The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource

Unobtainium – What To Do? Where to Call?

As technology progresses, some things do get left behind. Trying to find parts for an older car might send you to the dealer, an aftermarket shop, the Internet, or that sad realization that not only is it no longer made, the manufacturer is out of business, and since no one can make money making and stocking the part, it may have moved to the category of “unobtainium.”

Still, with the worldwide access via the Internet, it is amazing how some things can be found – or a replacement for them fitted. This page hopes to not only help identify problem parts, but what options might be available. If you have information to add, please let us know!

There also is a new page of hard to find transmitter parts that might be of help to you.

And, then there is this:

Unobtanium CandidateUsed inOptions - at last report
4CX300AHarris 10KRF Parts had stock –
4-1000A TubesTransmittersRF Parts had stock – $1300
5-500 TubesTransmittersRF Parts had stock – $800
TIL-308 LED displaySX series transmittershard to find
SX-Series Oscillator BoardSX series transmittersMike Patton Associates
ST connectors by 3MHome Depot is reported to have
these
SSM2015 preamp chipBroadcast Audio Consoleshard to find
SSM2017 chipOptimod 8200
Arrakis 1200
expensive when found, but the SSM2019 is pin compatible;it is reported that the INA217 works in the Arrakis
SAD-1024 chipOptimod 9000true
unobtainium
6386 tubesSta-Level compressorshard to find – a pair of 6BA6s said to be compatible
Plessey SL560C rf amp chipMoseley PCL606 STLshard to find
DigiTalker chipGentner VRC-2000not likely to find
1-5/8″ EIA connectorRFS/Cablewave solid center coaxhard to find