On Fri, 03 Feb 2006 17:29:56 GMT, Doug Smith W9WI
wrote:

David wrote:
Modern transmitters do not ''break down''. They occasionally will
lose an active device, easily remedied by card swapping and FedEx to
the manufacturer.

For which the engineer who does the card swapping will charge. As will
the manufacturer & FedEx, at least after the transmitter is out of
warranty.

A whole lot cheaper than it was in the days where a breakdown meant a
few hours with a soldering iron or a few thousand in tubes, but it's
still money. Money that won't get spent if no revenue is lost by not
spending it.

If tubes and a full-time tech were more cost effective they'd still be
around.