Some are relatively new. I can't believe that those huge inductors and capacitors and such can't be recycled. All I hear is, "we had to go STA omni because we can't find components for the Directional Antenna". Are big component manufacturers hoarding them? Or are they just being junked? Are they showing up at hamfests? I guess probably not in 2020.
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What Happens To Dismantled AM DA Phasor And Doghouse Components?
- Thread starter Schroedingers Cat
- Start date
Nobody is unable to find components for their DA, at least over a long enough term to wait out a custom order. But there are probably lots of stations who can't afford to fix their DA.
This. Many small or medium market AM owners when faced with a significant component failure in their antenna system usually have problems fixing it because:
1. Their contract engineer isn't experienced with AM directional antenna systems and unable to properly troubleshoot to a component level.
2. The station can't afford a quality or consulting engineer to come in and diagnose the problem, then followup by readjusting the array. Many stations haven't even checked their monitor points in years. When something goes wrong, their engineer starts twisting knobs on the phasor without noting the original settings. I can't count how many times I've asked one; "did you make any adjustments before I got here?" Funny how the answer is always no. It used to cost the station that much more for me to spend that extra time retuning the phasor or matching network(s).
Between the pandemic, and with the slow death of AM, station owners run financially that much closer to the bone. Few have the resources to set aside a rainy day fund for equipment or tower maintenance/repairs when something comes up, or providing proper regular maintenance to reduce the chances of catastrophic failure.
K
kenglish
Guest
What happens.....?
In years past, they wound up in one of the ten rented semi's that Dennis Silver had here in Salt Lake City.
Sadly, lots of that stuff went to recycling when he died.
There aren't that many great DA experts left, any more. You might check ads in Radio World, or e-mail a few consultants, to see who they know. Local SBE or Ham clubs might also be a good choice.
In years past, they wound up in one of the ten rented semi's that Dennis Silver had here in Salt Lake City.
Sadly, lots of that stuff went to recycling when he died.
There aren't that many great DA experts left, any more. You might check ads in Radio World, or e-mail a few consultants, to see who they know. Local SBE or Ham clubs might also be a good choice.
K
kenglish
Guest
If you are selling, check with Fair Radio Sales. They like odd-ball commercial and military stuff.
I took down a two stationed shared site a year ago. I was able to save most of the parts and they will be used to rebuild one of the stations at a shared site. Some will go to rebuilding another site whose array was destroyed in a hurricane. The rest I am keeping as spares, especially the contactors and torioids.
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