WCAP Lowell has been off the air for most of the week. It appears the transmitter has failed according to their website.
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WCAP off air
- Thread starter theweatherhawk
- Start date
theweatherhawk said:
I thought I heard it a couple of days ago, but at a very low power, barely audible in Somerville/Cambridge where it normally comes in weak, but listenable.
Cue the Cambodian music.
NHRadio said:
There was reportedly a problem with their antenna system, not their transmitter, a couple of months ago that had them at low power for a number of weeks. This may be another antenna related problem rather than a transmitter problem.
Eli Polonsky said:
I realize that there is a tremendous variation in the prices for AM phasors (a unit for a two-tower array has to cost a lot less than a unit for a nine-tower array). But when everything is working properly, WCAP uses two towers by day and three towers by night. Only one tower is common between the day and night arrays, which explains why the site contains a total of four towers. I don't know the price range for typical 5-kW AM TXs these days nor do I know the price range for four-tower, 5-kW AM phasors these days, but I can imagine that a new phasor might cost WCAP more than a new Tx. Moreover, unlike transmitters, which are fairly standard and hence available used in pretty good supply, AM phasors are pretty much unique to each station, so it probably would take a great stroke of luck to find a usable used phasor that would work at WCAP.
The upside of a phasor problem is that unless it was a direct nuclear hit or lightning strike directly inside the phasor cabinet, each part is a separate component.
Maybe a coil or two, or a cap or two would get damaged. But not the whole thing.
A 5kW AM box depends on a few things price wise. Do you want to go new (good idea) or get something on the used market (necessary if the budget doesn't exist).
Maybe a coil or two, or a cap or two would get damaged. But not the whole thing.
A 5kW AM box depends on a few things price wise. Do you want to go new (good idea) or get something on the used market (necessary if the budget doesn't exist).
Eli Polonsky said:
I've now got it on good authority that an antenna problem is a) the likely cause of WCAP being off the air and b) most likely is the result of problems in one or more of the four ATUs. Physical challenges at the WCAP site probably make repairs to the ATUs much more difficult than one might expect. Although ATUs are not inherently expensive to repair, repairing WCAP's ATUs may cost a lot more than would similar repairs at most other stations. In fact, the likelihood of the need for similar repairs at other stations is reportedly not all that great. IOW, WCAP's ATU problems are probably unique to WCAP.
They are back on the air at low power. The MW-5 has been out of service for some time and this past week the Bauer 1kw backup was not operating as well. The back up was repaired over the weekend. Thats the story i heard from someone who was there.
Time for a new Nautel XR6
The Harris was purchased new in 1980 when the station went full time 5000 watts. The Bauer I believe was the original transmitter that the station signed on with at the former Dracut location in 1951. I was there in 1980 when it was moved over from Dracut to the new Lowell transmitter site. So that puppy is 62 years old!
WCCM has a beautiful RCA, the original WHAV transmitter sitting up there next to the MW-1 and BE AM1A, which is now the main.
Don't know if the old RCA still works, I think a few parts were scavenged out of it. But it's mostly complete, tubes are all still good and in place. If anyone wants to fire up CONELRAD, it can pull that off too.
What are the problems with the ATU at WCAP? Anyone know who's taking care of the place?
Don't know if the old RCA still works, I think a few parts were scavenged out of it. But it's mostly complete, tubes are all still good and in place. If anyone wants to fire up CONELRAD, it can pull that off too.
What are the problems with the ATU at WCAP? Anyone know who's taking care of the place?
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