Bench Repairs:

 

MP&A has a workbench with a comprehensive set of audio and RF test and measurement equipment at hand, plus an extensive inventory of ICs, transistors, passive components, and special hardware needed to repair, retune, align, and calibrate many types of broadcast equipment. STLs, remote controls, audio processing, even audio consoles can be made as good as new in our facility. We repair most manufacturers' equipment, including Moseley, TFT, Marti (except RPUs - contact Bohn Broadcast), QEI, Inovonics, Orban, CRL, Burk, Gentner, and many others. We can usually beat the manufacturer's prices and turnaround times, plus we give each piece of equipment that passes through our shop our close personal attention.

 

Our favorite types of gear to repair:

Although we repair many types of broadcast equipment, we consider ourselves experts with several particular pieces of gear.  These include (but aren't limited to):

  • Harris SX series transmitter support:  Harris has walked away from any parts or technical support for these units, even though there are still hundreds in the field.  Although we are a small firm, we have boldly stepped into this void to offer parts and service for this large installed base.  In addition to locating sources for most of the parts out of these units (including many hard-to-find ICs and transistors), we have a large inventory of gently-used parts and assemblies for SX series transmitters. We maintain an SX-1 transmitter in working condition in our test bay as a troubleshooting and test bed, which allows us to be confident that any module or assembly we repair will work in the field.  We can rebuild any SX-series transmitter module in our shop quickly and reliably, and rebuild/retune entire transmitters, both here and in the field.  Let us know what you need; we have it, or can get it, almost certainly.  And we have developed several retrofit products for the SX series, including our signature - and very popular - retrofit diagnostic display.

  • Other Harris AM transmitters:  Since the Gates series AM transmitters by Harris share the SX series' basic design (and several board and assembly types outright), we can help by repairing modules from that series as well. 

    We have extensive experience with MW-1 repairs and upgrades, and rebuild MW-1 PA modules using modern, robust transistor types that handle real-world conditions much better than the originals.

  • Harris Z-series FM transmitter PA modules:  MP&A has engineering a complex test jig for these pallets/modules, using an RF splitter and combiner with 2 wattmeters, so we can measure combined RF output power and reject load power simultaneously.  This that allows us to align your modules against a standard pallet, so we can match both the power-vs-drive curve and RF phasing.  We also have secured top-quality sources for the hard-to-find RF MOSFETs used by Harris.

  • Harris CD-link STL units:  Since Harris has abandoned support for these systems, even though there is an installed base of hundreds in service, MP&A has stepped into the gap, providing rebuilding of both transmitter and receiver units.  In fact, if you call Harris for service on a CD-link, they send you to us!  These units are chock full of hard-to-find parts, but we have developed sources for most of them, and have a solid track record of getting these systems back on their feet and ready for more years of reliable service.
  • FM RF power amplifier "bricks":  MP&A has a complete test setup for these 250-1000W units used as drivers/IPAs in many high and medium power FM transmitters.  Our setup includes a frequency-agile exciter to generate RF drive, 12V, 28V, and 48V high-current power supplies, and complete RF and spectral analysis test gear.  We can repair units made by MMD, Delta, SVPA, Continental, BE, Energy-Onix, and others.  In fact, MP&A can repair just about any older solid-state amplifier whose RF devices are still available (and we are pretty good at locating obsolete parts, too!), or we can update your brick to use modern off-the-shelf "pallet amplifier" modules that use current-technology transistors but still will drop in, in place of the original.
  • Potomac AM-19 antenna monitors:  MP&A has rebuilt these units for some years now.  We have developed several retrofits for these units, including replacements for the original mercury-wetted reed relays, updated power supply capacitor kits which use modern capacitor types, LED indicator lamp replacements, and replacements for the original termination resistors, which are no longer available from Potomac.  We stock a complete set of parts for these monitors.

  • Omnitronix/LPB/Continental AM transmitter support:  For years, Omnitronix built and sold transmitters, both under their own name, and under contract for Continental, with Continental livery.  After that, they were bought by the then-new owners of LPB and made units under that name, alongside the low-power transmitters that LPB was famous for.  After several years, LPB shut down, leaving these units orphans.  In the last couple of years, we have chosen to shoulder the load of providing factory-level depot service, field service, and parts for their installed base of AM transmitters, under all the names, both high-and low-power transmitter models.  We have a working 1 KW unit in our test bay to serve as a test bed, plus a custom test jig for their PA modules.  We can rebuild and test any module from any model transmitter they made on our bench, and we can repair/retune entire transmitters, either in our shop or in the field.  Call or email to discuss how we can help to keep your Omnitronix/LPB/Continental AM gear healthy and reliable.

  • Energy-Onix AM & FM transmitter support:  We offer in-shop and field repairs on these transmitters, made orphans by the death of Bernie Wise and the subsequent closing of the firm in 2014.  We can rebuild and test any module from any model transmitter they made on our bench, and we can repair/retune entire transmitters, either in our shop or in the field.  Call or email to discuss how we can help to keep your Energy-Onix gear on-air and and reliable.

  • Orban audio processing units: We rebuild a number of Optimod audio processors every year, and stock hard-to-find ICs and many other parts for the AM & FM Optimods and many other models from Orban.


Those are just our favorites. 

In addition, we repair many types of gear:

  • STL transmitters & receivers from Moseley, Marti, TFT, and various Italian mfrs
  • FM exciters & transmitters
  • AM & FM modulation monitors
  • AM, FM, TV, and recording studio audio processing, analog and digital
  • Transmitter remote control equipment
  • Telephone hybrids
  • Audio consoles
  • Many other types of gear, too: if you can ship it to us, we can almost certainly fix it!

 

Test gear on our workbenches:

MP&A maintains a diverse set of first-class test gear, including cool stuff from Tektronix, HP, Agilent, Anritsu, Racal-Dana, Motorola, Fluke, Audio Precision, Array Solutions, Wavetek, and NTI.  We have scopes, spectrum network, and audio analyzers, high-precision bench multimeters, frequency counters, a service monitor, and lots of other amazing toys - enough to ferret out just about any failure in any piece of broadcast equipment. We also have a suite of power supplies, both high-current and high-voltage, so we can power most PA/IPA modules (AM and FM) outside of their host transmitters, and be sure they are being put to realistic tests. 

Let us use all this cool gear to put your gear back in first-class shape. Call for a quote--we have fixed prices for most common types of gear, so repairing your blown equipment won't "blow" your budget, too.  The extremely difficult we do routinely; the impossible just takes a bit longer, is all.

 

Gear we do not repair in our shop:

We no longer repair Marti RPU units. We suggest Bohn Broadcasting for repairs on these types of gear.