KCMT-FM RECORD - Breaker For Solid State Transmission

Tucson, AZ , January 20, 2003 - Nautel is planning a celebration, complete with a piñata made to look like a transmitter tube, at the studios of KCMT-FM in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday the 24th of January.

Participants will celebrate KCMT-FM as the record breaking first station in the nation to broadcast with 40,000 Watts solid state transmitter power from a dual power block Nautel model Q40. The transmitter uses just one hybrid combiner to add two single ended 20kW Power Blocks.

Arizona Lotus - KCMT-FM, a Class C Hispanic Station, went on the air January 6 with the 40kW solid state transmitter. It's new solid state transmitter was cost effective at the 40kW power level in part because of the unique Nautel transmitter design using their patented single stage combining technique in each 20kW block.

Nautel's design does not require multiple cascaded levels of hybrid networks with associated imbalance loads as used in conventional solid state designs. Nautel's approach avoids complexity and reject load heat dissipation within the transmitter cabinet, contributing to system reliability.

The solid state transmitter was purchased in lieu of a tube transmitter for KCMT-FM's new status as a Class C, 100kW station. The celebration starts at 10 a.m. on Friday, at which time station personnel will take a crack at a piñata that looks like a large transmitter tube. Inside the piñata are four transistors that qualify recipients for 10 pounds of lobster each, courtesy of Nautel.