[MRCA] [MMRCG] Econco

[Jack Antonio]

Working for a TV station, I received quite a few 4CX5000A from
Econco. We had both a low band (CH-2) and a high band transmitter
(CH-10). We found that in our transmitters at least, the CH-10
transmitter was happier with new Eimacs. The CH-10 was a conversion
from CH-12, so that may have had something to do with it.

Jack Antonio
WA7DIA

On 2/13/2026 9:53 AM, Ray Fantini via groups.io wrote:
> Not directly Ham related but a sign of things to come, Microwave Power 
> Products the parent company of Econco located in Woodland, CA just 
> announced that they will be closing down operations of their repair 
> services for Power Grid tubes. They are just about the only source for 
> rebuilt things like 4CX3500 tubes that are used in a bunch of older 
> broadcast transmitters and may now force many radio stations to finally 
> replace their old tube transmitters. Don’t think anyone has built a high 
> powered broadcast transmitter that still uses tube technology in about 
> twenty years now but there are still a lot of the old Harris HT-3.5 and 
> BE FM-5 out there. I was always able to pick up good money changing 
> tubes in those transmitters where the newer Gates and Nautel 
> transmitters just have PA panels that can be swapped by a secretary, or 
> the typical chief who is now days an IT manager.
> 
> Some glass tubes like the 211 and 833 are still in production for the 
> audio market, think the current version of the 833 is the 833/FU-33 but 
> it looks like the day of the ceramic/metal power tube is coming to an 
> end. Imagine for my lifetime things like the 4CX250 and 350 will still 
> be available NOS being you can still find 6D6 and 6C6 tubes available 
> NOS on eBay but other bottles like the 3CX800 become pricy and you have 
> to wonder how long they will stay in production? The 4CX3500 was used in 
> a large number of transmitters by several manufactures but reached the 
> point of no longer being economical to rebuild or manufacture. How far 
> behind can the 3CX800 be?
> 
> Ray F/KA3EKH
> 
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