This is the Nautel Radio Section of
The Broadcast Archive
Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last Update 12/12/09
Ampfet Transmitters
The first transmitters delivered by Nautel, when they entered
the broadcast field were custom units for the CBC and New Zealand. However,
starting in 1982, with the Ampfet 10, Nautel shook up the broadcast industry
with a solid-state product that was dependable, lightning resistant, and just
plain worked. Station owners could hardly believe that they could install a
transmitter and it would run and run and run, requiring virtually no
maintenance. It was true - and the industry has never been the same.
The name Ampfet refers to the MOSFET (Metal Oxide Silicone
Field Effect Transistors) that were at the heart of the transmitter, replacing
the tubes that had served as the Power Amplifier in every previous rig.
| Ampfet 10
First unit to CJFX, NS. Still in service in NC.
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| Ampfet 5
First unit to Cook Islands, NZ. Still in service. |
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| Ampfet 1
First unit to WDCR, Dover, NH. Still in service. |
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The Ampfet 1 broke the traditional transmitter
mold in several ways:
1. No PA or Modulator tubes.
2. The whole transmitter was
barely three feet tall.
3. Most stations had to build
a table on which put the transmitter.
4. The VSWR circuits were so
good the transmitter could run into an open or short circuit without
damage.
Its major drawback was the lack of redundancy. Modules were not
hot-swappable, and the power supplies were 72 and 15 Volts, not easy to
replace if something happened locally. In those days, it could take two
days for parts! |
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Ampfet 2.5 - (2.5 kW) 1984
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| Ampfet 2.5
First unit to 1YX, NZ |
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Ampfet 25
First unit to CKQR, Castlegar, BC. Still in service at CKWW. |
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Ampfet 50
First unit to CBA, Moncton, NB.
At last report: still in service.
CKST, Vancouver BC |
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