Advertisement
Tube
checking. Check tubes at
least
monthly
and
it
is
just
as easy
to
do
it each
week
during the periodic maintenance
program. Certain
tubes
will become gaseous
if
left
on
the
spare
tube
shelf
too long. This type
of
tube should
be
rotated
into the
transmitter
to
prevent
an
emergency
change
to the
spare
tube,
only to find
it
blowing out
because
of a
gaseous condition.
Oiling.
If
the
transmitter
has
blowers,
oil them as
required,
but
do
not
over -oil.
Some types
of
turntables require
oiling the
motors.
Relay contacts. Burnish
the
contacts
with an
approved burnishing tool.
This should
be done
about
every six
to eight weeks.
Other preventive ideas. Clean mixing attenuators
if they
are
not the
sealed
type, with carbon
tetrachloride,
about once monthly.
Every station
should
have
a
small suction
type
cleaner. Even your wife's
Hoover with
the
suction
attachments will
do an
excellent
job
of
pulling dust
from
the
inside
of
the
hard
to
get
corners
of
a
transmitter.
Take
a
leaf
from
the
Navy book which
says everything must at all times
be
sparkling clean or
what is
know
as
ship-
shape.
17.
ADEQUATE TEST
EQUIPMENT.
To
have a
maintenance
program, certain capital
equipment is
necessary.
Do
not
be
ashamed
to
tell
your Manager
about
this because
he
will recognize that
proper
maintenance is
saving money and not spending money.
As a
minimum,
you should have
this equipment:
Dummy antenna (frequently supplied in Gates
transmitters).
Proof
of
performance equipment,
which includes an audio
oscillator,
distortion meter,
gain
set,
and RF pickup coil or
rectifier,
known as
the
Gates
SA131
proof
of
performance
package.
A
good
grade
of
voltohmmeter.
A
spare
antenna
current meter.
An
inexpensive oscilloscope.
All
of
the above
will cost
less
than $1000.00 and will
pay
for
itself
many
times through
the
years.
18.
THE
CHIEF ENGINEER. He has the job
of
keeping everybody happy
-
listeners,
Manager,
and
stockholders.
When
trouble comes,
he
is under
pressure.
He
will
do
his
best
to
correct
the
problem
as
fast
as
he
can.
It is well
to
remember that electronic
equipment has many
circuits
and many
avenues
of
travel.
Where
problems are
known, the
solution is usually quick. Where
the
problem must
be found,
the solution will
take
time. It is
well to
remember that
if
equipment
did not need
maintenance, it
would not need a
Chief
Engineer.
The
greatest service
he
renders
is
the
insistence
on a
regular
preventive maintenance
pro-
gram,
which
he knows
will
prevent most problems.
If the
unusual problem
does
arrive,
causing
an
out-
age, everyone in the
broadcasting
should be
understanding
and
tolerant
as the
problem
can
be
solved
quickest
by
not
breathing over
the Chief
Engineer's shoulder.
19.
GATES ASSISTANCE TO
HELP. Gates
sincerely believes that
the
best
type
of
assistance it
can
render
to
the
technical personnel
in the
radio broadcasting industry
is in providing full cooperation, day or night,
in
solving
any
problem
no
matter
how
small.
Gates technical people recognize that sometimes
the
biggest
problem is solved in
the
most simple manner. This is
part
of
electronics
and
never
is
fun poked
at
a
simple solution because this is
the
happiest
kind. It is only
by
asking questions
of
any
calibre, simple
or complex,
of
Gates people
and
mutually working together that the
finest degree
of
broadcast program-
ming is
possible
in your
broadcasting station
and the
industry.
Service avenues. Unless
the
problem
is
of
an
emergency nature, Gates suggests that
you
write
to the
Gates Service Department about problems that
you
are experiencing.
If
you have
a
problem that
can not
wait, call the Gates Service
Department
during daylight hours at Area
Code 217,
222
-8202.
Gates day-
light hours
are from
8
A.M. to
5
P.M.,
Monday
thru Friday, Central Standard
Time or
Central
Daylight
Time,
depending upon the
period
of
the
year.
Gates nighttime
service
can
be
obtained
by
calling Area
Code
217,
222
-8202.
GATES RADIO COMPANY
Subsidiary
of
Harris
-Intertype Corporation
Quincy,
Illinois,
U.S.A.
Advertisement
