are many transmitters out there but only the type accepted can be used for LPFM stations. Just because it is a known brand or used, does not mean it is type accepted. It seems one brand was never certified until a few years back and I know on one LPFM that got fined for that. The truth be told, they weren't too cooperative when the FCC stopped in which is the most likely reason they were fined.
 
Ask your question at RadioReference.com; there are dozens of folks there that can help you.
 
The BW Broadcast is the best deal on a budget. You have processing and remote control capabilities and it is FCC certified. All you need is a EAS system, antenna (Like a Nicom BKG 77 and cable), and your transmission plant is ready to go.
 
Hey Ronl, I'm with most folks here, the Nautel VS300 is your best bet if the budget is available. Gates and BE make an LPFM accepted transmitter as well. Bellow that you get in to Crown, Bext and Armstorng, I have heard fair things but never used them personally. Then there's the cheap end with Nicom, PTech and BW Broadcast. I have had okay luck with Nicom, they are cheap but work as advertised. I would steer clear of BW, they just got a citation from the fcc relating to their LPFM rigs. To my knowledge your main transmitter has to be type accepted for LPFM, but you can use a non type accepted unit as a backup so you may be able to pick up an old exciter for that.
 
bradgoehl said:
I would steer clear of BW, they just got a citation from the fcc relating to their LPFM rigs
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The citation was issued to SCMS Inc. which is a re-seller of BW Broadcast products. The Commission asserted that certain BW products sold by SCMS for LPFM use were not LPFM-certified, when in fact they were certified for that use. The FCC has reversed and retracted the citation.

We have used BW transmitters for translator applications and they have performed well. I would think they would work just fine for LPFM use as well.
 
The BW Broadcast issue was pure bullshit, proven wrong. Issued by a government that has purchased a lot of transmitters from said company.
I do not count thier transmitters as "the cheap end". They are of high quality, and well thought out technically. I have personally bought and installed them. I have zero complaints. They also make some pretty great processing, which I've used in the past. They are also very friendly folks. *if* you had a bad PA transistor, there is no transmitter easier to swap them out in than a BW. They use a clamp technology, rather than soldered. Quick and easy. I have not had a failure yet, though. I also love Nautel. I have a bunch of their AM and FM rigs, and they are good to me.
Nautel and BW are tops, IMHO.

dave



bradgoehl said:
Hey Ronl, I'm with most folks here, the Nautel VS300 is your best bet if the budget is available. Gates and BE make an LPFM accepted transmitter as well. Bellow that you get in to Crown, Bext and Armstorng, I have heard fair things but never used them personally. Then there's the cheap end with Nicom, PTech and BW Broadcast. I have had okay luck with Nicom, they are cheap but work as advertised. I would steer clear of BW, they just got a citation from the fcc relating to their LPFM rigs. To my knowledge your main transmitter has to be type accepted for LPFM, but you can use a non type accepted unit as a backup so you may be able to pick up an old exciter for that.
Click to expand...
 
I totally agree. I've had great service from both BW and Nautel. You'd think BW might be more difficult to deal with since they are in the UK, but that hasn't been my experience. They have a toll free USA phone number and some friendly person in the London area actually answers the phone. Service has been very fast. They have sent me parts that arrived the next day. I'm not sure how they do that, but it seems they are a big customer of FedEx and they are located in close vicinity to London's Gatwick airport. It seems to work.
 
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