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The Transmitter Died Again

R.D.P. said:
If anyone reading wants to help me get a new Apple Computer, Printer and/or Router for the office/bedroom, let me know.​
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One suggestion - if you're not able to get enough financial support from those in your church or community to replace the necessary equipment, you might consider creating a GoFundMe account, make your plea there and see if you can get financial support that way.
 
Just visited one of those sites and now talking with a friend, who uses Apple, to see if he would recommend me doing business with them. Will keep you posted.​

Dan <><

P.S. The site had some great deals on a few newer Apple Desktops.
 
Also you might want to take the laptop to an independent Apple repair shop (not an Apple store) and see if they can upgrade parts of it or clone the hard drive if you get a new one.
 
xkxrx said:
GoFundMe charges 5-10 percent.
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You're posting misinformation. If you go to the GoFundMe site, you'll see it's nowhere near 5-10%. According to them it's a minimal 2.9% (so $2.90 per $100 raised) + 30 cents per donor which is practically nothing. I did use GoFundMe a few years ago when raising money for a co-worker who's spouse and child were killed in an accident and I don't recall the exact fees involved, but I also don't remember there being much of a financial impact. Here's a link to the information about pricing, from the actual GoFundMe site: Pricing and Fees

Greg Goodfellow said:
Never heard of that-just one of the great things you can learn on this site!
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First, the poster above gave misinformation about how much GoFundMe charges, so there's that..But regarding the alternate site suggestion, I've never heard of it either. In looking on the internet, it seems few people have....which means, in the end, you're far less likely to reach your fundraising goals there than GoFundMe, which is far better known and has a more proven, solid track record, regardless of their (apparently minimal) fees. Perhaps since GiveSendGo is a Christian-based organization and this funding is needed to support a religion-based LPFM, the OP can try posting their campaign both places and see which is more effective.
 
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Well I think I found my trouble. It wasn't in the transmitter after all. The loaned one just dropped power too. Still broadcasting but at limited power. Going to see about the antenna and line and see if they need replacing. My engineer is coming sometime late next week to help me determine the cause of the issue and help put a permanent fix on it for good. If anyone reading can help me get a new LPFM antenna and new transmission line, let me know. (The antenna must be tuned to 93.3 FM, if anyone reading wants to help me snag one.) This radio station is still a dream come true for me. Not ready to quit, after 8 years of broadcasting. Still staying busy and keeping at it.​

Dan <><

P.S. The antenna in use now, was a donated one and it's been in service for my entire existence. It was used, when I first got it and has done a great job. ;)

B.T.W. Still have plans of replacing the Apple Computer, Printer and Router, as well. Intend to do that, once I get this issue fixed and resolved for good.​
 
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Sir, maybe you should file a silent STA and regroup.
 
Well my engineer will have to make that call. He's also my go to guy for all things FCC related. Unless he wants it to happen, then it won't. My plans now are to find the issue, within the next week and get it fixed for good.

Dan <><

P.S. Thanks for your concern. I appreciate it.

B.T.W. To everyone reading, I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving. :)​
 
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Dan, reflected power can blow up that borrowed transmitter even at reduced power. My transmitters have a light that comes on if I had this problem. The transmitter also would contact me. I also read my meters regularly to make sure I'm at the licensed power.

I phoned you months ago trying to walk you through this problem. I have spare transmitters and I was prepared to ship one to Selma. But I wasn't going to loan one to be blown up. I suspected reflected power.

I'm sorry you have this problem.
 
Flying Dutchman said:
Dan, reflected power can blow up that borrowed transmitter even at reduced power. My transmitters have a light that comes on if I had this problem. The transmitter also would contact me. I also read my meters regularly to make sure I'm at the licensed power.

I phoned you months ago trying to walk you through this problem. I have spare transmitters and I was prepared to ship one to Selma. But I wasn't going to loan one to be blown up. I suspected reflected power.

I'm sorry you have this problem.
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Transmitters should be shutting down on high SWR.. i had one in another viullage do that with ice and snow and rain kept getting into the old antenna connection.

Was there no swr shutdown or was it constantly bypassed on Dan's tranbsmitter?

Sounds like what dan really needs is new coax and a new antenna.

When we replaced the coax and antenna at KNIB and properly sealed it, the SWR problem went bye bye

What Dan should also do is take and post a picture when his transmitter is on in its current set up and show us the FWD and VSWR readings.
 
SomeRadioGuy said:
Transmitters should be shutting down on high SWR.. i had one in another viullage do that with ice and snow and rain kept getting into the old antenna connection.

Was there no swr shutdown or was it constantly bypassed on Dan's tranbsmitter?

Sounds like what dan really needs is new coax and a new antenna.

When we replaced the coax and antenna at KNIB and properly sealed it, the SWR problem went bye bye

What Dan should also do is take and post a picture when his transmitter is on in its current set up and show us the FWD and VSWR readings.
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I suspect you are correct. It may be an unsealed connecter where the feedline goes into the antenna. Unfortunately for WPJB,, it's a 100 foot tower climb for a troubleshoot.

Did this happen after rain?
 
Flying Dutchman said:
I suspect you are correct. It may be an unsealed connecter where the feedline goes into the antenna. Unfortunately for WPJB,, it's a 100 foot tower climb for a troubleshoot.

Did this happen after rain?
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I didnt even have to have anyone climb on the roof of the school to diagnose KNIB's problem...weve had similar behavior at another site before we replaced everything. And i could tell what the issue was by the transmitter continually shutting down.

We replaced the antenna and coax but kept the transmitter.. its not that old.

We had another site where it would regularly shut down and it took us awhile to figure out why because the transmitter is in a very inaccessible location in the school and we didnt have any help there.

We started noticing anytime it was windy and rainy or snowy this site would shut down, and when it got sunny and or the wind and rain stopped, the problem cleared up

4 25 year old 100 watt QEI's were replaced with brand new Nautel VS150s
 
Agreed! The transmitter should tell you if the problem is VSWR. The next problem is fixing it. I can handle any problem that's on the ground. But I don't climb towers.
 
Flying Dutchman said:
Agreed! The transmitter should tell you if the problem is VSWR. The next problem is fixing it.
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It could be an improperly tuned antenna, BUT if it was, this problem wouldve presented itself alot sooner.. an antenna generally doesnt go so in and out of tune so badly at random.. if its going to happen, it happens right away.

Coax and antenna connectors and slowly go bad overtime.

I'd bet $20 on this being that coax needs to be replaced
 
A dozen years ago, my rottweiler thought my coax was a dog toy and she chewed it up. I was glad it didn't fry her. After replacing the coax, I put a fence around the tower. Problem solved.
 
The transmitter is reading this: 12W on the FWD side and a Consistent 0 on the REV side. Just checked it a few seconds ago. I don't have access to send a pic. Wish I did but I don't. This loaned transmitter is a classic BW Broadcast Model, for those wondering. Mr. Chris Johnson and I think the Antenna and Transmission line may need replacing too. Nicom did contact him about the transmitter, that's outright mine and they think the Antenna is the issue too.

Dan <><

P.S. The transmission line is around 1 year old. I just recently replaced it and the antenna itself was a slightly used donated one from Mr. Chris Hall and Alan McCall and it's been in service for my entire existence. (Going on 8 years in February)

B.T.W. Just discovered the issue Wednesday night. Yes we did have some rain, prior to that day.​
 
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