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How Radio Works

Did you spot the Blaw-Knox tower?

Better question: Can Scott Fybush identify it?
 
Yeah, Scottso, isn't that WSM? Looks like the tower is too close to the transmitter building to be WLW. Plus I can't make out any call letters at the center of the tower. Definitely a Western Electric transmitter though.
 
Savage said:
Yeah, Scottso, isn't that WSM? Looks like the tower is too close to the transmitter building to be WLW. Plus I can't make out any call letters at the center of the tower. Definitely a Western Electric transmitter though.
Click to expand...

That's not WSM or WLW. My strong suspicion is that it's the old WABC (WCBS) facility in Wayne, New Jersey. There was also a Blaw-Knox diamond at WCAU when it was in Newtown Square, PA, but there was a VERY distinctive Art Deco building at that site.
 
They forgot to put in the part about IBOC.

There, that should stir up a Savage response...
 
And might I add, you did a very fine job narrating that feature, Mr. Berns. You certainly were dapper in your yout'.
 
I believe that the video should be required viewing for all the newbies who never had to get a 3rd ticket with Broadcast Endorsement. Most of them have no idea how radio actually works.
 
Okay, Rox, I'll take the bait. But if the film included IBOC it should be entitled "How Radio DOESN'T Work..."
(Insert your own rimshot here)

But what's a "Chevrolet??" :-\
 
SirRoxalot said:
I believe that the video should be required viewing for all the newbies who never had to get a 3rd ticket with Broadcast Endorsement. Most of them have no idea how radio actually works.
Click to expand...

I would venture a guess that 99 & 44 % of disk jockeys with a blue 3rd class & broadcast endorsement certificate has a clue about how it all works. Most of us went to work and looked at the "readings" the guy before us wrote down and fudged it up or down a tad.....and a half hour later.......did it again.

I would venture a guess that, except for the Scott Fybushs and Jim Pastricks of the world,.....a real reading wasn't taken between 1969 and the day computers started taking them for us.

Oh right.......I'm the only one!
 
Shame on you, Mr. W. Some of us STILL take actual readings - and even call the Engineer when something is way out of whack.
 
Al you'd also be wrong in my case. I know what the readings mean and how to take them. In fact I also remember how to calculate power using the indirect method. We had to do that at a few stations.

Never had a First Phone but I am an electronics geek.
 
Uh guys, I think "alw" was being facetious... and in spite of what he says, I'll bet he really does know what plate voltage really means. ;)
 
SirRoxalot said:
Some of us STILL take actual readings - and even call the Engineer when something is way out of whack.
Click to expand...

Actual readings? Yep, I take those. Manually change from the day power/pattern to the night power/pattern, too.
 
JustPastBuffalo said:
Uh guys, I think "alw" was being facetious... and in spite of what he says, I'll bet he really does know what plate voltage really means. ;)
Click to expand...


PLATE VOLTAGE!
Yes......it has something to do with heating up leftovers in the microwave.......No?
 
You're still MANUALLY changing power and pattern, Scooter? What, has Crawford still got that Rust Electronics phone-dial stepper remote control system? Do you have to pre-heat the filaments on the nighttime low power transmitter before power-down?? :D

Last time I had to MANUALLY change pattern and power on an AM station was at.....ummm.....well, let's see....would have been 990 kHz (WEZO-AM) in Rochester circa 1989......the more things change, etc.
 
Savage said:
Last time I had to MANUALLY change pattern and power on an AM station was at.....ummm.....well, let's see....would have been 990 kHz (WEZO-AM) in Rochester circa 1989......the more things change, etc.
Click to expand...

It would be a pretty safe wager that I'm dialing into the same remote control you did... though we do have a new one on hand that will be installed sometime in the next few months and automate the whole process. Better late than never!
 
I actually change power & pattern, and readings manually and happy to do it. I consider it some "job security". When they bring in the equiptment to do it out of someone's home, I'll know my days are numbered.
 
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