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Moseley PCL-6010 troubles

B

Ben Simon

Recently our PCL-6010 has been going to hell in an handbasket. The PA current is hitting the very bottom of the scale, the needle is hovering just below 0.5 on the linear scale used for voltage measurements, and the IPA level isn't much better. I've been getting quite a few complaints from DJs that we've been going off air for 30 minutes at a time. The STL receiver squelch contact closure is hooked to the transmitter lower input, so whenever we lose the stl link, the tx goes down. I'm thinking that the STL link keeps failing and that's taking down the transmitter.

Is it possible to use a Marti or TFT analog composite STL transmitter, and keep the Moseley PCL-6010 receiver? We don't have any backup equipment, we don't have the budget to move to a new digital STL system, like the Starlink, and a t1 is much too expensive. We don't have any backup STL equipment to test with, we don't even have an RPU to run mono. The best thing we have is a Comrex hotline, which is looking like a better option every day (we usually have a burk arc 16 on the phone line but that got taken out by a lightning strike).
 
Your off-air analysis is correct based on what you're saying about the 6010. You haven't told us what is happening to the 6010 forward and reflected power, but if both the IPA and PA are affected, it certainly smells like a 6010 problem. The 6010 ought to be repairable, but do check your reflected power before pulling it out. Ask for a loaner or rental.

You can use any composite transmitter with the 6010 receiver. No doubt you will have to adjust composite drive levels.
 
We just had a 6020 bite the bullet. Our engineer (I'm IT, but love this stuff) has been working on it and has made great steps towards bringing it back. He was showing me how everything in it was just crumbling apart. He has had to replace many parts that are no longer available with things from spare boards he keeps for this very type of thing. Fortunately, we keep a frequency agile backup tx unit to use in case of emergency. There is a company that will refurb them for you, but I can't remember the name off the top of my head.

If you call them, they will refer you to an outside source for repair.

Out of curiosity, why are you set to turn your transmitter off for STL low? Couldn't that potentially get into a cycle where it's getting slammed on and off with a 'on the line' STL signal. Why don't you just have the remote control call you when it's low?
 
When I switch to forward power, the needle is at the very bottom of the scale, a couple millimeters above 0. The reflected power actually indicates slightly higher, by a couple mm, however this low on the scale I doubt it's that accurate. I think the tx unit vswr monitor is picking up the microwave shot from another station!

The squelch is hooked up to the transmitter lower since our studio power is terrible. We have several extended outages every year, and this ensures that our transmitter isn't jammed on whenever we lose power. Our arc-16 gets toasted by lightning every couple of years, however I would like to have the stl squelch hooked up to the arc-16. I know J-Squared will fix the moseley boxes, however we don't have a backup and our purchasing system is notoriously awful with equipment repair.
 
At least one of the broadcast equipment sales companies will rent you a backup. Can't remember which one. Maybe SCMS?
 
How old is your 6010? If over 10 years the power supply capacitors are likely dried out, so the power supply is failing. Get a loaner and ship the 6010 off to J Squared in Medford, Oregon, and Jim will fix you right up. J Squared is the factory recommended repair place for units out of warranty.
 
Do yourself a favor and send the set off for repair and alignment together. The receiver at the very least is likely off frequency. Your audio will benefit from having both the transmitter and the receiver gone thru and aligned. I have done simple alignment of the 6020 and 6030 sets, and the improvement in the sound of the station is noticeable.
 
J Squared will refurb the transmitter for 300 dollars. So little compared to a new one. Any composite unit will work with the composite receiver, just as any fm transmitter will work with any fm radio receiver.
 
chriscollins said:
Out of curiosity, why are you set to turn your transmitter off for STL low? Couldn't that potentially get into a cycle where it's getting slammed on and off with a 'on the line' STL signal. Why don't you just have the remote control call you when it's low?
Click to expand...

This is also an excellent way to demonstrate positive control of the transmitter to any FCC field guys who happen to wonder by the studio. You need to get off the air quickly? Turn the STL transmitter off. All my stations are hooked up this way. And if you happen to find yourself with an "on the line" STL signal, you need to find out why and correct it.
 
Good news, our CE swapped in a backup unit yesterday. I'll see if we can send it down to J-Squared for some TLC. Thank you guys for all the help!
 
JIm is very, very good and thorough at J-Squared. It'll come back working great for you. I still love composite STLs for those of us that are poor because of the interchangeability of units, etc. It's a cool deal to still be able to fire that old STL you might still have or got from someone else as a hand-me-down into your antenna and get back up and running. My hand-me-down has saved my ass several times. One can never be too prepaired with redundant equipment, even if it's older than hell, as long as a guy can still keep it running. :)
 
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