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KPFT power lines cut?

A

aunti-terrestrial

Guest
Saw this on FB just a few minutes ago.


Somebody cut the power lines to the transmitter so you can only hear KPFT on-line until that gets fixed. Right now you can listen to regular broadcasting at http://kpft.org/streamkpft.m3u. Updates when the on-air transmission returns.
 
aunti-terrestrial said:
Saw this on FB just a few minutes ago.


Somebody cut the power lines to the transmitter so you can only hear KPFT on-line until that gets fixed. Right now you can listen to regular broadcasting at http://kpft.org/streamkpft.m3u. Updates when the on-air transmission returns.
Click to expand...

Before the black helicopters begin to circle and the conspiracy theorys sprout, there have been multiple transmitter site copper wire thefts in the last 6 months in the area. Thieves apparently know that if the power line is interrupted a generator will kick in to keep the station on the air, giving a nice window of opportunity to steal a few thousand pounds of copper while the engineers at the station verify power loss and decide to visit the facility... usually about when the diesel is running out!
 
DavidEduardo said:
aunti-terrestrial said:
Saw this on FB just a few minutes ago.


Somebody cut the power lines to the transmitter so you can only hear KPFT on-line until that gets fixed. Right now you can listen to regular broadcasting at http://kpft.org/streamkpft.m3u. Updates when the on-air transmission returns.
Click to expand...

Before the black helicopters begin to circle and the conspiracy theorys sprout, there have been multiple transmitter site copper wire thefts in the last 6 months in the area. Thieves apparently know that if the power line is interrupted a generator will kick in to keep the station on the air, giving a nice window of opportunity to steal a few thousand pounds of copper while the engineers at the station verify power loss and decide to visit the facility... usually about when the diesel is running out!
Click to expand...

According to the Houston Press, it's the only broadcast antenna on the tower, but it's also a cell site. The GM of the station calls the copper thieves "relatively well organized but stupid." The paper reports that so far, no copper appears to have been taken.

The story says there is a station in Galveston who is carrying the confirmation hearings today. Which one is that?
 
FilioScotia said:
I don't think either one of their listeners will notice.
Click to expand...

0.2 and a 97,000 cume in the last PPMs may not be Majic 102 or Sunny 99, but it's not "either one of their listeners" either, wingnut.
 
That's more cume than Pacifica's WBAI in New York City. Market 1.

I wonder why people decided to cut the power lines of a legal station, and leave the pirate stations alone.
 
Mark Jeffries said:
FilioScotia said:
I don't think either one of their listeners will notice.
Click to expand...

0.2 and a 97,000 cume in the last PPMs may not be Majic 102 or Sunny 99, but it's not "either one of their listeners" either, wingnut.
Click to expand...

It was just a joke. An old one at that which has been around for many years amongst those in the business. There is no need for name calling especially when you don't know him or his politics. Incidentally, he very much a moderate.
 
I was worried that they ran out of money to run the station. Their pledge drive was pretty long (and desperate sounding).

KPFT's website said, "The building housing our transmitter was damaged and must be repaired before the electrical service can be restored."

Any of the broadcast engineers on here talk with KPFT's engineer about the extent of the damage to the building? Was it structurally damaged? I hope that it isn't much so they can get back on the air really soon.

I wished I could have heard Pacifica's Kagan confirmation coverage. They should move to Missouri City since the power service is unreliable (remember Ike's aftermath?), better security (big commercial stations: safety in numbers), and they could get rid of the Galveston translator (saving $$).
 
I am the KPFT engineer and I discovered the damage this morning, around 8:00 AM. The power service was cut, at the pole. The underground conduit from the pole to the building was ripped away from the building, apparently by a truck; and the copper cable pulled from inside of it, the same way. These idiots worked the whole thing hot! The damage to the building was substantial and must be repaired in order to complete the restoration of the electric service. Best guess is that the electric work will be done late tonight / early tomorrow morning. Then Centerpoint will be called to come back and make it hot again. No definite timeline just yet. But, it's going to be a long night.
 
foursider said:
I am the KPFT engineer and I discovered the damage this morning, around 8:00 AM. .
Click to expand...

Are the police aware that this is not the first similar theft from a transmitter site?
 
DavidEduardo said:
Are the police aware that this is not the first similar theft from a transmitter site?
Click to expand...

Copper theft is an epidemic. It's getting stolen continually from just about everywhere. I've personally had grounding stolen at 3 sites, and the innards of an air conditioning condenser stolen at one - twice - the second time from the roof of the building.
 
Turned on the radio a few minutes ago and checked for any sign of 90.1 and now I can hear KPFT again. Kagan's confirmation hearing is on right now.
 
radiogooroo said:
Copper theft is an epidemic. It's getting stolen continually from just about everywhere. I've personally had grounding stolen at 3 sites, and the innards of an air conditioning condenser stolen at one - twice - the second time from the roof of the building.
Click to expand...

This case has live high voltage power lines shorted to trip the generator, and then everything down to the box on the building is stripped. And it has happened before at local tower sites very recently. Some stations are installing low-light cameras and other security devices, as the thefts involve some "heavy lifting" as well as winches, etc.

This is not the age-old theft of radials.
 
So, foursider (and I'm sorry you're having to go through this mess), did they get the copper, after
all? If not, do you have any speculation as to what the vandals/thieves were trying to
accomplish?
 
Not sure what they intended to accomplish; but for probably $300.00 (maybe) worth of copper, they did about $10,000.00 worth of damage.
 
We got hit out at our Hitchcock transmitter site twice in 6 weeks. to the tune of about 30,000 in damage.
 
Copper theft is an ongoing problem for even the power companies. There have been cases in which thieves attempt to steal high voltage lines that are in service, sometimes with deadly consequences.
 
Any kind of copper transmission line is susceptable... I hear the big telephone lines are a common target. Can't imagine stripping that much wire. Churches and businesses have a fit with the coils in A/C compressors being stolen. Yeah, can't be worth much, but since when is being a thief only about money? It's a way of life. Very sad...
 
There was a news story on TV about the air conditioning units being stolen from a senior center in Houston. Kudos to the guys from League City who donated new units.
 
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