990 AM transmitter question

[KML0224]

I have a quick question about the transmitter for 990 AM in Southington: Was West Peak in Meriden ever an option for a site?

 

[TPO]

West Peak in Meriden is as I'm sure you know the site of six FM stations (plus a translator) and there was even a TV antenna up there for a while but I doubt it was ever seriously considered as an AM site for the Southington AM station for a number of reasons:

A. While height is absolutely necessary for FM and TV propagation, it does nothing for AM coverage.

B. The ground conductivity, which is vital for AM coverage, is very poor up there due to the large amount of rock.

D. There is a FAA imposed 199' tower height restriction due to the proximity of Meriden airport.

E. Finding a large enough flat area to install the two towers and the associated ground system would be difficult if not impossible.

I don't know the 990 pattern, but there may have been issues with covering an adequate amount of Southington from that location as well.

WTIC is one of the few stations that has its towers on a hilltop. Their towers are located in a very flat spot and they have an excellent ground system so they can get away with it.

I'm not sure how many people realize that both WBMI (now WKSS) and WHCN had their studios at the top of West Peak for a while in the sixties. Quite a few interesting stories there . . .

 

[GreatCalloftheNE]

I don't know the 990 pattern, but there may have been issues with covering an adequate amount of Southington from that location as well.

Go to www.fccinfo.com. When that site comes up, type in the call-letters of the station in which you're interested (in this case WXCT in Southington.) Press the Call sign Search button. This will bring up a window with two choices; thier day-time configuration and the night-time. Click on the link to either one and then scroll to the bottom. There you'll the pattern. In this case, WXCT's day-time pattern is toward the NW and the night-time is in the opposite direction.