Question about 650 WSM

[radiojay1]

This from the WSM website:

By late 1932, WSM had joined a small, elite group of maximum-power, Class 1-A, clear-channel broadcasters. The stations new 50,000 watt status, coupled with the low 650 kilocycle frequency, made WSM a nation-spanning giant. (Clear-channel status meant it was the only station in the entire U.S. permitted to broadcast on the 650 frequency.) At the heart of this expansion was a diamond-shaped, vertical antenna which was 878 feet high, the tallest tower in North America at the time.

What does Class 1-A mean and does having a low 650 kilocycle frequency increase propagation? I also read on another site that WSM's tower would have to be 1000 feet tall to reach its maximum coverage on its frequency. Is kilocycles another word for kilowatts?

 

[BobOnTheJob]

Kilocycles is the old timey name for kilohertz and megacycles is likewise for megahertz. It's a measurement of frequency and the two terms have identical meaning. When I started in radio in 1967, those terms were still in use. It wasn't long after that when the newer kilohertz and megahertz terms were adopted.

 

[Tom Wells]

I knew of at least one station that still signed on/off with a recording stating "kilocycles" well into the late 1980s.
The sign on/off carts were from 1970.

 

[w9wi]

...
What does Class 1-A mean

Today, nothing(grin). Seriously, at the time it meant that WSM was completely protected from nighttime interference throughout North America -- no other station was allowed to operate on that frequency in the US, Canada, or Mexico at night.

and does having a low 650 kilocycle frequency increase propagation?

Groundwave (daytime reception), yes. The lower the frequency the better, so the only better US frequency at the time was 640. (at the time 540 was not a valid frequency in the US, only in Canada)

Skywave is actually better on higher frequencies. But on a clear channel, a low frequency works more than well enough!

I also read on another site that WSM's tower would have to be 1000 feet tall to reach its maximum coverage on its frequency.

I guess a 5/8 tower for 650 would be roughly 1,000' high. That would have maximized the groundwave coverage. One risk (someone else can speak better to this than I) would be that the 1,000' tower would result in groundwave-skywave fading interference at a populated point -- I hear through the grapevine the height of the tower was adjusted to ensure this interference zone didn't fall over the city of Louisville. Also, I'm managing to forget the "velocity factor" which may mean this 800-whatever-foot tower actually is pretty close to 5/8 wavelength.

Is kilocycles another word for kilowatts?

No. Kilocycles is an old term for KiloHertz, a measurement of frequency. In other words, WSM's frequency has not changed since 1932. (that cannot be said for many other stations) KiloWatts is a measure of power.

 

[radiojay1]

Oops, I just noticed my typo. I meant to say is kilocycles another word for kilohertz, but you answered the question. 650 kilowatts, that would be some station!

 

[Tom Wells]

At 650 kilowatts, you could put up a reasonant circuit, rectify it and power up some lights , if you didn't mind modulation variations.
8)

 

[BRNout]

Didn't WLW have 500 kilowatts of output for a little while during the 1930's? I read something about the wattage being so strong that it would cause disconnected lightbulbs to light - or some such thing (as well as some other oddities). It supposedly was audible from coast to coast and in parts of western Europe. That must have been some signal - combined with a truly clear channel.

If anyone has any more info on that, it sure would be interesting to read.

 

[Tom Wells]

Yes, WLW had 500 kw, and Mr Hitler could hear it in Germany. At the time the Crosley company in had an engineer who did a feasability
study on harnessing the power to run a tiny little car. I'm pretty sure they never did it, but I seem to remember they calculated that in the near field areas, they could stick a loop on the roof, rectify it and it would be enough power for a small, weak car.

 

[Len14043]

Didn't WLW have 500 kilowatts of output for a little while during the 1930's? I read something about the wattage being so strong that it would cause disconnected lightbulbs to light - or some such thing (as well as some other oddities). It supposedly was audible from coast to coast and in parts of western Europe. That must have been some signal - combined with a truly clear channel.

If anyone has any more info on that, it sure would be interesting to read.

Here are links to a few sites that may interest you.

http://hawkins.pair.com/wlw.shtml

http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/cinc/wlwpix.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLW

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Yes, WLW had 500 kw, and Mr Hitler could hear it in Germany. At the time the Crosley company in had an engineer who did a feasability

I have reception reports from an ancestor for WLW in the 30's. Daytime reception in Lubbock, TX. Two foot loop antenna in a five stage tuned RF receiver. It was a console unit - many radios were made with the tuned RF design before superhet architecture became common. At night, the AM band was still quiet enough that nighttime reception of New York and Philadelphia was regular in Lubbock.

 

[w9wi]

Yep, WLW ran 500kw for a few years in the 30s. Actually, our 50kw limit here in the States is downright puny compared to many overseas stations. 500kw stations are not unusual today in Europe and Asia. The most powerful stations on the air today (on AM) are 2000kw, and there are a handful of them.

A number of additional US stations - including WSM - had filed for 500kw - or even 750kw - permits over the years. The FCC decided not to oblige; I think owners of smaller local stations had a problem with the idea of stations with national coverage. (how would the owner of, say, WERC in Birmingham compete if his network decided to yank his affiliation & transfer it to a 500kw WSM which could deliver a perfectly good signal across his Alabama market?)

 

[BobOnTheJob]

While we're talking about WSM, I had the distinct pleasure of hearing WSM's "5 O'Clock HonkyTonk" on my HD car radio (WSM is not HD...thank heavens) while in Nashville and it almost made me forget I was tuned to an AM station. The audio quality on WSM is truly superb. My compliments not only on a killer RF signal, but on a marvelous AF signal as well. It should be against the law to radiate an IBOC signal within 20khz of WSM...the station is a national monument in my book.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I've got to agree Bob, on all counts. I drove from Atlanta to Hopkinsville this summer, and listened to WSM doing their broadcast from the CMA Fan Fair. They were basically talking to various artists all day long and making up their playlist as the artists appeared at their booth.

One of the best 4 hours I've spent with a radio station. Of course, the trip involved driving past the Blaw-Knox (a first for me). I was amazed at how massive it is.

At night from about 300 miles, it can sound almost like FM...until I turn on my computer.

 

[w9wi]

One of the best 4 hours I've spent with a radio station. Of course, the trip involved driving past the Blaw-Knox (a first for me). I was amazed at how massive it is.

If you make that trip again... give yourself a little extra time.

Get off I-65 at Concord Road (just south of the tower). Drive about a half-mile east on Concord. On your right you'll find a parking lot for a city park/greenway.

From there you can cross Concord Road (though probably not during rush hour ) to a sidewalk that runs right along the fence of the WSM property. You won't be able to get in but you'll get a great view of the tower, transmitter building, and associated guy wires/transmission lines/etc... There aren't many major-station tower sites that are that easy to see & photograph up close.

 

[BRNout]

Great articles about 500 kw WLW, by the way. Many thanks for the links!