Radio Tower Question

[wdb2003]

Just wanted to know the tower by the Hollywood sign. Was there any radio stations on that site?

Also on the 710 Long Beach Freeway going North past the 91 Freeway ramp there are 2 towers to the right does anybody know who they belong too?

 

[davideduardo]

Just wanted to know the tower by the Hollywood sign. Was there any radio stations on that site?

It's a communications / microwave site.

 

[jonbruce]

710 and 91 freeways, 1390 Long Beach, formerly KGER.

 

[wdb2003]

Thanks David and Jon. I wonder about the Hollywood site for years.

 

[fybush]

The site above the Hollywood sign is Mount Lee, so named because it was originally developed for broadcast by the Don Lee company, which owned KHJ back in the day (among other things!)

Lee's first LA TV transmissions were from Mount Lee before the station (later known as KTSL) moved up to Wilson; it's now KCBS-TV 2.

I think Lee may have done some TV experimentation from Mount Lee as well, but I don't believe any commercial FM existed up there before the site ended up as the main public safety two-way site for the area.

 

[wdb2003]

Thanks again Scott. If it was ever approved for a radio and television transmitter would it have decent coverage or interference from the mountians?

 

[fybush]

I've never run a "shadow study" on it to see what the terrain around it would do; my guess is that it would be roughly comparable to the "Cedar Crest" site off Mulholland to the west, where 98.7 and KCRW are located.

 

[davideduardo]

Thanks again Scott. If it was ever approved for a radio and television transmitter would it have decent coverage or interference from the mountians?

I agree with Scott... it would likely offer coverage quite comparable to the KYSR Mulholland site, watt for watt. That hill ("mountain" is a glorification) and the Mulholland site location are essentially the same ridge, which has a pass in it where the 101 parking lot is located. I've been both places, and the Hollywood Sign area has less rolling hills to the South / SW, but the horizon looks nearly identical. Mullholland probably has a minor advantage looking into the San Gabriel Valley.

 

[wdb2003]

That would be a great site for radio coverage. Maybe not a full power signal but the possibilty of a translator at 250 watts? Maybe for 92.7FM?? Im guessing at the Mt. Lee site that would cover Hollywood, Downtown and certian parts of Metro area.

 

[LA_Guy]

The tower above the Hollywood sign originally was built in 1941 for L.A.'s first FM station (and the first FM station West of the Mississippi River), which was owned by Don Lee (who also owned KHJ in Los Angeles). It's calls were K45LA and it operated on 44.5 mHz in the old low FM band. In 1945 it moved to 99.7 and finally in 1948 to it's current frequency, 101.1.

 

[observer8057]

I've never run a "shadow study" on it to see what the terrain around it would do; my guess is that it would be roughly comparable to the "Cedar Crest" site off Mulholland to the west, where 98.7 and KCRW are located.

Good post. Thanks. BTW, the tower off Mulholland is on "Briarcrest Road."

 

[fybush]

Indeed it is. That'll teach me to post off the top of my head long past midnight...