Tampa Fla. WB affiliate WTTA-TV has reported a monthly savings of more than $13,000 in power costs since installing an Ai analog/digital transmitter last summer.
The installation of the ESCIOT Depressed Collector Analog/Digital transmitter in June, 2004 replaced a three tube pulsed Klystron system that provided 120kW peak sync output power, according to Ai. The new transmitter, which uses two e2v ESCIOT water-cooled tubes, provides the same output power as the old system but significantly reduces utility costs. A direct comparison of power bills between August 2003, when the old transmitter was in service and August 2004 showed montly savings of more than $13,000. This represents annualized savings of $156,000, enough to pay for the new system in four years.
"Not only has this transmitter reduced the operating costs, but its much lower heat generation has reduced the air conditioning costs of the building," said Bob Hardie, director of engineering for WTTA, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. "This is very significant in Tampa, Florida. The systems operation has exceeded our expectations for reliability as well."
