430 TRANSMITTER IMPROVEMENTS

40-yr old transmitter had suffered from lack engineering: General physical deterioration, several monitor and protection systems no longer working, accumulation of add-ons and confusing switches no longer used, original documentation never kept up to date, no systematic documentation of the rest of the system: platform waveguide components, receiver protection, added controls, interlocks, etc. Similar to an old and little understood computer program that is key to an operation. Maintenance engineer Victor Iguina has the documentation in his head - has worked on the transmitter since he was 17.

Yet - the transmitter is totally viable; the high power klystrons are still the most economomical way to produce this kind of power. And these "super power" klystrons, originally designed for the BMEWS, have legendary operational lifetimes ( 100,000 hrs or 10 years continuous).

Also, the contractor, Radiation at Stanford, did an outstanding job of design and construction.

SPARE KLYSTRONS AND MAGNETS

Surplus equipment obtained from the BMEWS site at Clear, Alaska.

MODULATOR - INDEPENDENT CONTROL OF THE TWO DECKS

The top and botom halves of the mod anode's totem pole driver now have separate and independent fiber optic control. This greatly minimizes the danger of shoot through (both tubes coming on at the same time) and also makes it possible to trouble shoot the modulator, one deck at a time.

NEW TIMING GENERATOR

replaces unreliable and poorly documented previous unit.

NEW REFLECTED POWER AND ARC DETECTOR

replaces old non-functioning vacuum tube unit and vacuum tube power supply.

NEW WIRING AND CONTROL RELAYS FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM

ALL NEW DOCUMENTATION FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM - Transmitter, platform waveguide components, receiver protection circuitry.

Left to do: NEW CROWBAR DRIVER to replace old 5C22 hydrogen thyratron which can self- firen spontaneously, obsolescent, expensive