This is the Nautel Radio Section of
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last Update 12/12/09


Ampfet Transmitters

The first transmitters delivered by Nautel, when they entered the broadcast field were custom units for the CBC and New Zealand. However, starting in 1982, with the Ampfet 10, Nautel shook up the broadcast industry with a solid-state product that was dependable, lightning resistant, and just plain worked. Station owners could hardly believe that they could install a transmitter and it would run and run and run, requiring virtually no maintenance. It was true - and the industry has never been the same. 

The name Ampfet refers to the MOSFET (Metal Oxide Silicone Field Effect Transistors) that were at the heart of the transmitter, replacing the tubes that had served as the Power Amplifier in every previous rig.

Ampfet 10 - (10 kW) 1982

Ampfet 10 

First unit to CJFX, NS. Still in service in NC.

Ampfet 5 - (5 kW) 1982

Ampfet 5 

First unit to Cook Islands, NZ. Still in service. 

Ampfet 1 - (1 kW) 1983

Ampfet 1 

First unit to WDCR, Dover, NH. Still in service.

The Ampfet 1 broke the traditional transmitter mold in several ways:
        1. No PA or Modulator tubes.
        2. The whole transmitter was barely three feet tall.
        3. Most stations had to build a table on which put the transmitter.
        4. The VSWR circuits were so good the transmitter could run into an open or short circuit without damage.

Its major drawback was the lack of redundancy. Modules were not hot-swappable, and the power supplies were 72 and 15 Volts, not easy to replace if something happened locally. In those days, it could take two days for parts!

Ampfet 2.5 - (2.5 kW) 1984

Ampfet 2.5 First unit to 1YX, NZ

Ampfet 10S - (5 kW) 1984

Ampfet 10S 

Ampfet 25 - (25 kW) 1985

Ampfet 25 
First unit to CKQR, Castlegar, BC. Still in service at CKWW.

Ampfet 50 - (50 kW) 1985

Ampfet 50  
First unit to CBA, Moncton, NB. 
At last report: still in service.
CKST, Vancouver BC

 

Thanks to Nautel for providing some of the information and pictures on this page.


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