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Help looking for cable and a transmitter

T

trinity

Hey everyone!

We are in the process of building a Translator in the area.

But we are running out of time.

We need cable and a transmitter....

We already ordered a transmitter but it doesn't get to us in 2 weeks.

Anyone know of someone in the area that sells coax, and might have a transmitter to rent temporarily?
 
Before anyone can help, you need to provide more information.

What is the required transmitter power output?
How much coax do you need?

I am copying this thread to the Engineering Board as well as keeping it here.
 
What translator needs a 1000 watt transmitter?
If I'm correct the maximum output power of any translator is 250 watts. If the transmitter is 1000 watt it would most likely output more than 250 watts, unless you're using a bad cable or cheap antenna.

Also I don't know of any local translators with expiring CPs. What's the call letters of it?
 
1,000 watt transmitter is very typical for a 250 watt translator. If you can, you don't want to run a transmitter at 100% all the time. A couple of engineers said running under 100% just means less wear and tear on the transmitter. Line loss can be substantial in some instances. I know of LPFMs that input almost 2.5 their output power. Oddly I know some with very little line loss (ie: input 19 to get 15 watts out at 400 feet up on a tower). Go figure!
 
b-turner said:
1,000 watt transmitter is very typical for a 250 watt translator. If you can, you don't want to run a transmitter at 100% all the time. A couple of engineers said running under 100% just means less wear and tear on the transmitter. Line loss can be substantial in some instances. I know of LPFMs that input almost 2.5 their output power. Oddly I know some with very little line loss (ie: input 19 to get 15 watts out at 400 feet up on a tower). Go figure!
Click to expand...

Thanks bturner for the reply. It's exactly as you said,

We got everything we needed! thanks.

For the cable that was ran, and the loss output that was calculated for the length, we needed about 748 watts of transmitter output power to reach 250.

We don't want the transmitter at 100% 24/7, and wanted headroom. Hence the 1000 watt transmitter.

And it's neither bad cable, or antenna as anyhuman mentioned. Pretty typical settup for a translator.
 
b-turner said:
1,000 watt transmitter is very typical for a 250 watt translator. If you can, you don't want to run a transmitter at 100% all the time. A couple of engineers said running under 100% just means less wear and tear on the transmitter. Line loss can be substantial in some instances. I know of LPFMs that input almost 2.5 their output power. Oddly I know some with very little line loss (ie: input 19 to get 15 watts out at 400 feet up on a tower). Go figure!
Click to expand...

The difference is probably antenna selection. A single bay antenna mounted 100 ft up on a tower will require something like 230 watts TPO with good coax to make 100 watts ERP. A two bay antenna would need approximately 115 watts TPO with good coax to make 100 watts ERP.

Exact figures depend on antenna and coax model numbers.

In the case of the translator on this post, they probably have a 1 bay antenna, and 300-500 feet of coax.
 
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