[grc] LPFM transmitter advice

[Robert Park]

For more than a decade WIDE-LP in Madison WI has operated successfully with
a reconditioned NiCOM NT 250/LCD transmitter. In recent weeks we have had
an increasingly serious problem with periods of degraded signal or silence
followed by spontaneous recovery. We have traced the problem up the line as
far as the audio chip in the transmitter. As a result we have switched out
the NiCOM for an older FX 30 that now has us reliably back on the air, but
at half our allowed 100 W ERP.

To return to normal operation we need to decide whether to repair,
recondition or replace the NiCOM. Advice from this list would be
appreciated.

Is there anyone in Wisconsin who could determine whether the audio chip in
the NiCOM is the whole problem? If it is, would repairing the NiCOM by
replacing that chip be a viable option?
Is anyone else operating an LPFM station with a NiCOM transmitter?
If we decide to repair or recondition the NiCOM is there a place in the
midwest folks would recommend for doing it? Would it be best to ship the
NiCOM to the company <https://www.nicomusa.com/> in San Diego CA?

Bob Park
Program Director
WIDE-LP 99.1 FM
http://widelp.org/
email: radio at widelp.org
https://twitter.com/WIDE_LP
https://www.facebook.com/WIDE.LP.99.1/