WBZ..."The Tone"

[VoiceofWayne]

To bad they couldn't bring back the CBS top of the hour chimes and news alert. I remember hearing them on the old WEEI.

And this from the great WCBS with Jim Donnelly and Robert Vaughn. The good stuff starts 25 seconds into the clip:

http://donswaim.com/donnelly.vaughn.headlines.mp3

 

[Schuyler]

Trivial But True Department:

WIZZ 1520 Greenfield appropriated WTIC's V for Victory tone and also runs it at the TOH, although it's probably in the automation computer and not the airchain.

 

[dhoule]

I love that News 88 clip. The best team was Farnsworth and Parsons. And a very good afternoon to you!

 

[robotique]

The WTIC tone is generated in the rack room at the studio, but is inserted into the sidechain with time correction. It's a great custom system, here's a picture:

http://www.wticalumni.com/events/2008 Reunion/WTIC_Tour-DHK.html#12

As I understand how it works, the GPS clock time is advanced by 15.5 seconds (7 second profanity delay, 8.5 second HD delay.) By doing this, the tone airs at exactly the right time.

Great post! I'm not into all of the technicality of it, but the fact that they have timed the on-air tone to the precise second is fascinating.

But then, this is a station that sponsored pattern changes.

agreed. this post is nerd-tastically interesting. thanks for sharing

 

[thirdendorsed]

And this from the great WCBS with Jim Donnelly and Robert Vaughn. The good stuff starts 25 seconds into the clip:

http://donswaim.com/donnelly.vaughn.headlines.mp3

There ina nutshell you have Donnelly and Vaughn demonstrating why WBZ is a jok,e leading into Bill Lynch who similarly was far superior to what they have now at CBS

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

leading into Bill Lynch who similarly was far superior to what they have now at CBS

Not even close. That was Charles Osgood.

 

[LA_Guy]

True and often during the news they will say the current time, etc
One can always use (if you can) time.gov to set clocks, or WWV (still running?) and years ago I would call a certain number and get:
"New England Telephone (or whatever) time is seven-thirty-three (ding) exactly. Temperature 70, Fahrenheit..."
I think we were told to dial NESTLES or 637-xxxx or something

Sadly, 617.637.1212 (Boston time and temperature) was discontinued about 2 years ago. However WWV and WWVH are still alive and well on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 MHz and WWV is also on 20 MHz. You can phone in WWV at 303.499.7111 or WWVH at 808.335.4363. The calls are at regular rates and last for 2 minutes.

The old 617.637.1212 was originally known as MEridian 7-1212 back in the days of lettered exchanges. For fun, to dial the time lady you could punch in N-E-S-T-L-E-S or dial N-E-R-V-O-U-S or just dial 637-xxxx (any 4 digits would do).

You could use any 4 digits with 637 and many knew of that number as NERVOUS or NESTLES.