Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received WLS Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch. 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS. Where do they transmit from?
-
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Channel 7 Milwaukee
- Thread starter brian77
- Start date
> Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their
> power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received WLS
> Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
> more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS. Where
> do they transmit from?
>
According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
But I know what you mean that you get the picture of WLS-TV from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a little more north.
> power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received WLS
> Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
> more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS. Where
> do they transmit from?
>
According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
But I know what you mean that you get the picture of WLS-TV from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a little more north.
> Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their
> power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received WLS
> Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
> more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS. Where
> do they transmit from?
>
Directonal North/West from the Hilton downtown.
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=35091 (Station Record)
-A<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received WLS
> Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
> more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS. Where
> do they transmit from?
>
Directonal North/West from the Hilton downtown.
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=35091 (Station Record)
-A<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> > Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their
> > power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received
> WLS
> > Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
>
> > more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> > 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS.
> Where
> > do they transmit from?
> >
> According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
> power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for
> the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
> http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
>
>
> But I know what you mean that you get the picture of WLS-TV
> from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of
> WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
> Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the
> station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John
> Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> little more north.
>
I was able to watch WMKE-7 by Mitchell on a cheap portable TV. The signal was in and out but you could easily watch and listen to it.<P ID="signature">______________
AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
> > power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received
> WLS
> > Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a lot
>
> > more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought Ch.
> > 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS.
> Where
> > do they transmit from?
> >
> According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
> power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for
> the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
> http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
>
>
> But I know what you mean that you get the picture of WLS-TV
> from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of
> WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
> Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the
> station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John
> Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> little more north.
>
I was able to watch WMKE-7 by Mitchell on a cheap portable TV. The signal was in and out but you could easily watch and listen to it.<P ID="signature">______________
AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
I bring this up because in the two years I've been here, I've NEVER gotten WMKE in Oak Creek. I get WLS fairly consistently (or at least I did until a week or two ago). Is there anyone else south of Milwaukee that is also receiving WMKE when they haven't previously?
> > > Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their
> > > power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received
> > WLS
> > > Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a
> lot
> >
> > > more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought
> Ch.
> > > 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS.
> > Where
> > > do they transmit from?
> > >
> > According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
>
> > power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for
>
> > the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
> >
> http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
>
> >
> >
> > But I know what you mean that you get the picture of
> WLS-TV
> > from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> > have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> > get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio
> of
> > WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> > properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> > Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
>
> > Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> > reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at
> the
> > station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the
> John
> > Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> > because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> > little more north.
> >
> I was able to watch WMKE-7 by Mitchell on a cheap portable
> TV. The signal was in and out but you could easily watch and
> listen to it.
>
> > > Does anyone know if Channel 7 in Milwaukee raised their
> > > power recently? I'm in Oak Creek and have only received
> > WLS
> > > Chicago until a week or two ago. Now, I get WLS with a
> lot
> >
> > > more interference and some of MTV2's audio. I thought
> Ch.
> > > 7/Milwaukee was very directional north to protect WLS.
> > Where
> > > do they transmit from?
> > >
> > According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
>
> > power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel. Here's the link for
>
> > the estimated coverage area for WMKE-CA:
> >
> http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=CA508178.html
>
> >
> >
> > But I know what you mean that you get the picture of
> WLS-TV
> > from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> > have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> > get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio
> of
> > WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> > properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> > Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
>
> > Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> > reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at
> the
> > station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the
> John
> > Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> > because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> > little more north.
> >
> I was able to watch WMKE-7 by Mitchell on a cheap portable
> TV. The signal was in and out but you could easily watch and
> listen to it.
>
W
wannabenewsboy
Guest
WMKE-CA
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel.
The full name is the Hilton-Milwaukee City Center, but everyone just calls it The Hilton, or The Hilton Downtown (to differentiate from the one up in Port Washington).<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel.
The full name is the Hilton-Milwaukee City Center, but everyone just calls it The Hilton, or The Hilton Downtown (to differentiate from the one up in Port Washington).<P ID="signature">______________
> WMKE-CA
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel.
>
> The full name is the Hilton-Milwaukee City Center, but
> everyone just calls it The Hilton, or The Hilton Downtown
> (to differentiate from the one up in Port Washington).
>
There is no Hilton in Port Washington,WI ...But there is a Hilton on Port Washington Road in Glendale
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel.
>
> The full name is the Hilton-Milwaukee City Center, but
> everyone just calls it The Hilton, or The Hilton Downtown
> (to differentiate from the one up in Port Washington).
>
There is no Hilton in Port Washington,WI ...But there is a Hilton on Port Washington Road in Glendale
W
wannabenewsboy
Guest
> There is no Hilton in Port Washington,WI ...But there is a
> Hilton on Port Washington Road in Glendale
Is it *THAT* obvious that I'm never on that side of town?<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
> Hilton on Port Washington Road in Glendale
Is it *THAT* obvious that I'm never on that side of town?<P ID="signature">______________
> According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
> power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel.
Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
> power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> believe that's the name of the hotel.
Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
T
techboywi
Guest
> > According the FCC database, WMKE-CA hasn't increased their
>
> > power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel.
>
>
> Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV
> (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
>
Yes they do... The same tower was also home to what was then W65BT (now WYTU, ch 63). It was also home, many moons ago, to the station that became present day WVTV, ch 18, they moved to their present digs, I think, somewhere in the 60's..
>
> > power. They're still transmitting at 3kw. WMKE-CA
> > transmits off the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Milwaukee. I
> > believe that's the name of the hotel.
>
>
> Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV
> (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
>
Yes they do... The same tower was also home to what was then W65BT (now WYTU, ch 63). It was also home, many moons ago, to the station that became present day WVTV, ch 18, they moved to their present digs, I think, somewhere in the 60's..
> Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV
> (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
>
Yes. The tower was added to the building (at the time the Schroeder - later the Sheraton-Schroeder, Marc Plaza, and now the Hilton Hotel) in 1953 as an expedient way to get WCAN-TV on the air. The transmitter was sold to CBS, who broadcast WXIX (formerly WOKY-TV) from it. CBS sold the station (which had moved from ch. 19 to ch. 18 in 1958) to Gene Posner and the Sampson Bros., who put it back on the air as an independent WXIX in July of 1959. It bacame WUHF on 1 January 1963, and then WVTV after being bought by WKY (later Gaylord Broadcasting) in 1966. It continued to broadcast from that tower until moving to the "tower farm" in the 80's. After John Torres was denied zoning for a tower in Glendale, he used the old facilities used by the independent WXIX/WUHF/WVYV in the penthouse (used as the experimental lab by the Journal Co. in the 30's) and located WDJT-TV's first antenna on that tower as well.
WMKE-CA is currently the only TV station broadcasting from it.
For more details see:
http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
- Dick<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Nitelinger on 10/12/05 12:00 AM.</FONT></P>
> (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
>
Yes. The tower was added to the building (at the time the Schroeder - later the Sheraton-Schroeder, Marc Plaza, and now the Hilton Hotel) in 1953 as an expedient way to get WCAN-TV on the air. The transmitter was sold to CBS, who broadcast WXIX (formerly WOKY-TV) from it. CBS sold the station (which had moved from ch. 19 to ch. 18 in 1958) to Gene Posner and the Sampson Bros., who put it back on the air as an independent WXIX in July of 1959. It bacame WUHF on 1 January 1963, and then WVTV after being bought by WKY (later Gaylord Broadcasting) in 1966. It continued to broadcast from that tower until moving to the "tower farm" in the 80's. After John Torres was denied zoning for a tower in Glendale, he used the old facilities used by the independent WXIX/WUHF/WVYV in the penthouse (used as the experimental lab by the Journal Co. in the 30's) and located WDJT-TV's first antenna on that tower as well.
WMKE-CA is currently the only TV station broadcasting from it.
For more details see:
http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
- Dick<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Nitelinger on 10/12/05 12:00 AM.</FONT></P>
I first visited your site about two years ago, Dick, and am quite impressed with it. Thank you for taking the time to compile hard-to-find information and preserving the impression television had on Brew Town in its earliest days, as well as the medium's impact today.
> For more details see:
>
> http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
>
> - Dick
>
> For more details see:
>
> http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
>
> - Dick
>
Thanks for your kind words. It has been a labor of love. I've put up a whole bunch of updates since August, and will put up a few small ones later this week.
- Dick
> I first visited your site about two years ago, Dick, and am
> quite impressed with it. Thank you for taking the time to
> compile hard-to-find information and preserving the
> impression television had on Brew Town in its earliest days,
> as well as the medium's impact today.
>
> >
> > For more details see:
> >
> > http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
> >
> > - Dick
> >
>
- Dick
> I first visited your site about two years ago, Dick, and am
> quite impressed with it. Thank you for taking the time to
> compile hard-to-find information and preserving the
> impression television had on Brew Town in its earliest days,
> as well as the medium's impact today.
>
> >
> > For more details see:
> >
> > http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
> >
> > - Dick
> >
>
> But I know what you mean that you get the picture of WLS-TV
> from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of
> WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
> Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the
> station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John
> Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> little more north.
>
I can no longer get South Bend or any station on ch. 28. Mainly because of WTMJ-DT.
-John L.
> from Chicago, but the audio of WMKE-CA from Milwaukee. I
> have the same problem in Gary Indiana with channel 28. I
> get the picture of WOCH-LP from Chicago and get the audio of
> WSJV South Bend. If I ever get my outdoor antenna setup
> properly, I can null out the Chicago 28 and get the South
> Bend 28 in with no problem. But I know I'll never get the
> Milwaukee 7 unless the Chicago 7 ever went off for some
> reason, but that will only happen if problems happen at the
> station itself. WLS-TV now has a backup antenna on the John
> Hancock, but it has a null toward Milwaukee & Michigan
> because the John Hancock is much closer to the Lake and a
> little more north.
>
I can no longer get South Bend or any station on ch. 28. Mainly because of WTMJ-DT.
-John L.
> > Does WMKE-CA transmit from the same tower as WDJT-TV
> > (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
> >
>
> Yes. The tower was added to the building (at the time the
> Schroeder - later the Sheraton-Schroeder, Marc Plaza, and
> now the Hilton Hotel) in 1953 as an expedient way to get
> WCAN-TV on the air. The transmitter was sold to CBS, who
> broadcast WXIX (formerly WOKY-TV) from it. CBS sold the
> station (which had moved from ch. 19 to ch. 18 in 1958) to
> Gene Posner and the Sampson Bros., who put it back on the
> air as an independent WXIX in July of 1959. It bacame WUHF
> on 1 January 1963, and then WVTV after being bought by WKY
> (later Gaylord Broadcasting) in 1966. It continued to
> broadcast from that tower until moving to the "tower farm"
> in the 80's. After John Torres was denied zoning for a tower
> in Glendale, he used the old facilities used by the
> independent WXIX/WUHF/WVYV in the penthouse (used as the
> experimental lab by the Journal Co. in the 30's) and located
> WDJT-TV's first antenna on that tower as well.
>
> WMKE-CA is currently the only TV station broadcasting from
> it.
>
> For more details see:
>
> http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
>
> - Dick
Dick,
The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus weaking the steel structure.
-John L.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by DXer on 10/16/05 12:41 PM.</FONT></P>
> > (Channel 58) used to in its early, pre-CBS days?
> >
>
> Yes. The tower was added to the building (at the time the
> Schroeder - later the Sheraton-Schroeder, Marc Plaza, and
> now the Hilton Hotel) in 1953 as an expedient way to get
> WCAN-TV on the air. The transmitter was sold to CBS, who
> broadcast WXIX (formerly WOKY-TV) from it. CBS sold the
> station (which had moved from ch. 19 to ch. 18 in 1958) to
> Gene Posner and the Sampson Bros., who put it back on the
> air as an independent WXIX in July of 1959. It bacame WUHF
> on 1 January 1963, and then WVTV after being bought by WKY
> (later Gaylord Broadcasting) in 1966. It continued to
> broadcast from that tower until moving to the "tower farm"
> in the 80's. After John Torres was denied zoning for a tower
> in Glendale, he used the old facilities used by the
> independent WXIX/WUHF/WVYV in the penthouse (used as the
> experimental lab by the Journal Co. in the 30's) and located
> WDJT-TV's first antenna on that tower as well.
>
> WMKE-CA is currently the only TV station broadcasting from
> it.
>
> For more details see:
>
> http://www.milwaukee-horror-hosts.com/MilwTV.html
>
> - Dick
Dick,
The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus weaking the steel structure.
-John L.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by DXer on 10/16/05 12:41 PM.</FONT></P>
John,
I asked John Torres (The "JT" in the call letters), and he says that you are incorrect. It is still the same tower used by WCAN-TV, WXIX, WUHF and WVTV.
Al Hajny told me that when he worked at what is now the Entercom facility on Grange, he asked about three angled, concrete bases, that were obviously for a self-supporting tower. He was told that the tower atop the hotel was originally erected there, but that the FAA had not granted permission and the owners at the time had been forced to take it down.
From 1947-52 the facility was WMAW, which was on 1250 kHz. They also applied for an FM. The calls reserved at the time of the application were WPAW (hence "Maw" and "Paw"), but they were never issued, and they used WMAW-FM instead. (They applied in late February or early March of 1946.) Although they received the FM construction permit, they never finished the station. The tower was to have been for it.
Al was told that after Lou Poller bought the station and then applied for and received a CP for WCAN-TV (having changed the radio calls to WCAN), they used that old self-supporting tower.
An article I have from that time says that their consulting engineer told them to locate their antenna atop the highest place they could find (A given for FM or TV) and they chose the top of the hotel as it was, at the time, the tallest building in the city. The roof had to be reinforced. (It was probably expedient to do so, since they already had a self-supporting tower. The hotel is 290' high; the tower 387'. That put the top of the antenna at 677'. It was undoubtedly a quicker way to get the station on the air, as opposed to erecting a 1000' guyed tower, as WTMJ-TV had in 1952-53. (They wanted to get on the air as quickly as possible, as they had a CBS affiliation and wanted to establish themselves, so that they could compete with the two (one on the air) VHF stations. Channel 12 was locked in a long hearing, which ended with a merger agreement that was a marriage of convenience. (Lasting only a few short months before Hearst bought it.))
Ralph Evans got WOKY-TV on the air quickly by locating its antenna on the WEMP tower on West Martin Dr. (It's now Saga's tower.)
I'm trying to get confirmation on whether or not the tower atop the hotel really was originally constructed on West Grange for the still-born WMAW-FM.
- Dick
p.s. How for back do your Wiscinsin TV Guide back issues go?
>
> Dick,
>
> The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is
> not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to
> WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had
> a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it
> with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus
> weaking the steel structure.
>
> -John L.
>
I asked John Torres (The "JT" in the call letters), and he says that you are incorrect. It is still the same tower used by WCAN-TV, WXIX, WUHF and WVTV.
Al Hajny told me that when he worked at what is now the Entercom facility on Grange, he asked about three angled, concrete bases, that were obviously for a self-supporting tower. He was told that the tower atop the hotel was originally erected there, but that the FAA had not granted permission and the owners at the time had been forced to take it down.
From 1947-52 the facility was WMAW, which was on 1250 kHz. They also applied for an FM. The calls reserved at the time of the application were WPAW (hence "Maw" and "Paw"), but they were never issued, and they used WMAW-FM instead. (They applied in late February or early March of 1946.) Although they received the FM construction permit, they never finished the station. The tower was to have been for it.
Al was told that after Lou Poller bought the station and then applied for and received a CP for WCAN-TV (having changed the radio calls to WCAN), they used that old self-supporting tower.
An article I have from that time says that their consulting engineer told them to locate their antenna atop the highest place they could find (A given for FM or TV) and they chose the top of the hotel as it was, at the time, the tallest building in the city. The roof had to be reinforced. (It was probably expedient to do so, since they already had a self-supporting tower. The hotel is 290' high; the tower 387'. That put the top of the antenna at 677'. It was undoubtedly a quicker way to get the station on the air, as opposed to erecting a 1000' guyed tower, as WTMJ-TV had in 1952-53. (They wanted to get on the air as quickly as possible, as they had a CBS affiliation and wanted to establish themselves, so that they could compete with the two (one on the air) VHF stations. Channel 12 was locked in a long hearing, which ended with a merger agreement that was a marriage of convenience. (Lasting only a few short months before Hearst bought it.))
Ralph Evans got WOKY-TV on the air quickly by locating its antenna on the WEMP tower on West Martin Dr. (It's now Saga's tower.)
I'm trying to get confirmation on whether or not the tower atop the hotel really was originally constructed on West Grange for the still-born WMAW-FM.
- Dick
p.s. How for back do your Wiscinsin TV Guide back issues go?
>
> Dick,
>
> The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is
> not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to
> WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had
> a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it
> with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus
> weaking the steel structure.
>
> -John L.
>
John,
Another person who frequents this board mentioned to me that you might have been thinking of the old WFOX/WNOV tower. It was taken down by a helicopter.
- Dick
>
> Dick,
>
> The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is
> not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to
> WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had
> a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it
> with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus
> weaking the steel structure.
>
> -John L.
>
Another person who frequents this board mentioned to me that you might have been thinking of the old WFOX/WNOV tower. It was taken down by a helicopter.
- Dick
>
> Dick,
>
> The tower structure used by WDJT on the Shroeder Hotel is
> not the sameone that WVTV used. I recall that prior to
> WDJT-TV signing on the air in mid to late 80's that they had
> a hellicopter removing the old steel tower and replacing it
> with a new one. Obviously the old one was rusty thus
> weaking the steel structure.
>
> -John L.
>
- Status