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How to Capture , Load , and Transport a Collins Broadcast Transmitter
I have long been on a quest to find a low powered AM Broadcast Transmitter suitable for conversion to the
ham bands.
Something manageable in size and weight and less than a KW output.
Imagine my surprise and excitement upon seeing an ad forwarded to me by Hal WB4AEG about just such
an animal .....no problem that it was a 2 1/2 hour drive from here , way down in L.A. ( lower Alabama) ! Contact was
made with Chief Engineer Stephen Rutherford , a deal was struck, help in the form of Gary K4VT was procured , and the adventure
was on !
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Here she is, just as we found her.....According to the name plate, It's a Collins 21E/M.
Research shows that a 21E/M is a three cabinet beast capable of 5KW....definitely not what we have
here.
Upon closer inspection and information gleaned from Stephen, this transmitter seems to be the driver section
of the 21E/M which consists of a pair of 4-125's in the PA modualted by a pair of 4-125's for 250 watts of carrier....just
perfect for my needs. Apparently this transmitter was acquired by the station in 1954 as a backup or night-time transmitter
and was complete with mod xfmr, mod reactor, and plate supply....essentially the same electrical layout as the 300J-2 of the
same era. As can be seen, the cabinet is the same size and cosmetics as the famous Collins 20V series.
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