Market Value of TWT Amplifier?

  • Thread starter Mark & Mary Ann Weiss
  • Start date
M

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

Guest
Satellite experts, I need some info on fair market value of the following.:

Cober Electronics, Series LMA TWT Amplifier, model 10LMA1
10 Watts output, traveling wave tube amplifier.

This one is serial number One. The first production unit, if that matters.

I'm researching prices of used TWT amps and am kicking around the figure
$2,995 as being in the ballpark. What do the experts think about this unit
and what it's worth on the market?

--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . DVD MASTERING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-
 
I have a 20 Watt TWT with power supply and I would expect the top price
would be $100.00.
Your price would depend on the frequecy and power supply.

Good luck.
Bill K7NOM
Click to expand...
And condition, they degrade with time. Harmonic content, gain and power
can worsen.

Glenn
n6gn
 
<< I'm wondering why places like Tucker Electronics are selling similar used
units in the $3,000-4,000 range. I don't want to make a mistake and list it
for $100 when it might be worth $900, for instance. >>

Mark & Mary Ann-

Before you list it, you need to find out more about it. Does the "LMA"
indicate that it is an "L-Band Microwave Amplifier"? Can you find a
manufacturer's web site or data sheet? Have you tested it to verify it meets
specs and hasn't lost its vacuum?

You may have noticed on E-Bay, that two like items can sell for quite different
prices, depending on how well the sellers present the items. By having good
backup data, and by mentioning Tucker's price for the identical item, you might
get more than by just describing it the way you did here!

Fred
 
Before you list it, you need to find out more about it. Does the "LMA"
indicate that it is an "L-Band Microwave Amplifier"? Can you find a
manufacturer's web site or data sheet? Have you tested it to verify it
meets
specs and hasn't lost its vacuum?

You may have noticed on E-Bay, that two like items can sell for quite
different
prices, depending on how well the sellers present the items. By having
good
backup data, and by mentioning Tucker's price for the identical item, you
might
get more than by just describing it the way you did here!

Fred
Click to expand...

It will be quite difficult to list it properly, as I cannot locate the
manufacturer on the web. They don't appear to be listed on any search
engine. I cannot make direct comparison because no other TWT amp by this
manufacturer is selling on Ebay at this time.
All I have is a casual statement from the engineer that handed it to me for
consignment sale, that it was working the last time he used it. I used
Tucker as a reference, though no identical item was listed. I compared
against other makes/models having 10W output like this unit, which was the
closest match I could find.
Perhaps I could list it with a DOA garantee and be ready to accept return
and refund in the event that the unit is not up to par. I really hate
selling equipment that I don't have the equipment to test (I'm geared for AM
& FM commercial transmitter repair, not satellite), but at the same time, I
don't want to blow it out for next to nothing. I'd like to protect the
interests of the owner, too.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION • FILM SCANNING • DVD MASTERING • AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-
 
Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:

Satellite experts, I need some info on fair market value of the following.:

Cober Electronics, Series LMA TWT Amplifier, model 10LMA1
10 Watts output, traveling wave tube amplifier.

This one is serial number One. The first production unit, if that matters.

I'm researching prices of used TWT amps and am kicking around the figure
$2,995 as being in the ballpark. What do the experts think about this unit
and what it's worth on the market?

--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . DVD MASTERING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-





I have a 20 Watt TWT with power supply and I would expect the top price
Click to expand...
would be $100.00.
Your price would depend on the frequecy and power supply.

Good luck.
Bill K7NOM
 
I'm researching prices of used TWT amps and am kicking around the figure
$2,995 as being in the ballpark. What do the experts think about this
unit
and what it's worth on the market?

--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . DVD MASTERING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com



I have a 20 Watt TWT with power supply and I would expect the top price
would be $100.00.
Your price would depend on the frequecy and power supply.

Good luck.
Bill K7NOM
Click to expand...

I'm wondering why places like Tucker Electronics are selling similar used
units in the $3,000-4,000 range. I don't want to make a mistake and list it
for $100 when it might be worth $900, for instance. Thanks for the opinion.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION . FILM SCANNING . DVD MASTERING . AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-
 
Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:
Before you list it, you need to find out more about it. Does the "LMA"
indicate that it is an "L-Band Microwave Amplifier"? Can you find a
manufacturer's web site or data sheet? Have you tested it to verify it
meets
specs and hasn't lost its vacuum?

You may have noticed on E-Bay, that two like items can sell for quite
different
prices, depending on how well the sellers present the items. By having
good
backup data, and by mentioning Tucker's price for the identical item, you
might
get more than by just describing it the way you did here!

Fred


It will be quite difficult to list it properly, as I cannot locate the
manufacturer on the web. They don't appear to be listed on any search
engine. I cannot make direct comparison because no other TWT amp by this
manufacturer is selling on Ebay at this time.
All I have is a casual statement from the engineer that handed it to me for
consignment sale, that it was working the last time he used it. I used
Tucker as a reference, though no identical item was listed. I compared
against other makes/models having 10W output like this unit, which was the
closest match I could find.
Perhaps I could list it with a DOA garantee and be ready to accept return
and refund in the event that the unit is not up to par. I really hate
selling equipment that I don't have the equipment to test (I'm geared for AM
& FM commercial transmitter repair, not satellite), but at the same time, I
don't want to blow it out for next to nothing. I'd like to protect the
interests of the owner, too.

--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

VIDEO PRODUCTION • FILM SCANNING • DVD MASTERING • AUDIO RESTORATION
Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: http://www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
Business sites at:
www.dv-clips.com
www.mwcomms.com
www.adventuresinanimemusic.com
-
Click to expand...
You can also search *sold* items on e-bay; that might help.
Then again, tweety birds are not commonly sold there...
 
"Mark & Mary Ann Weiss" <mweissX294@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Iwdjd.7050$Gm6.3327@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
Before you list it, you need to find out more about it. Does the "LMA"
indicate that it is an "L-Band Microwave Amplifier"? Can you find a
manufacturer's web site or data sheet? Have you tested it to verify it
meets
specs and hasn't lost its vacuum?

You may have noticed on E-Bay, that two like items can sell for quite
different
prices, depending on how well the sellers present the items. By having
good
backup data, and by mentioning Tucker's price for the identical item, you
might
get more than by just describing it the way you did here!

Fred



It will be quite difficult to list it properly, as I cannot locate the
manufacturer on the web. They don't appear to be listed on any search
engine. I cannot make direct comparison because no other TWT amp by this
manufacturer is selling on Ebay at this time.
All I have is a casual statement from the engineer that handed it to me
for
consignment sale, that it was working the last time he used it. I used
Tucker as a reference, though no identical item was listed. I compared
against other makes/models having 10W output like this unit, which was the
closest match I could find.
Perhaps I could list it with a DOA garantee and be ready to accept return
and refund in the event that the unit is not up to par. I really hate
selling equipment that I don't have the equipment to test (I'm geared for
AM
& FM commercial transmitter repair, not satellite), but at the same time,
I
don't want to blow it out for next to nothing. I'd like to protect the
interests of the owner, too.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss
Click to expand...

Can the amplifier can do 10 watts CW, or is that peak, with a low duty
cycle? Is it a narrow bandwidth, or a full octave or band model? Does it
have remote control (like a GPIB port)?

Even knowing these things, a TWT amplifier is a weird item to buy or sell.
As other posters have noted, TWT's degrade, and their lifetime sometimes
yields a lousy return on investment. I have had older Watkins Johnson 10
watt units that died with just a few 10's of hours on them, and I have had
some HO 10 watt models that are 30 years old and still fine.

I try to "baby" my TWT amps (never overdrive them, always use reverse power
protection, and always give them a very long cool-down period. Is that
important? Maybe, maybe not. But might a previous owner been as careful?

Anyway, at the least, you should characterize the bandwidth and available
power for your ad. I would imagine that a very clean, 10 watt CW L-band TWT
amp ought to be worth over $1500; OTOH, if it's bandwidth is only a few
percent wide, or not continuous rated, then worth might be closer to $100.

Ed
wb6wsn
 
Ed Price wrote:

"Mark & Mary Ann Weiss" <mweissX294@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Iwdjd.7050$Gm6.3327@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...



Before you list it, you need to find out more about it. Does the "LMA"
indicate that it is an "L-Band Microwave Amplifier"? Can you find a
manufacturer's web site or data sheet? Have you tested it to verify it

meets

specs and hasn't lost its vacuum?

You may have noticed on E-Bay, that two like items can sell for quite

different

prices, depending on how well the sellers present the items. By having

good

backup data, and by mentioning Tucker's price for the identical
item, you

might

get more than by just describing it the way you did here!

Fred



It will be quite difficult to list it properly, as I cannot locate the
manufacturer on the web. They don't appear to be listed on any search
engine. I cannot make direct comparison because no other TWT amp by this
manufacturer is selling on Ebay at this time.
All I have is a casual statement from the engineer that handed it to
me for
consignment sale, that it was working the last time he used it. I used
Tucker as a reference, though no identical item was listed. I compared
against other makes/models having 10W output like this unit, which
was the
closest match I could find.
Perhaps I could list it with a DOA garantee and be ready to accept
return
and refund in the event that the unit is not up to par. I really hate
selling equipment that I don't have the equipment to test (I'm geared
for AM
& FM commercial transmitter repair, not satellite), but at the same
time, I
don't want to blow it out for next to nothing. I'd like to protect the
interests of the owner, too.


--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss



Can the amplifier can do 10 watts CW, or is that peak, with a low duty
cycle? Is it a narrow bandwidth, or a full octave or band model? Does
it have remote control (like a GPIB port)?

Even knowing these things, a TWT amplifier is a weird item to buy or
sell. As other posters have noted, TWT's degrade, and their lifetime
sometimes yields a lousy return on investment. I have had older
Watkins Johnson 10 watt units that died with just a few 10's of hours
on them, and I have had some HO 10 watt models that are 30 years old
and still fine.

I try to "baby" my TWT amps (never overdrive them, always use reverse
power protection, and always give them a very long cool-down period.
Is that important? Maybe, maybe not. But might a previous owner been
as careful?

Anyway, at the least, you should characterize the bandwidth and
available power for your ad. I would imagine that a very clean, 10
watt CW L-band TWT amp ought to be worth over $1500; OTOH, if it's
bandwidth is only a few percent wide, or not continuous rated, then
worth might be closer to $100.

Ed
wb6wsn

Good advice above, and in addition, if you can find out what it was used
Click to expand...
for before it was removed
and why it was removed.. If it was a satellite up link then the band (C
,KU etc.) it was used for
would help. Also is the power supply with the amplifier? The power suppy
may be the most valuable
piece

Good luck
Bill K7NOM
 
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