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HD FM transmitter - who to select from
- Thread starter bossbill
- Start date
Are you feeding translators with different programming? Your posts have been fairly radio and listener minded. Just wondering how you fell on (or under) the HD cart? Why does HD work for you?
Some engineers might be forced to downgrade stations to HD because management insists on it. At least since HD has so many problems, it's job security for the engineer. Especially if a perfectly good transmitter has to be thrown out in favor of a new transmitter that can transmit the higher IBUZ power. And since the engineer may not even have an HD radio in his car, if the HD gets messed up (goes out of sync, transmits dead air, or even goes off the air) it may be weeks without being noticed. Gotta love how the HD can be off the air for weeks without anyone noticing, and the engineer doesn't get fired.
HD Radio... It's like wetting oneself in a nice dark suit. It may give you a warm, fuzzy feeling, but no one really even notices.
I was hoping, on an engineering forum, to get input on the available options for HD FM transmitters. We all have our opinions on IBOC, but that wasn't what I was asking. For the record, I completely understand the issues with IBOC, and agree with the skeptics. And yes, I have available FM translators.
Now... I am choosing to implement IBOC on one of my stations, and will be soon making a decision on the brand, at the 10 kw level.
Any input??
Now... I am choosing to implement IBOC on one of my stations, and will be soon making a decision on the brand, at the 10 kw level.
Any input??
The top three I'd recommend would be Nautel, Nautel, and Nautel, in that order.
Seriously - the amount of R&D they are conducting far exceeds any of the other manufacturers in the business. HD Reliable Transport Suite, PowerBoost, redesigned Importers/Exporters, onboard spectral/constellation plots, adaptive precorrection, the AUI... The feature set on these transmitters is just far beyond anyone else. And their support is great.
The others will make radio too. But the Nautels are just very well made transmitters from a great group of people. I purchased two NV15s and one VS 2.5 in the last year.
Seriously - the amount of R&D they are conducting far exceeds any of the other manufacturers in the business. HD Reliable Transport Suite, PowerBoost, redesigned Importers/Exporters, onboard spectral/constellation plots, adaptive precorrection, the AUI... The feature set on these transmitters is just far beyond anyone else. And their support is great.
The others will make radio too. But the Nautels are just very well made transmitters from a great group of people. I purchased two NV15s and one VS 2.5 in the last year.
E
Ed B
Guest
You might want to take a look at the new Harris Flexiva.
I installed the 20 Kw unit back in December 2011
Have not had a problem with it at all.
The unit I have has a very low serial number one of the first units manufactured
http://www.broadcast.harris.com/media/Flexiva_25-16284.pdf
I installed the 20 Kw unit back in December 2011
Have not had a problem with it at all.
The unit I have has a very low serial number one of the first units manufactured
http://www.broadcast.harris.com/media/Flexiva_25-16284.pdf
All three of the "big 3" are good products. BE and Nautel get the edge, just from my experience with them. What really sets things apart is the service and parts availability.
The "H" has had a pretty bad rep, deservedly so, for parts and service. These HD/digital transmitters are less and less user serviceable. Luckily, the modular nature of them allows you to stay on the air if a PA blows up and send it back or swap in a spare (highly recommended). Trouble is, if the control board blows up you can be SOL. Keep your old TX there as a standby if you can.
Just installed a Nautel VS 2.5 and have a BE 10kW running analog/HD. The only problem with the BE has been the exciter locking up and shutting down the HD. A firmware update seems to have cured that problem. Funny thing is, the HD went down and not one phone call from the listeners... This Nautel, and previous ones I've encountered, haven't so much as blinked.
If I had to pick one at gunpoint, I would give the Nautel a slight edge due to their great service and the web interface.
The "H" has had a pretty bad rep, deservedly so, for parts and service. These HD/digital transmitters are less and less user serviceable. Luckily, the modular nature of them allows you to stay on the air if a PA blows up and send it back or swap in a spare (highly recommended). Trouble is, if the control board blows up you can be SOL. Keep your old TX there as a standby if you can.
Just installed a Nautel VS 2.5 and have a BE 10kW running analog/HD. The only problem with the BE has been the exciter locking up and shutting down the HD. A firmware update seems to have cured that problem. Funny thing is, the HD went down and not one phone call from the listeners... This Nautel, and previous ones I've encountered, haven't so much as blinked.
If I had to pick one at gunpoint, I would give the Nautel a slight edge due to their great service and the web interface.
My question was related to your use of HD, not slamming you personally. Because of available translators I would do the same if I had an extra 250k around.
I can't comment on HD service but Harris should be thrown down a dark hole for lack of support of current model equipment. I can always get someone from Nova Scotia to return a call in short order for something that should have been replaced years before.
I can't comment on HD service but Harris should be thrown down a dark hole for lack of support of current model equipment. I can always get someone from Nova Scotia to return a call in short order for something that should have been replaced years before.
CE, I was more concerned about the direction the posts were going following yours.
In my market there may be a few HD receivers, but none that I know of. I do have, however, a couple of FM translators. One of them is already used to augment my AM station. With HD, I will be able, in effect, to increase the coverage throughout the market, separate the AM and FM programming as well, and offer yet another format choice to the market. The use of FM translators for HD-2 programming makes sense to me until HD becomes mainstream (if that ever happens).
In my market there may be a few HD receivers, but none that I know of. I do have, however, a couple of FM translators. One of them is already used to augment my AM station. With HD, I will be able, in effect, to increase the coverage throughout the market, separate the AM and FM programming as well, and offer yet another format choice to the market. The use of FM translators for HD-2 programming makes sense to me until HD becomes mainstream (if that ever happens).
And thank you all for your input. I used to sell BE transmitters, and I used to sell Harris transmitters. I've never owned a BE, but I do have a small Harris 1 kw AM which has had no problems. Some of the more inventive AM boxes have come out of Quincy, Illinois, many due to the genius of Hilmer Swanson. Most Nautel users like their products and their service. Unless somebody comes out of the woodwork, I'm looking at Harris Flexiva, Nautel, and BE.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Cool. Most of my negitive experiences with H has been with certain models of tube transmitters not solid state. The truth is H and N's solid state stuff breaks so rarely, the use of their support isn't nearly as needed. In this day and age I really think operators are foolish in most all cases by not going with solid state. Power efficency is one thing, but cost of repair and down-time should be the most important factor. H and N have perfected their stuff so much that most all the bugs are out now. I'd feel confortable with either. The basic design of the BE stuff is probably OK, but I have known several people that have been delivered new transmitters from them with issues, mainly due to shipping-related damages internally. BE really needs to work on how things are shipped out to the customer and package internal parts so they don't break before arrival.
My Nautel 2.5 came in two wooden crates --by truck. Since you can get a semi into our station, but not back out (no place to turn around, road gets narrower, wires lower farther down) we picked it up at the Con-Way depot with out van.
My BE kilowatt came in a heavy cardboard box from UPS.
One problem with newer solid state transmitters is field repair: for the most part it ain't gonna happen. Surface mount parts and complicated logic circuits make repairs a case of boxing it up & sending it back. Half of my Nautel 2.5 is back at the factory--logic locked up and they're not sure why.
My BE kilowatt came in a heavy cardboard box from UPS.
One problem with newer solid state transmitters is field repair: for the most part it ain't gonna happen. Surface mount parts and complicated logic circuits make repairs a case of boxing it up & sending it back. Half of my Nautel 2.5 is back at the factory--logic locked up and they're not sure why.
I'd look at the Continental offering real hard. And, I'd look at the cost of a seperate HD antenna. Over the life of the equipment, the savings would be very substantial, and a power increase in the digital (In my opinion essential if the service is to become viable) is way easier to implement.
Excellent point. If your real purpose is to use the HD to drive a translator, then a dual antenna configuration makes a lot of sense economically. Remember there are three accepted ways to generate an HD signal, low-level combining, hi-level combining, and separate analog and HD antennas. Let's assume you now have a station with 10 KW TPO
1. Using low-level combining means buying a new, and necessarily inefficient hi-power transmitter as well as the HD exciter; since the transmitter would have to operate linearly, e.g. 15 kw as opposed to present 10.
2. High level combining allows the use of an HD exciter and a smaller power amp. At 1% injection that's only around 250 watts (to allow for losses. But you need an expensive combiner.
3. Using a second antenna you could use a relatively inexpensive CP antenna (e.g., ERI LP-100 or SWR 2 bay--about $3K or under), and low power feedline, say 7/8th. Then your HD exciter and a linear 250 watt power amp could drive the system. Much cheaper than the other two options.
Granted, option 3 might not deliver as good an HD signal to the 2% of your audience with HD radios. But you just need to get that HD signal to your translator site--big Yagi and your are in business. The other 98% of the audience will be listening to the translator, anyway.
1. Using low-level combining means buying a new, and necessarily inefficient hi-power transmitter as well as the HD exciter; since the transmitter would have to operate linearly, e.g. 15 kw as opposed to present 10.
2. High level combining allows the use of an HD exciter and a smaller power amp. At 1% injection that's only around 250 watts (to allow for losses. But you need an expensive combiner.
3. Using a second antenna you could use a relatively inexpensive CP antenna (e.g., ERI LP-100 or SWR 2 bay--about $3K or under), and low power feedline, say 7/8th. Then your HD exciter and a linear 250 watt power amp could drive the system. Much cheaper than the other two options.
Granted, option 3 might not deliver as good an HD signal to the 2% of your audience with HD radios. But you just need to get that HD signal to your translator site--big Yagi and your are in business. The other 98% of the audience will be listening to the translator, anyway.
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