[NJARC] AM Transmitter

[n3ibx]

Hello All,
              Operating and owning a "retired" broadcast transmitter for use 
on Amateur frequencies can be a fun and rewarding experience. Most are 
adapted rather easily to the 160 Meter Amateur Band and put on 1885KC or 
1945KC; two popular 160M AM frequencies. I own a Gates BC1-T (1961 vintage) 
that I operate regularly at reduced power (300W output). Some of these 
transmitters had a setting for day (1KW) and evening (250W) so operating 
them legally isn't really an issue. Some are easier to convert than others, 
and the one on ebay is on 1590KC. Conversion to say, 1885KC would involve 
moving the oscillator and then the final amp should tune right up on it's 
new frequency.

The biggest pitfall of restoring a broadcast transmitter is without 
question, getting it's wiring back to factory specs. Most were repaired in 
the field when time was of the essence. Consequently, many shortcuts are 
made that have to be undone in order to figure out what one really has. My 
Gates BC1-T was a nightmare and many shortcuts, some of them downright 
dangerous were performed to it. I had to undo each one and trace the 
schematic, etc to bring it back to a circut that resembled what was 
originally done.

The RCA transmitter on ebay is a fine piece of broadcasting equiptment, 
albeit a bit complex. They're not as easy to bring back to factory specs as 
say a Gates or other manufacturers from the same era. Regardless, it would 
be a fine piece of Broadcasting and NJ Radio history that would go well in 
our new home.

If it doesn't come to fruition due to the monetary cost, there will be 
others. Broadcasters don't want to keep the old gear as a standby anymore 
due to high component and maintenance costs. Solid state broadcast 
transmitters are more cost effective.

Even though soild state transmitters are more cost effective, they are 
nowhere near as much fun to operate as a "hollow state" job. Once you've 
experienced the warm glow of a quad of 4-400A's or better yet, 833A's glow; 
you'll see what I mean.

If anyone is interested in seeing a quad of 833A's glow, email me offlist 
and I'll send you some pics of mine.

Regards,
             Joe Cro N3IBX


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve" <oceangate at comcast.net>
To: "'New Jersey Antique Radio Club'" <njarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 1:33 PM
Subject: RE: [NJARC] AM Transmitter


> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
> Mike,
>
> I looked at the ebay listing.the question was is the freq that the
> transmitter is already tuned to available for license from the 
> fcc.changing
> the frequency will be fairly expensive if you are going to use the
> transmitter for broadcast. Everything has to be type accepted by the fcc.
> Probably a good idea to check with the fcc & see if the transmitter
> meets todays requirements for broadcast.otherwise you need a waver.another
> expensive procedure especially if you are not sure they will grant a 
> waver.
> Even more expensive to bring an old transmitter up to todays standards.
> Lots of questions & not many answers.club will need a team of
> lawyers
> To get thru the paperwork.
>
> steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: njarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:njarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
> On Behalf Of Michael Koste
> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 1:10 PM
> To: New Jersey Antique Radio Club
> Subject: RE: [NJARC] AM Transmitter
>
> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
>
> It's a '58 model RCA, tuned to 1590 KHz
>
>
>
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