-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Sandy
- Thread starter K6JHU
- Start date
Re: Sandy Claims WINS Transmitter
Crazy just last month KNX 1070 in LA had to air KCBS 106.9 San Francisco when the CBS Radio LA offices/studios had to evacuate because of a bomb scare at Miracle mile (L.A. Investigators later revealed that it was a clock and the sender was a promotions group representing VIacom).
But this one is more serious. Wouldn't WINS need FCC permission to temporarily put 1010 XTMR on Long Island SOund as in share with WCBS and WFAN towers before the New Jersey Tower that 1010 AM is Located is fixed? Good Job to all the CBS crew that covered Sandy.
RadioFanBoy said:
Crazy just last month KNX 1070 in LA had to air KCBS 106.9 San Francisco when the CBS Radio LA offices/studios had to evacuate because of a bomb scare at Miracle mile (L.A. Investigators later revealed that it was a clock and the sender was a promotions group representing VIacom).
But this one is more serious. Wouldn't WINS need FCC permission to temporarily put 1010 XTMR on Long Island SOund as in share with WCBS and WFAN towers before the New Jersey Tower that 1010 AM is Located is fixed? Good Job to all the CBS crew that covered Sandy.
Most of the stations seem to be doing a good job. 880 especially. 101.5 got knocked off the air for a while, but they came back.
Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves here. The WINS towers are still standing. It's likely that the tower bases are underwater, and it's possible (but not confirmed) that the elevated transmitter building took on water as well. 1010 may be off the air for a matter of days, but it won't be weeks or months.
Scott, thanks for your insight and information throughout the storm both here and on your website, www.fybush.com.
Also a shout out to all the engineers that worked to keep stations on air and if knocked off the air I know they are working none stop to restore service. Engineering is a thankless job hope you guys get some sleep....probably next week.
I live on Vashon Island, home to several AM transmitters. However being an Island it does not flood like the Jersey Meadowlands. What a mess the for the meadowlands transmitters.
If there is any good news in this, new AM transmitters are so small they can be deployed much faster. As long as the towers or at least one of them still stands most engineers will be able to restore some service within days. Will be interesting to see how many need a new transmitter or generator. Good thing Quincy is within driving distance and Nautel for that matter
It would be informative if you could post on your site or where you feel appropriate some where in the forums the actual count of AMs off the air and affected FM's due to the storm. maybe a state by state list.
Also a shout out to all the engineers that worked to keep stations on air and if knocked off the air I know they are working none stop to restore service. Engineering is a thankless job hope you guys get some sleep....probably next week.
I live on Vashon Island, home to several AM transmitters. However being an Island it does not flood like the Jersey Meadowlands. What a mess the for the meadowlands transmitters.
If there is any good news in this, new AM transmitters are so small they can be deployed much faster. As long as the towers or at least one of them still stands most engineers will be able to restore some service within days. Will be interesting to see how many need a new transmitter or generator. Good thing Quincy is within driving distance and Nautel for that matter
It would be informative if you could post on your site or where you feel appropriate some where in the forums the actual count of AMs off the air and affected FM's due to the storm. maybe a state by state list.
Scott Fybush said:
Good point.
Here's some anecdotal experience from cleaning up after one particularly bad Puerto Rico hurricane where water came into the building and flooded the transmitter and the phaser.
First, you wait till the high water subsides. If area is severely damaged, get civil authoritiy to grant permit to access site. Once you get there: Make sure breakers are tripped. Same for geny set if it is inundated. Notify FAA if tower is unlit due to power outage / flooding.
If you have water pressure, hose everything off. If you don't, you have to hire a water truck and pump to clean. Check transmission line if air or gas filled for integrity, humidity. If problems, start dehumidifying or fixing.
Using filtered or, better, distilled water, spray out phaser and put high volume fans on it.
With more care, spray out the transmitter parts that were flooded. The damage is from dirt, debris, salt and minerals. Dry with fans, even hair blowers on low setting.
Check all electrical. Get a generator mechanic if you are not a engine type of engineer, and check the geny. If it is dry and clean and the fuel is not contaminated, make sure its not online and turn it over. Run for a while and see if it is "clean" as you may not have power company service for days (in my case, 8 days).
Wait. Keep fans running 12-18 hours and if you have AC, and you can power it off the generator, run it to dehumidify. Check tower bases for dirt on base insulators or isocouplers if an AM. Check line pressure if FM using air dielectric. If you can power tower lights with generator, get them going and inspect.
After that, inspect transmitter and phaser for any pooling of water, dampness, signs of arcing prior to going down in the floods. Depending on whether AM or FM, solid or hollow state, you may be able to power up the exciter or IPA stage. If that step works, power up.
If it works, start feeding audio. If it does not, start trouble shooting. Any suspect parts should be ordered fast if not in the shop, as air traffic may be restricted into your market. Check with sister stations, too. Check with other engineers in market to see if you can swap what you need for something any of them need (for those not in engineering, this is very common even if stations are otherwise competitive enemies).
That should give an idea.
My downtime from going off air due to flooding to back at full power was 36 hours. We had the 1 kw second auxiliary on in about 20 hours, but the two main 10 kws were both off for a day and a half till "the plane, the plane" arrived.
Shut the power off before anything gets wet!
Electrified devices will eat themselves up in water, especially salt water before they fail or a breaker trips.
That's why ConEdison tried to shut down the power before the vaults & substations got inundated.
Electrified devices will eat themselves up in water, especially salt water before they fail or a breaker trips.
That's why ConEdison tried to shut down the power before the vaults & substations got inundated.
I'm wondering how many in the Jersey Meadowlands (am transmitter engineers) simply shut down and sand bagged the door. It is alot simpler to recover from a thoughtful shut down, knowing you can start back up once you have a dry tower or two. Rather than letting it run and risk further harm when power meets water.
The smart engineer will be able to put a facility that shut down and then protected the equipment back on the air faster, when the water goes down. Also it may not be the transmitter or flooded ATU that took them down, it could have been a swamped generator. Or even having to shut the generator down and just wait till the water goes down.
I wonder how water tight those sights are? I wonder if any one actually sand bagged the transmitter in the building.
The smart engineer will be able to put a facility that shut down and then protected the equipment back on the air faster, when the water goes down. Also it may not be the transmitter or flooded ATU that took them down, it could have been a swamped generator. Or even having to shut the generator down and just wait till the water goes down.
I wonder how water tight those sights are? I wonder if any one actually sand bagged the transmitter in the building.
WCBS coverage Better than Z100???
I have been listening to the NYC stations throughout the storm. I don't know why R-I says Z100 was the best. By far 880AM has been the best followed by 1010wins. 880 AM was keeping the listeners up to date even on the status of their transmitter site which was taking on water.
I have been listening to the NYC stations throughout the storm. I don't know why R-I says Z100 was the best. By far 880AM has been the best followed by 1010wins. 880 AM was keeping the listeners up to date even on the status of their transmitter site which was taking on water.
Re: WCBS coverage Better than Z100???
Everyone is praising Z100 for their coverage... Before their web stream was taken out by Sandy [and replaced by canned Clear Channel 24/7 News] I was listening a little and mostly heard normal programming with some mentions of Sandy.
(If I am not mistaken the Clear Channel complex lost power at one point -- at last I know there was video posted online of a dark KTU studio)...
Every time I listened it was music mostly with a few small breaks on weather/traffic. I think the big deal here is that Clear Channel took a "different" approach with Z100's programming instead of plug-n-play a news talker or a TV station's audio...
[If I was the owner -- Is this how I would have handled things.. maybe not 100% but I think it's giving broadcasters something to think about -- do we alienate our entire P1 audience with wall to wall news.. or mix it up a little]...
Jamie said:
Everyone is praising Z100 for their coverage... Before their web stream was taken out by Sandy [and replaced by canned Clear Channel 24/7 News] I was listening a little and mostly heard normal programming with some mentions of Sandy.
(If I am not mistaken the Clear Channel complex lost power at one point -- at last I know there was video posted online of a dark KTU studio)...
Every time I listened it was music mostly with a few small breaks on weather/traffic. I think the big deal here is that Clear Channel took a "different" approach with Z100's programming instead of plug-n-play a news talker or a TV station's audio...
[If I was the owner -- Is this how I would have handled things.. maybe not 100% but I think it's giving broadcasters something to think about -- do we alienate our entire P1 audience with wall to wall news.. or mix it up a little]...
1010 WINS was operating at reduced power for a while (probably non-directional into one tower) but they are now up to full power, and thus the simulcast on 92.3 FM has ended.
As of noon today, 540 WLIE, 570 WMCA, 600 WICC, 820 WNYC, 1190 WLIB, 1530 WJDM, and 1600 WWRL were still off the air.
850 WAXB is now back on the air and 1380 WKDM and 1660 WWRU were on the air but weak (probably reduced power, non-directional).
In NJ, daytimers 1070 WKMB and 1170 WWTR are off, and will remain off until power is restored to their transmitter sites.
On 820 kHz I heard WWFD "Federal News Radio" from Frederick, MD. I could also hear 1090 WBAL from Baltimore and 1180 WFYL from King of Prussia, PA. Some good chances for daytime DXing!
As of noon today, 540 WLIE, 570 WMCA, 600 WICC, 820 WNYC, 1190 WLIB, 1530 WJDM, and 1600 WWRL were still off the air.
850 WAXB is now back on the air and 1380 WKDM and 1660 WWRU were on the air but weak (probably reduced power, non-directional).
In NJ, daytimers 1070 WKMB and 1170 WWTR are off, and will remain off until power is restored to their transmitter sites.
On 820 kHz I heard WWFD "Federal News Radio" from Frederick, MD. I could also hear 1090 WBAL from Baltimore and 1180 WFYL from King of Prussia, PA. Some good chances for daytime DXing!
I tell you one thing, NYC radio was and is completely useless for Rockland County residents. The FCC should not have let 103.9 in Westchester move further south and required it to cover Rockland. Rockland does not even have an FM station. The closet FM is WHUD in Peekskill which rather than go wall to wall coverage stayed with Adult Contemporary intersperced with updates that sound like they were produced by a second grader.
The best coverage here were officials and people calling into the low powered daytime AM station with the crap signal, 1300 WRCR.
The best coverage here were officials and people calling into the low powered daytime AM station with the crap signal, 1300 WRCR.
Seems that WMCA was partially under water with Hurricane Irene:
From LAST year
Exhibit 16
Description: REASON FOR REQUEST
THE APPLICANT REQUESTS TEMPORARY SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OPERATE WMCA(AM) WITH REDUCED POWER DUE TO FLOODING CAUSED BY HURRICANE IRENE.
WMCA(AM) OPERATES ON 570 KHZ WITH A POWER OF 5.0 KW USING A 3 TOWER DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA SYSTEM DURING BOTH DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME HOURS (DA-1). THE SITE FLOODED DURING HURRICANE IRENE. WHILE THE STATION WAS OFF-AIR ON SUNDAY NIGHT DUE TO HIGH WATER, OPERATION WAS RESTORED ON MONDAY BUT WITH REDUCED POWER AND ANTENNA PARAMETERS AT VARIANCE WITH LICENSED VALUES. THE ANTENNA IMPEDANCE MATCHING EQUIPMENT REMAINS PARTIALLY UNDER WATER. CLEAN-UP OF THE EQUIPMENT WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS THE WATER RECEDES TO A LEVEL ENABLING THE RESTORATION EFFORT.
So it's a good bet they were really under for Sandy.
From LAST year
Exhibit 16
Description: REASON FOR REQUEST
THE APPLICANT REQUESTS TEMPORARY SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OPERATE WMCA(AM) WITH REDUCED POWER DUE TO FLOODING CAUSED BY HURRICANE IRENE.
WMCA(AM) OPERATES ON 570 KHZ WITH A POWER OF 5.0 KW USING A 3 TOWER DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA SYSTEM DURING BOTH DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME HOURS (DA-1). THE SITE FLOODED DURING HURRICANE IRENE. WHILE THE STATION WAS OFF-AIR ON SUNDAY NIGHT DUE TO HIGH WATER, OPERATION WAS RESTORED ON MONDAY BUT WITH REDUCED POWER AND ANTENNA PARAMETERS AT VARIANCE WITH LICENSED VALUES. THE ANTENNA IMPEDANCE MATCHING EQUIPMENT REMAINS PARTIALLY UNDER WATER. CLEAN-UP OF THE EQUIPMENT WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS THE WATER RECEDES TO A LEVEL ENABLING THE RESTORATION EFFORT.
So it's a good bet they were really under for Sandy.
- Status