The KCBS-FM Transmitter Tower

[fybush]

Not really much more I can add to this discussion beyond what David and others have already supplied, but a few observations anyway:

-The 1,000-foot tower that's home to KCBS-FM is by far the tallest tower among the dozens atop Mount Wilson. As David notes, CBS believed the extra height would give channel 2 a fighting chance to avoid some of the multipath that happens when the antenna is right down low to the mountaintop. Interestingly, CBS no longer owns this tower, and KCBS-TV isn't there any longer; it's now on the old KHJ-TV/FM tower, where it's using the old channel 9 KCAL facilities. There are some now-dated photos of the CBS tower and transmitters here:

http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041224.html

-Flint Peak is certainly superior to Verdugo or to the KYSR/KCRW site on Mulholland, but it's still shadowed to parts of the west side and the southern San Fernando Valley in ways that Wilson is not. Most engineers I know would gladly trade the extra ERP from Flint for the height and clear line of sight from Wilson. And of course, best of all are the grandfathered FMs that have been on Wilson long enough that they're not height-derated: 90.7, 92.3, 93.1, 94.7, 95.5, 101.1, 104.3, 105.1 and 107.5 are among the biggest and best FM signals anywhere in America.

 

[Signal Geek]

Re: Flint Peak site

I don't think the Flint Peak site is that great. Signals from there have significant multipath problems in the western Santa Monica mountains. Which means reception is not great in high-income (i.e. advertiser friendly) areas like Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Calabasas, etc.

Also, I don't believe KSCA was ever on Flint. In 1980, the Flint transmitters were 93.9, 97.1, 105.9 and 106.7. The first three later moved to Mt. Wilson. 106.7 (KROQ) moved up to its old AM site on Verdudo Mtn., and reduced power. Moving even higher up to Wilson would have required a much larger drop in ERP.

 

[davideduardo]

-Flint Peak is certainly superior to Verdugo or to the KYSR/KCRW site on Mulholland, but it's still shadowed to parts of the west side and the southern San Fernando Valley in ways that Wilson is not. Most engineers I know would gladly trade the extra ERP from Flint for the height and clear line of sight from Wilson.

It's interesting that Flint, Verdugo and Mulholland, each with some defects, are the sites of choice for Emmis, Univision, Clear and CBS for auxiliary sites... all the more important after the Station Fire of nearly 3 years ago nearly wiped everything on Wilson out.

In other words, in a catastrophe, those sites are good enough to keep the stations involved operating and, of course, billing, while Wilson is recovered.

 

[davideduardo]

Re: Flint Peak site

I don't think the Flint Peak site is that great. Signals from there have significant multipath problems in the western Santa Monica mountains. Which means reception is not great in high-income (i.e. advertiser friendly) areas like Brentwood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Bel Air, Calabasas, etc.

While the "West Side" may have a certain degree of affluence, it's such a small part of the market (as the lack of success of the 103.1 iterations has shown) that signal deficiencies there are certainly tolerated. Most ratings based buys don't have s/e levels as a criteria, in any case.

Also, I don't believe KSCA was ever on Flint.

In the early KUTE days, when 101.9 was on w. Broadway in Glendale, they had 82 kw from Flint. Look at references from the 60's.

 

[badjef]

There are some now-dated photos of the CBS tower and transmitters here:

I, for one, like "dated". It is a link to the past for a better understanding of how we got here. Keep 'em comin' in any case.

And make sure Ariel is in some of them, too.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!

 

[wdb2003]

With Angel Crest Highway reopen again is it safe to drive up there and is there another route to get there?

ACH is open and is the best way to reach Mt. Wilson. The Cosmic Cafe at Mt Wilson is also open, so you can take a nice drive and enjoy lunch when you get there (proceeds go to the observatory).

There is more to Mt. Wilson than just a tower farm. Take some time to stroll around the observatory grounds. One of the most accurate measurements of the speed of light in the early 20th century was taken there. Mt. Wilson is also where Hubble came up with the "Big Bang Theory." There's a museum and docent led tours on the weekends.

Mt. Wilson is also a great hiking destination from various trailheads below. It's a beautiful area with a lot of history. You can also visit it from your desk here: http://obs.astro.ucla.edu/towercam.htm

Thanks for the info ill keep you posted on my trip

 

[robnokshus06]

David, Thank you for putting up the link to your Ecuadorian adventure. Fascinating story and superbly presented with all of the photos and clippings! Very impressive (and that includes the sideburns)!

 

[jonbruce]

Along with "Signal Geek" I do not recall 101.9 ever being on Flint peak. In the 1960's and very early 70's when then KUTE was a beautifull music format prior to being sold they were on the Occidental building with 82kw in the downtown L.A. area. I remember it being mentioned on the air from time to time. From there they moved to Wilson with all of 640 watts initially up there as the "grandfather clause" was overlooked by the consulting engineer at the time. A noted "grandfather" move was 97.5 Riverside that kept it's 72kw when moving from Box Spring mountain to Heaps peak.

 

[davideduardo]

David, Thank you for putting up the link to your Ecuadorian adventure. Fascinating story and superbly presented with all of the photos and clippings! Very impressive (and that includes the sideburns)!

If you want major 70's hair, look at the Birmingham section from 1972. That was the byproduct of doing a rock-leaning CHR in that era. Of course, our AM played Ben and The Morning After....

 

[davideduardo]

Along with "Signal Geek" I do not recall 101.9 ever being on Flint peak.

From several engineers involved in the market and with the station:

"KUTE was formerly located at Flint Peak, or, to be exact, at a site slightly removed from Flint Peak, essentially a really close adjacent peak. The station was running just over 80kw, but lost its land lease at the beginning stages of the Scholl Canyon landfill project (which makes Flint and the adjacent hump seem much more the same). The station owner filed a distress application for a Mt Wilson move and lost grandfather status in the process. The original KUTE transmitter site was situated behind the Post Office building near the former channel 46 site……they used an old telephone pole to support the antenna. "

In several steps, Golden West moved the station to a better location at 2400 watts and then 4800.

 

[jonbruce]

Thank you David for clearing this up. Learn something new everyday. I guess they were refering to the studio for the old KUTE being on the 30th floor of the Occidental building. Also, I never knew the real reason they lost grandfathering either.

 

[Ai4i]

I put an FM at 14,000 feet...in the Andes. And it talked to well over a million people.

Never seen a map of RTL's original FM station in Lux, but we wonder how many people they cover in Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxemburgh? They are also a couple of kilometers up.