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Is this True or is it fairy Tale?
- Thread starter Flying-Dutchman
- Start date
Sounds a little like some of Eric Rhoads' misadventures about 10 years later in Fort Wayne.
It was a nice story. Today the kid would be sitting in juvenile hall pumped full of whatever the drug of the day is. And the strangest part of the whole thing: After he had the stick to it iveness and concentration to manage the whole project the drugs would be to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The FCC says this whiz kid hijacked WIBC. How Cute!
One thing is for sure. Listening to these kids with their enthusiasm would
have been more entertaining than most of the bland or trashy radio we
have today.
have been more entertaining than most of the bland or trashy radio we
have today.
Darned Methodists!
This story is beyond strange. In fact, the physics we've been taught
say it's impossible. It's about as believable as those spooky TV shows
where people claim to contact ghosts using an AM radio.
And, in this case the FCC says this really did happen.
say it's impossible. It's about as believable as those spooky TV shows
where people claim to contact ghosts using an AM radio.
And, in this case the FCC says this really did happen.
At the very least, the term 'harmonic' has been mis-used. The harmonics of 1610 start at 3220 & head up from there. For a harmonic from this device to interfere with WIBC, the device would have to have been on 535khz, coincidentally about 1 channel below the AM band rather than 1 channel above it.
This oscillator had no tuning or filtering. Therefore, it had a signal on
1610, 3220, 4830, 6440, and many more frequencies. The frequencies
below 6440 KHz should have been limited to the Knightstown area during
the daytime.
6,440 KHZ and up are a different matter. These frequencies may have
gone hundreds of miles on very little power. And, the antenna copied from HCJB must have favored Short Wave more so than AM. So, most of the power was really on Short Wave.
The FCC could explain the above. What they could not understand was
how this got into WIBC. But, some Short Wave frequencies can really get
into old 1950's tube type audio gear.
1610, 3220, 4830, 6440, and many more frequencies. The frequencies
below 6440 KHz should have been limited to the Knightstown area during
the daytime.
6,440 KHZ and up are a different matter. These frequencies may have
gone hundreds of miles on very little power. And, the antenna copied from HCJB must have favored Short Wave more so than AM. So, most of the power was really on Short Wave.
The FCC could explain the above. What they could not understand was
how this got into WIBC. But, some Short Wave frequencies can really get
into old 1950's tube type audio gear.
Flying-Dutchman said:
Perhaps, I can explain this for you. It's called harmful interference
when one hijacks a major commercial signal like WIBC.
I would tend to believe the FCC's account of this event. It's not a
fairy tale.
Today's kids would just put a stream on the internet. Their friends can
listen on cell phones or laptops with Windows Media player anywhere.
Our world has changed a great deal from a time when radio seemed like
magic.
But, there are still a few who want to build low power radio stations. For
these tech-heads, my best advice is don't build a copy of this particular device
that was once called The Phono Oscillator. The design has a little flaw that
attracts the FCC.
Also, after the events of this story took place, WIBC's chief engineer became a pirate hunter in Indianapolis. Many illegal broadcasters were busted and
shut down in the 1960's and 1970's by the FCC.
listen on cell phones or laptops with Windows Media player anywhere.
Our world has changed a great deal from a time when radio seemed like
magic.
But, there are still a few who want to build low power radio stations. For
these tech-heads, my best advice is don't build a copy of this particular device
that was once called The Phono Oscillator. The design has a little flaw that
attracts the FCC.
Also, after the events of this story took place, WIBC's chief engineer became a pirate hunter in Indianapolis. Many illegal broadcasters were busted and
shut down in the 1960's and 1970's by the FCC.
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