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QEI FMQ-10000 vs Energy-Onix ECO-10, User opinions wanted

J

jammerdave

I'm looking at buying a backup transmitter for one of my FM stations, and due to severe space limitations, and budget, I have it narrowed down to two 10KW single tube grounded grid transmitters. They are very similar, same tube even (3cx6000). These are the only two 10kw tube rigs I can find that fit entirely in a single rack.

Have any of you had any experience with either of these, and if so, whaddaya think?

Pricing is similar.

Thanks,
Dave Fortenberry, Sacramento
 
I dont know about the QEI or the ECO-10 as I have never worked on either but I have two ECO-6 and an ECO-4 that have been in service for a little over 2 years with NO problems at all. One ECO-6 and the ECO-4 are run at full power and the other ECO-6 at about 4kw. I havent even had to change a pa tube(3cx3000a7). All are using the Stelth-30 exciter. No problems there either. If the ECO-10 is as good as the ECO-6 I think it would be hard to beat.
 
We use Energy-Onix. We have an ECO-10 and recently purchased an ECO-30. The Energy-Onix transmitters are simple, reliable, and easy to work on. The customer service and support is excellent - and you frequently talk directly to the company president if you need to call for support. If an emergency arises, the parts come UPS red so there is little down time. We got a quote from QEI but went with Energy-Onix so we could interchange parts if needed. QEI included a tech onsite for the installation as part of thier offer.
 
Run away from QEI. They are horrible!! Especially their single-phase 10kW model. Poor design, poor construction, poor support, and awful performance, (can you say sync AM noise at -30db?) And their exciters!!?? Total junk.
 
It's tough to beat a grounded-grid, but the better choice is Bernie Wise's version. Not to say that Energy-Onix hasn't had an occasional klinker, such as a problematical IPA previously incorporated in the lower power line.
 
Kelly said:
Run away from QEI. They are horrible!! Especially their single-phase 10kW model. Poor design, poor construction, poor support, and awful performance, (can you say sync AM noise at -30db?) And their exciters!!?? Total junk.
Click to expand...

-30? That is horrible. The old gates fm stuff could get -40 or 1%. In fact, in the early fm days the target for the total rf system was -40. With a very clean bias and screen supply I can get -58 sync and -55 async from Harris HT-5 and 10's. I measured an Armstrong solid state at < -60! I have tuned for group delay rather than noise performance and can tell you to stick with noise performance and stay on the resonance side.
 
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