Ben Endow, RF Supervisor, KTVK/KASW Television / 06.26.2012 01:00PM
E2V Tubes: a Cut Above the Rest
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E2V IOT
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PHOENIX: When I first started my career
in field service some 25 years ago, I was
sent to work on a transmitter installation
equipped with EEV klystrons. Since that
time, I’ve installed numerous E2V klystrons,
IOTs and thyratrons, both as a field
engineer and end user. In all those years, I
can’t recall ever getting a defective device
from E2V.
I do recall the time when I had to visit
another tube manufacturer, as they were
having problems delivering tubes. They
would manufacture 10 tubes, but maybe
only three or four would be useable. Other
problems I often observed were klystons
with low gain and ones which wouldn’t
tune properly. (I was told this was due to
particles of copper getting embedded in
the ceramic of the input area of the tube.)
Another manufacturer whose product
I used had problems with the tube shipping
containers they used for new tubes.
At one site, two of six new tubes were
dead on arrival and had to be replaced
due to damage in shipping. I really haven’t
ever encountered any of these problems
with E2V tubes.
We’re currently using E2V IOTD2100s,
which I find easy to tune. They also come
with a long life that’s very trouble-free.
Actually, we have some of these tubes
that have been in service for more
than 10 years. Not having to replace
tubes every few years helps our company’s
bottom line, as well as not taking
time away from today’s limited
station engineering staffs. E2V also
helps a station’s bottom line by first
recommending repairs rather than
replacement. In one case, I was able
to return a defective IOT and input
cavity to E2V and they were able to
repair both for significantly less than
the cost of new parts.
I’m also really impressed with
E2V as a company. While many other
manufacturers have chosen to all
but abandon the broadcast market, the
E2V company continues to provide innovative
products that broadcasters need
to remain competitive. And even with the
current economy that’s forced many companies
to cut staff, E2V still provides firstclass
customer support, even after regular
business hours.
Power tubes are really big ticket items,
and hopefully yours will keep running for
a long time. However, when you do need a
replacement, it’s comforting to know that
E2V almost always has the spare you need
in stock and can get it out to you without
delay.
NO THIRD-PARTY RUNAROUND
Another good thing about doing business
with E2V is that there are no middlemen
involved.
I recall an occasion where I purchased
a thyratron from one of E2V’s competitors
through a reseller. I discovered that
this new thyratron had a problem, and
spent several months going back and
forth between the reseller and the manufacturer
before both parties admitted
there was a problem with the tube and I
got a replacement. I’ve never had a problem
like that since I’ve been using E2V
tubes. When you purchase a device from
E2V, you’re able to purchase it directly
from the source and not have to deal with
a third-party reseller and all of the complications
that involves.
Ben Endow is a broadcast engineer
with more than 30 years of experience
in working with high-power UHF transmitter
tubes. He has worked for Varian,
Harris, USA Broadcasting and the Univision
television group, and is currently
RF supervisor for KTVK and KASW, subsidiaries
of the Belo Corp. He may be
contacted at bendow@azfamily.com.
For additional information, contact
e2v at 800-342-5338, or visit www.e2v.com/tubes.