Im researching for a decent frequency agile transmitter of at least 100 watts that can be quickly deployed to one of 3 different FM sites in the event of an emergency or failure of the main TX. Any suggestions or thoughts.....
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Looking for suggestions, frequency agile low power FM transmitter for Aux use.
- Thread starter Fieldtech1
- Start date
I like the BEXt units .Made by RVR as others are as well.don't forget the BW boxes.I think SCMS has some special prices on them.good luck.
I own a Energy Onix which is a rebranded RVR. It seems pretty solid. I hear that if the fan fails, it's a big problem, so I'd interlock that somehow (I'm going to do it with mine) for overtemp. The BW stuff is real solid from what I hear from my supplier friend. Crown would be another great choice. They have excellent support.
Depends on budget, of course.....
Just bought a BE LPX series 1 kw. box as a backup for one of my Class A stations (TPO is 3.8 kw, but 1 kw will cover the market quite respectably). Has built in FM exciter, (frequency agile, of course) and you can order it with a built in stereo generator & feed it by IP. Also looked at the Nautel VS series, which has most of the same features. Both were around $7.5 K. I like Nautel, went with the BE because I can add boxes to it & build a 5 kw to replace the present main down the road.
The BE only weighs around 40 pounds. Fits on the back seat of the car--a Ford Focus. It is long--29 inches, and requires 220 volts. I have another installation with a 2.5 kw Nautel V-series, which plugs into 220 outlets--so I'm going to wire a similar style 220 plug on the BE so it can be moved to the other site & also put an open 220 socket in at my B-1 site as well so this unit can be ferried around if needed in emergency.
Output connector is an "N", don't have a switch where it is going, but have a reducer/ N to 1 5/8th. Step ladder and a couple of wrenches and I'll be on the air if the main fails.
Now, for a 110 unit, I would look at the 300 watt Nautel VS series, which has all the same features as the bigger Nautel (built in exciter, stereo geni, feed by IP, etc.). Believe this is around $5K, depending on options.
Just bought a BE LPX series 1 kw. box as a backup for one of my Class A stations (TPO is 3.8 kw, but 1 kw will cover the market quite respectably). Has built in FM exciter, (frequency agile, of course) and you can order it with a built in stereo generator & feed it by IP. Also looked at the Nautel VS series, which has most of the same features. Both were around $7.5 K. I like Nautel, went with the BE because I can add boxes to it & build a 5 kw to replace the present main down the road.
The BE only weighs around 40 pounds. Fits on the back seat of the car--a Ford Focus. It is long--29 inches, and requires 220 volts. I have another installation with a 2.5 kw Nautel V-series, which plugs into 220 outlets--so I'm going to wire a similar style 220 plug on the BE so it can be moved to the other site & also put an open 220 socket in at my B-1 site as well so this unit can be ferried around if needed in emergency.
Output connector is an "N", don't have a switch where it is going, but have a reducer/ N to 1 5/8th. Step ladder and a couple of wrenches and I'll be on the air if the main fails.
Now, for a 110 unit, I would look at the 300 watt Nautel VS series, which has all the same features as the bigger Nautel (built in exciter, stereo geni, feed by IP, etc.). Believe this is around $5K, depending on options.
R
RolfTaylor
Guest
Take a look at Worldcast Systems:Ecreso, the transmitter arm of Audemat/APT. They have some innovative stuff. I just read they have a new product for this year's NAB.
I'll have to check into the BE smaller line of FM transmitters. We have a VS 2.5. It's OK, but I'd go with a Harris ZX if I had to do it all again. The benefits of the Nautel is sort of negated in that their web GUI and "features" are bizarre at best.
Two other brands to consider are Nicom and Ptek. I've had very solid performance from Nicom and they're FCC type approved, which a lot of others, like BW are not.
I have a BW 150 that has failed three times, twice before I owned it and once since. Two of the three failures involved the final transistor, a BLF278, which is the European equivalent to the MRF151G. The BLF278 is rated at 300W but the way BW mechanically secured the part seems to contribute to early failures even at 150W. The heatsink compound that BW used also seems to dry out with age, reducing its heat conductivity. The schematic in the book was also wrong and the people at BW were nice, but had no idea how to identify the schematic for my transmitter. Evidently, they changed the design several times over the years and have no way to reference the boards and schematics together. I sent photos to BW and they replied that the board was definately theirs, but they could only offer to sell me a new amplifier board. My BW150 has the built-in audio processor and stereo generator which are very handy for emergency operation, but there's a big caveat. The third failure occured when the crystal driving the stereo generator CPU quit. If the crystal dies, the product quits passing audio, so the BW is a poor choice for carying around with you unless you're going to use a very well padded case. Despite my criticisms about the BW150, I do like their equipment. It's lightweight and usually works well, but I would not want to use it as a permanent replacement.
After the second BW final amp failure, I replaced the BW with a Ptek. Although crude by comparison, the Ptek has been very reliable for me, though I've heard tell from others with less happy results using Ptek. Of the economical brands that I've used, I think I like the Nicom the best.
I have a BW 150 that has failed three times, twice before I owned it and once since. Two of the three failures involved the final transistor, a BLF278, which is the European equivalent to the MRF151G. The BLF278 is rated at 300W but the way BW mechanically secured the part seems to contribute to early failures even at 150W. The heatsink compound that BW used also seems to dry out with age, reducing its heat conductivity. The schematic in the book was also wrong and the people at BW were nice, but had no idea how to identify the schematic for my transmitter. Evidently, they changed the design several times over the years and have no way to reference the boards and schematics together. I sent photos to BW and they replied that the board was definately theirs, but they could only offer to sell me a new amplifier board. My BW150 has the built-in audio processor and stereo generator which are very handy for emergency operation, but there's a big caveat. The third failure occured when the crystal driving the stereo generator CPU quit. If the crystal dies, the product quits passing audio, so the BW is a poor choice for carying around with you unless you're going to use a very well padded case. Despite my criticisms about the BW150, I do like their equipment. It's lightweight and usually works well, but I would not want to use it as a permanent replacement.
After the second BW final amp failure, I replaced the BW with a Ptek. Although crude by comparison, the Ptek has been very reliable for me, though I've heard tell from others with less happy results using Ptek. Of the economical brands that I've used, I think I like the Nicom the best.
Ptek;s new models have a new transformer. Much lighter than the older ones. 500 w is around 4-5k. Built in stereo gen and fsk ID. Excellent results in 5 units installed so far. Love em. 3 year warranty. And there are higher power units.
Built in the U.S.
Built in the U.S.
Thanks for the feedback guys. So many options but i do like the idea of built in audio processing. Makes for an almost plug and play backup solution.
If you want built-in processing, I like Crown transmitters. I have had great luck with them.
http://www.crownbroadcast.com/FMProducts/index.htm
http://www.crownbroadcast.com/FMProducts/index.htm
Keep in mind that none of the built-in processing in any of the transmitters (at least the ones that that I've tried) is any good. Most of it is single or dual band analog, similar to VCA or OTA technology from the early 1980s. In a bind, it'll get you on the air, but you won't sound competitive.
Here you go... http://www.nautel.com/vs300.aspx
300 watts, won't give you any headaches and can be purchased with an "embedded" Optimod 5500 for only $1200 more. It's a Nautel, so it will just work.
http://www.nautel.com/orban/
On the less expensive end, I've had good luck with the Nicom transmitters. In fact, with a few exciters and a couple of NT250's deployed I can't think of a single problem I've had in the past 3 or 4 years since they went on. Keep the air intakes clean and check the fans once in awhile and you'll be good to go.
But for the one box does it all take it in the trunk of your car backup with serious audio processing, not the jokes mentioned in an earlier post (such as what's in the Crown TX's), the Nautel is perfect.
300 watts, won't give you any headaches and can be purchased with an "embedded" Optimod 5500 for only $1200 more. It's a Nautel, so it will just work.
http://www.nautel.com/orban/
On the less expensive end, I've had good luck with the Nicom transmitters. In fact, with a few exciters and a couple of NT250's deployed I can't think of a single problem I've had in the past 3 or 4 years since they went on. Keep the air intakes clean and check the fans once in awhile and you'll be good to go.
But for the one box does it all take it in the trunk of your car backup with serious audio processing, not the jokes mentioned in an earlier post (such as what's in the Crown TX's), the Nautel is perfect.
An extra $1200 is a serious add-on... 
I guess I've never worked for an owner that has an unlimited engineering budget. I always get asked "What's the cheapest way to get the job done?". Odds are, your processor won't break at the same time as your transmitter. So, you won't need the built-in processing. The cheapest solution would be the Nicom, Ptek, or Bext. If your dead-set on the built-in processing, the Crown will be one of the cheapest options. If the owner has more money than god, and they want to "own the dial" with their portable back-up transmitter, then by all means, buy the Nautel/Orban combo.
Keep in mind, this is an emergency portable back-up transmitter. It will sit on the shelf 360 days a year. If you are ever in a situation where both your transmitter AND your processor are out, sounding competitive is the least of your problems.
I guess I've never worked for an owner that has an unlimited engineering budget. I always get asked "What's the cheapest way to get the job done?". Odds are, your processor won't break at the same time as your transmitter. So, you won't need the built-in processing. The cheapest solution would be the Nicom, Ptek, or Bext. If your dead-set on the built-in processing, the Crown will be one of the cheapest options. If the owner has more money than god, and they want to "own the dial" with their portable back-up transmitter, then by all means, buy the Nautel/Orban combo.
Keep in mind, this is an emergency portable back-up transmitter. It will sit on the shelf 360 days a year. If you are ever in a situation where both your transmitter AND your processor are out, sounding competitive is the least of your problems.
Your transmitter shack gets destroyed by a fire or similar natural disaster, then it would be nice to have the whole package.
I've never worked or contracted for one of those owners either, just laying all the options out on the table. For what they are, I find the Crown stuff to be on the expensive side compared to similar offerings and have had a few issues with them at translator sites.
For the cheapest way to get it done, Nicom. I've had a few bad PTek experiences with modules crapping out on one unit. Another one just ran. Never had an issue with a Nicom.
I've never worked or contracted for one of those owners either, just laying all the options out on the table. For what they are, I find the Crown stuff to be on the expensive side compared to similar offerings and have had a few issues with them at translator sites.
For the cheapest way to get it done, Nicom. I've had a few bad PTek experiences with modules crapping out on one unit. Another one just ran. Never had an issue with a Nicom.
Yes, for a back-up can't see the need for built in processing. Having the built-in exciter is handy, though.
For example, if the tower fell, one could rig up a temporary installation with a one bay antenna and a kilowatt transmitter at the studio, mounting the antenna on the STL tower. Your processing would be right there--just connect the composite.
For example, if the tower fell, one could rig up a temporary installation with a one bay antenna and a kilowatt transmitter at the studio, mounting the antenna on the STL tower. Your processing would be right there--just connect the composite.
We have several stations in our area with BE AM transmitters, support reported to be excellent for those. The LPX looks to be fairly modular (though you would need to pull it out of the rack & put it on the bench to easily get at stuff). Has a 48 volt supply (in it's own box) for the RF section, a couple smaller supplies for the control board, exciter and fans, which look to be easily removable and replaceable. The exciter module (which can be bypassed but requires a big pad to drop the typical 10watts down to 100 milliwatts) doesn't look too difficult to remove, either. The book talks about changing out the RF amps, but I haven't popped the cover to see how difficult that would be.
Then again, the whole thing weighs about as much as my 802A/B exciters, and is maybe 5 inches longer. So if it went toes up, you could ship the whole thing back to Quincy for repairs.
Then again, the whole thing weighs about as much as my 802A/B exciters, and is maybe 5 inches longer. So if it went toes up, you could ship the whole thing back to Quincy for repairs.
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