[BC] tube sound (tube transmitters)

[Bailey, Scott]

Mark,
  Seems like I only got 6 to 7 months out of the 4-400's I used with the
Collins 20V-3. I had to rotate the tubes every 4 months for the thing to
sound loud enough to compete with a 5 KW neighbor that was using a
Harris MW-5. I also changed out the 807 in the driver section as well,
when I changed out the 4-400's. The Collins "DID NOT" have the audio
quality that my Harris or Armstrong has! I did good just to get 120%
positive modulation out of the Collins, and that's with a new set of
tubes.
  There was a company out in CA called ARS Electronics that I purchased
my tubes from. The sales guy there, Bob, hated it when he lost me as a
customer and begged me not to buy the Harris (Gates 1) SS Box, to
replace the Collins. My Harris burned more juice that the current
Armstrong, X-1000B, I have on the air now. But I must admit the Collins
20V-3 was the juice hog of them all, even with the Solid State
rectifiers in it. During the summer with that thing, my AC bill got as
high as nearly 600.00. I had to use a window unit AC box to help keep
that room at 73 degrees in the summer.
  My Collins sat in a room, next to my studio, and when folks dropped by
for a visit, they would love to see those old tubes glow in that box. I
must admit, I miss it too, but I don't miss the cost!
  Like I said, the big tube rigs are good for the hams, because they are
not using it for a constant carrier and programming, and it's nice to
look at their web pages, as they are proud to show off those ole big
rigs I grew up with. 
  My favorite old box was the Collins 300G, 250 watt rig. I had one of
those I used for PSRA/PSSA operation and it was pretty! Love those ole
810's! I sort of wished I keep it for old time sake, but my wife
wouldn't stand for it!

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Mark W. Croom
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 1:58 PM
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [BC] tube sound (tube transmitters)

When I put the AM-1A into WNWC, we were putting not one set, but two
sets a 
year of  four, 4-400s into the (modified) McMartin BA-1K. That savings
alone 
made it the biggest no brainer I had seen in my career.

Add to that the power savings, and it made even more sense.

We did not buy the tuning unit for the BE, as our common point was
licensed 
as 50 j0 so I figured it would be close enough. After the install I
tweaked 
the common point for lowest reflected power on the AM-1A (tracking the 
counter readings in case I had to go back), and was amazed at how nicely
the 
numbers on the antenna monitor came into line with the licensed values. 
Better than I had seen them in the 4 years or so we had owned the
station. I 
probably just got lucky, but it worked amazingly well in this instance.

The gravy was that it sounded much better than the BA-1K and would
modulate 
right to the maximum without distortion (the 1K would only do this for
about 
8 months of the year, then as the tubes got soft it would sound worse
and 
worse).

Mark
MN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KKTY" <kkty at netcommander.com>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: [BC] tube sound (tube transmitters)


> Ditto. It  got to the point that I was spending $1000 a year
(4x$250ea) on
> 4-400's for my old RCA. Between tubes & power savings, I figured that
it
> would take 7 years for the new Nautel to literally pay for itself. And
it
> never breaks... I think it's popped off in thunderstorms twice or
maybe 3
> times over 4 years. (Jeff W, I love this rig!)
>
>
> Dennis Switzer
> KKTY AM/FM
> Douglas, WY



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