D
daytripcoog
Guest
Does anyone know the status on the new 50K rig for KILE? I thought the new rig was to be fired up by the end of August. Did they get an extension of their construction permit?
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Re: Problems with the BE 50 kW Transmitter
Here's what I've heard:
The 50kW hasn't fired up because Broadcast Electronics (BE) can't protect the transmitter from potential VSWR problems. It's a new design transmitter and BE made promises to their customers they apparently can't meet. Unfortunately, the KILE guys believed them. First of all, the transmitter was supposed to be delivered in mid June.......it didn't arrive unti mid August and when it came time to put the coals to the antenna system which was completed b, BE couldn't perform. The transmitter would make RF but had absolutely no VSWR protection rendering it almost usless.
There is a working BE 10kW transmitter at the site along with the 50kW unit and RAFTT (the licensee) did file a license application before the end of August using readings at 10 kW but WITHOUT the required 50kW performance measurements.
I'm also told that a welder working on one of the antenna tuning unit buildings touched off a small fire that destroyed some components which had to be replaced but that those problems have since been fixed.
Word from my source is that BE has had up to six field techs at a time on site working on the 50 kW problems but that they aren't fixed yet. Seems obvious to me that BE sent a transmitter into the field that they hadn't even finished beta testing yet, let along gotten all the bugs worked out. RAFTT guys look to have gotten screwed on this one. Should have gone with NAUTEL.
Meantime, the FCC ususally takes a gentle hand with this kind of thing when the licensee has done its part to get a CP built but can't finish due to a lack of performance on the part of a supplier. That's obviously what happened here. I suspect RAFTT will get enough time to make the 50 kw unit work. As they say "Stay Tuned."
>
Here's what I've heard:
The 50kW hasn't fired up because Broadcast Electronics (BE) can't protect the transmitter from potential VSWR problems. It's a new design transmitter and BE made promises to their customers they apparently can't meet. Unfortunately, the KILE guys believed them. First of all, the transmitter was supposed to be delivered in mid June.......it didn't arrive unti mid August and when it came time to put the coals to the antenna system which was completed b, BE couldn't perform. The transmitter would make RF but had absolutely no VSWR protection rendering it almost usless.
There is a working BE 10kW transmitter at the site along with the 50kW unit and RAFTT (the licensee) did file a license application before the end of August using readings at 10 kW but WITHOUT the required 50kW performance measurements.
I'm also told that a welder working on one of the antenna tuning unit buildings touched off a small fire that destroyed some components which had to be replaced but that those problems have since been fixed.
Word from my source is that BE has had up to six field techs at a time on site working on the 50 kW problems but that they aren't fixed yet. Seems obvious to me that BE sent a transmitter into the field that they hadn't even finished beta testing yet, let along gotten all the bugs worked out. RAFTT guys look to have gotten screwed on this one. Should have gone with NAUTEL.
Meantime, the FCC ususally takes a gentle hand with this kind of thing when the licensee has done its part to get a CP built but can't finish due to a lack of performance on the part of a supplier. That's obviously what happened here. I suspect RAFTT will get enough time to make the 50 kw unit work. As they say "Stay Tuned."
>
C
CW
Guest
Re: Problems with the BE 50 kW Transmitter
> Here's what I've heard:
>
> The 50kW hasn't fired up because Broadcast Electronics (BE)
> can't protect the transmitter from potential VSWR problems.
> It's a new design transmitter and BE made promises to their
> customers they apparently can't meet. Unfortunately, the
> KILE guys believed them. First of all, the transmitter was
> supposed to be delivered in mid June.......it didn't arrive
> unti mid August and when it came time to put the coals to
> the antenna system which was completed b, BE couldn't
> perform. The transmitter would make RF but had absolutely
> no VSWR protection rendering it almost usless.
No VSWR protection means the xmtr would pump out RF into a short or open until it burns up....IF the xmtr makes power and does 50KW, thats all they need to test the array.
> There is a working BE 10kW transmitter at the site along
> with the 50kW unit and RAFTT (the licensee) did file a
> license application before the end of August using readings
> at 10 kW but WITHOUT the required 50kW performance
> measurements.
They can prove the pattern is in compliance with the 10KW as the ratios would be the same and the pattern will not change from 10 to 50KW unless the doghouses burn down or the phasor changed values...
> Word from my source is that BE has had up to six field techs
> at a time on site working on the 50 kW problems but that
> they aren't fixed yet. Seems obvious to me that BE sent a
> transmitter into the field that they hadn't even finished
> beta testing yet, let along gotten all the bugs worked out.
> RAFTT guys look to have gotten screwed on this one. Should
> have gone with NAUTEL
AMEN to that! My next AM (or FM for that matter) xmtr will be a Nautel...A Harris would be ok too (and it may be cheaper than a Nautel...but a Nautel keeps working and working and working.....better than the Everready bunny
> Here's what I've heard:
>
> The 50kW hasn't fired up because Broadcast Electronics (BE)
> can't protect the transmitter from potential VSWR problems.
> It's a new design transmitter and BE made promises to their
> customers they apparently can't meet. Unfortunately, the
> KILE guys believed them. First of all, the transmitter was
> supposed to be delivered in mid June.......it didn't arrive
> unti mid August and when it came time to put the coals to
> the antenna system which was completed b, BE couldn't
> perform. The transmitter would make RF but had absolutely
> no VSWR protection rendering it almost usless.
No VSWR protection means the xmtr would pump out RF into a short or open until it burns up....IF the xmtr makes power and does 50KW, thats all they need to test the array.
> There is a working BE 10kW transmitter at the site along
> with the 50kW unit and RAFTT (the licensee) did file a
> license application before the end of August using readings
> at 10 kW but WITHOUT the required 50kW performance
> measurements.
They can prove the pattern is in compliance with the 10KW as the ratios would be the same and the pattern will not change from 10 to 50KW unless the doghouses burn down or the phasor changed values...
> Word from my source is that BE has had up to six field techs
> at a time on site working on the 50 kW problems but that
> they aren't fixed yet. Seems obvious to me that BE sent a
> transmitter into the field that they hadn't even finished
> beta testing yet, let along gotten all the bugs worked out.
> RAFTT guys look to have gotten screwed on this one. Should
> have gone with NAUTEL
AMEN to that! My next AM (or FM for that matter) xmtr will be a Nautel...A Harris would be ok too (and it may be cheaper than a Nautel...but a Nautel keeps working and working and working.....better than the Everready bunny
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