KGG68 Off the Air

[KTN Corp]

Yesterday morning it was working but when I checked again last night, it was dead air. It is still off the air! Anybody know what's going on? This is dangerous especially involving the weatherradio station serving the 4th largest city in the U.S.

(I've always wondered where in downtown is the transmitter located since the id mentions it as Downtown Houston. It also mentions in the next sentence "in cooperation with the Houston Fire Department." Maybe their tower lease is up or NOAA has a quarrel with HFD?)

 

[zork]

I saw this on KHOU WX site:

Public Information Statement Statement as of 3:57 PM CDT on August 12, 2010

... Public information statement...

The NOAA all hazards weather radio transmitter site at Houston is
out of service due to a communications failure with the telephone
line. The transmitter... call sign k g g 68 operating on a frequency
of 162.400 mhz will be down until further notice. Updates will be
provided as technicians troubleshoot this issue.

 

[edriskill]

Until further notice, Houston will remain sunny and hot, with afternoon temperatures in the high 90's, and a 20% chance of afternoon showers.

 

[Houston_Tornado]

Let's hope that the remains of Tropical Depression 5 (which is expected to get back into the Gulf and be a strong TS/min Hurricane) don't make it too far west of Louisiana...

 

[HoustonListener]

The latest statement from the National Weather Service suggests perhaps KGG68 could resume broadcasting today. In the meantime, try to catch the nearby stations from Galveston or Onalaska (on Lake Livingston).

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
418 PM CDT MON AUG 16 2010

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER SITE AT HOUSTON IS
OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO A COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE. THE
TRANSMITTER...CALL SIGN K G G 68 OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF
162.400 MHZ WILL BE DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. TECHNICIANS WILL BE
ON SITE ON TUESDAY AND SERVICE WILL HOPEFULLY BE RESTORED BY
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THIS OUTAGE
HAS CAUSED FOR LISTENERS.

 

[KTN Corp]

The latest statement from the National Weather Service suggests perhaps KGG68 could resume broadcasting today. In the meantime, try to catch the nearby stations from Galveston or Onalaska (on Lake Livingston).

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
418 PM CDT MON AUG 16 2010

...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...

THE NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO TRANSMITTER SITE AT HOUSTON IS
OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO A COMMUNICATIONS FAILURE. THE
TRANSMITTER...CALL SIGN K G G 68 OPERATING ON A FREQUENCY OF
162.400 MHZ WILL BE DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. TECHNICIANS WILL BE
ON SITE ON TUESDAY AND SERVICE WILL HOPEFULLY BE RESTORED BY
TUESDAY AFTERNOON. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THIS OUTAGE
HAS CAUSED FOR LISTENERS.

I think Fort Bend County TIS (1670 kHz) was carrying WWG40. Back in Alief, I could get KHB40 but I'm too far here in Cinco Ranch. A Richmond station might finally be in order to serve Ft. Bend County better (if a frequency is available).

Just checked and it's back on now! Looks like it's a good time to get the Weather Cube since it's finally on a rare sale. I waited at least 3-6 months for that sale but bought one a month ago after I couldn't wait anymore. Wonder how many WB radios were returned during the past week because "it didn't work"?