Tech Notes from the Field

So the transmitter in question this week was the V1-D by Nautel. The thing has been running great since the installation last month. This week, Monday, we time aligned the digital and analog, then matched the simulcasting station. A day later, the Nautel falls back on power and shows a 12v fault. Hmmmmm?

So we head to the site and check things out. We cannot get it to fail, so we let it be. We get back to the station it starts showing 12v faults again and then a foldback of power. I switch it to the backup and head up the next day.
I talk things over with tech support and we tear into the box. We measure the test points. We check connections. We drop the fans and look under and deeper in. We find nothing out of the ordinary. Next we put it all together and light it up in the dummy load. That surely will heat the room up and cause a fault if it is heat sensitive. One hour and no problem. I have to get back, so we button it up and put the box on the air. IT’S BEEN RUNNING FINE EVER SINCE!

I sent the logs to tech support. This morning I follow up and leave an email stating that things are running just fine now. I get a response that some customers have had the wiring on the fans chafe and begin to exhibit these same symptoms. Short wires from the controller board to the fans. I noticed ours was somewhat tight, so next time up for maintenance I will check on that. For now, it works great and I will not touch a box that is not having any issues.

If anyone has an issue with customer support at Nautel, I sure have not had one. They are really nice and as responsive, or more, than some others I know.