I was flying across the Bayway this afternoon trying to get a 4 cylinder engine to break the 100mph barrier and noticed the old 1360 towers in the swamp off the causeway. The towers looked bright and shiny like someone had given them a new paint job or possibly an entire facelift. I was unaware that any of the old AM towers in Mobile Bay were still in use. Perhaps I've grown bored with the scenery and just haven't noticed the old radio towers out in the bay for a while... I was just wondering if anyone on here kept up with those things? What stations still broadcast from the bay? What old stations have given up on maintaining tower sites out there in the marsh?
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Mobile - WMOB 1360
- Thread starter Poledo
- Start date
That must be one tiny 4 cyl if it can't hit 100, lol. Even mine will do that easily and it's only 100 horsepower. 
WMOB runs the old WLVV site on the causeway. I can't help but wonder if Buddy Tucker got a visit from the Federal Fairy because he's stopped using his day power at night and now painted the towers. On the other hand, he seemed keen to spruce up the dilapidated WLVV site anyway, so it may be routine maintenance.
It's the only station left on the bay as far as I know. The old WMOB site is off.
WMOB runs the old WLVV site on the causeway. I can't help but wonder if Buddy Tucker got a visit from the Federal Fairy because he's stopped using his day power at night and now painted the towers. On the other hand, he seemed keen to spruce up the dilapidated WLVV site anyway, so it may be routine maintenance.
It's the only station left on the bay as far as I know. The old WMOB site is off.
It's a 4 cylinder in a pick-um-up truck with an automatic transmission. I made 98mph and was sure I could squeeze out 100, but nope... it topped out at 98. Maybe I'll try again with less weight in the back?
The only reason I knew it was WMOB was for the first time in my life I saw the call letters painted on the transmitter shack... Which also looked fresh.
The only reason I knew it was WMOB was for the first time in my life I saw the call letters painted on the transmitter shack... Which also looked fresh.
Poledo: you refer in your first post to the "old 1360" towers. The original 1360 two tower site, built in 1960 near the mouth of the tunnel, is gone ... Austal's expansion wiped that out. WMOB 1360 now uses what used to be the 1410 site that goes back to well before 1960... it was WODX, then WALA, then WUNI, then WMML, then WLVV, and now WNGL from a different, inland site.
WMOB was fortunate that WNGL let go of the site; otherwise, they would have been up the creek. Apparently they were able to make their DA requirements fit the tower positioning. They were also fortunate that 1360 Monroeville went silent, as 1360 Mobile had a deep DA-D null for that reason. They probably also protected 1370 Pensacola to a slight degree.
I see in radio-locator that WMOB now has 9 kw day instead of the original 5; that is probably thanks to the demise of Monroeville.
You may notice also that there is a monstrous celltower very close to the AM's site; I have wondered whether it distorts the AM's pattern.
How old is the 1410 site? It is Mobile's oldest station. I have a 1930 log which contains a display ad for "WODX, on Mobile Bay" so it may go back that far. Those towers, in any case, are o-l-d. They've been out in the salt air for a long time and have been thru many hurricanes. A fresh coat of paint is cosmetic, but I wonder what the steel is like under the paint.
WMOB was fortunate that WNGL let go of the site; otherwise, they would have been up the creek. Apparently they were able to make their DA requirements fit the tower positioning. They were also fortunate that 1360 Monroeville went silent, as 1360 Mobile had a deep DA-D null for that reason. They probably also protected 1370 Pensacola to a slight degree.
I see in radio-locator that WMOB now has 9 kw day instead of the original 5; that is probably thanks to the demise of Monroeville.
You may notice also that there is a monstrous celltower very close to the AM's site; I have wondered whether it distorts the AM's pattern.
How old is the 1410 site? It is Mobile's oldest station. I have a 1930 log which contains a display ad for "WODX, on Mobile Bay" so it may go back that far. Those towers, in any case, are o-l-d. They've been out in the salt air for a long time and have been thru many hurricanes. A fresh coat of paint is cosmetic, but I wonder what the steel is like under the paint.
When was the original 1360 site taken down? In my mind's eye I see at least 3 sets of AM towers out in the marsh along the causeway. When I was looking at the pretty new paint on the 1360 towers last week I don't recall seeing any other AM towers... I also don't recall any cell towers out in the bay. All hazards of driving over 90MPH I suppose.
Next time I go to Mobile I'll take a slow trip across the Causway and enjoy the scenery rather than trying to keep up with the flow of traffic on the Bayway.
Next time I go to Mobile I'll take a slow trip across the Causway and enjoy the scenery rather than trying to keep up with the flow of traffic on the Bayway.
The bayway is DANGEROUS. On an interstate, people may come close to observing speed limits, knowing that a trooper can be hiding around the curve or under a hill ... but on the bayway there is no place the trooper can hide, so people drive at outrageous speeds. Also: if you have an accident there, the ambulance and/or fire truck cannot get to you. I recall back in early 90s on a foggy morning, a 150 car pileup, and a friend of mine died with her car on fire ... no first responder could get there.
That said: the 1360 towers came down, one over a year ago, and the second one somewhat later. So did the studio/xmtr bldg. This was near the mouth of the tunnel. The 1410 site is more out in the middle of the bay, about halfway from the tunnel to the eastern shore. The 1360 site was two towers; what was the 1410 site (now 1360) is also two towers. They were unlighted, presumably because they topped out at 199 ft, or whatever the rule was about the minimum requirement for lighting.
The cell tower I mention is along the US 90/98 causeway, very close to what is now the 1360 site.
That said: the 1360 towers came down, one over a year ago, and the second one somewhat later. So did the studio/xmtr bldg. This was near the mouth of the tunnel. The 1410 site is more out in the middle of the bay, about halfway from the tunnel to the eastern shore. The 1360 site was two towers; what was the 1410 site (now 1360) is also two towers. They were unlighted, presumably because they topped out at 199 ft, or whatever the rule was about the minimum requirement for lighting.
The cell tower I mention is along the US 90/98 causeway, very close to what is now the 1360 site.
You could see the 710 (WNTM) towers from the bayway, but in the distance ... on hwy 43 going toward Chickasaw... that is a 3 tower array.....
J Alex Bowab said:
Isn't that the incident that spurred the DOT to install a fog detection system with the message boards and variable speed limit signs?
I much prefer taking the Causeway because it's a more relaxing drive, plus the Bankhead tunnel spits out right in downtown.
J Alex Bowab said:
It's literally right next door. It must be relatively new as it's not visible on Google Street View or Bing's Birds Eye View. I do recall in years past having reception issues on cell phones when crossing the bay because there was nothing between Mobile and Spanish Fort. Don't seem to have that issue now.
The cell tower can be "de-tuned" so that it is "invisible" to the AM array.
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