The FCC database lists the old KCMS tower as being an auxiliary tower for the station, but I'm curious if anyone knows whether or not it's had other use.
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Does anyone know what the old KCMS tower (Shorline location) is used for these days?
- Thread starter fordranger797
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Go take a look at it sometime...you'll see that it is definitely still in use.
It was used as a target for base jumping one morning a few years ago!!
Cell, PCS, Land Mobile and is still used for KCIS day mode.
R
Radio-X
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I drive by it twice daily on my commute downtown...the tower is in great shape (kept very well painted and a nice contrast against a gray AM sky). That being said, I'm not at all surprised on that high level of maintenance considering the tower is kind of right in the middle of their gorgeous "campus". The original KCMS 12 bay antenna is still up there painted red/white in conformity to the rest of the tower. Cell tower at about mid-height along with some UHF antennae as well. Pretty much as Kelly A. said. It's a fairly short tower (500' ?), but given its location at 500' above sea level, it actually is up fairly high...enough that I can see the tower lights on some clear nights from up in beautiful North Lynnwood.
The 100.3 app from Sacred Heart was to use this tower with a strong null to the south and west before it was cancelled. It's probably in Sacred Heart's favor to find another frequency to use up there anyway...maybe allowing them better downtown/North Seattle coverage.
I want to say KCMS has backup facilities at Cougar, so the old Shoreline transmitter probably sees very little to no use these days even though it is listed as a aux facility.
Radio-X
The 100.3 app from Sacred Heart was to use this tower with a strong null to the south and west before it was cancelled. It's probably in Sacred Heart's favor to find another frequency to use up there anyway...maybe allowing them better downtown/North Seattle coverage.
I want to say KCMS has backup facilities at Cougar, so the old Shoreline transmitter probably sees very little to no use these days even though it is listed as a aux facility.
Radio-X
You say correctly; KCMS is combined into the Ratelco master antenna on Cougar, which in itself is triple redundant. In the event of a failure of one or more sections of the master antenna, the remaining good part of the antenna can be patched in. Also, KCIS has a separate side mounted antenna normally used for HD transmission, which could be used as an analog backup.
Well that makes sense, seeing the folks at The Big Fish (as my uncle used to call 105.3) are always prepared for Armageddon.
Thing is, that same antenna is used by 93.3 and 95.7 too. I doubt they necessarily care about such things.
Thanks for the info! There are probably a few people out there who still think the Shorline tower is the main site for KCMS.
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