WCBS-AM Overnight Transmitter maintenance

[Theater of My Mind]

The announcement stated they would be "off the air for the next few hours to perform transmitter upgrades". So for all you old-timers who like to DX the AM dial, tonight you'll be able to party like it's 1939.

 

[nd2023]

I hear IBUZ from WLS and/or WWL, and a weak signal from WZAB.

 

[Bongwater]

I'm surprised AM stations still do this. I haven't heard maintenance sign-offs in years......

 

[chrish]

Probably ATU, tower or electrical work common to both Con Edison and generator power making staying on the air during this work very difficult, in reality not actual transmitter work.

 

[SteveScott]

Probably ATU, tower or electrical work common to both Con Edison and generator power making staying on the air during this work very difficult, in reality not actual transmitter work.

Nope. Wrong guess.

New transmitter installation.

 

[pjc1961]

Thanks, Steve.

Being as both stations transmit from the same location (High Island, Bronx, NY),
by chance, I wonder if there's work being done on WFAN's transmitting facilities as well since I heard WFAN "flipping" in and out of HD and occasional audio dropouts around Jan. 20th. Mere coincidence?

 

[SteveScott]

Beats me. I'm just a humble news anchor...

 

[davideduardo]

I'm surprised AM stations still do this. I haven't heard maintenance sign-offs in years......

There are quite a few situations where an AM has to go off for maintenance. Anything that has to do with the antenna system (unless an auxiliary antenna is available, a not so common occurrence) such as replacing spark gaps, isocouplers, working on the "dog house" or even in some cases painting the tower itself will requirer being off the air. Also, work on the phasor for directionals will do the same thing usually (unless a bypass at low power to a single tower is an option). Similarly, rewiring of the transmitter building, replacement of master breakers and changes in alternate / main antenna switches might require silencing, even for an hour or two, the station to put in temporary wiring.

 

[badjef]

I'm surprised AM stations still do this. I haven't heard maintenance sign-offs in years......

There are quite a few situations where an AM has to go off for maintenance. Anything that has to do with the antenna system (unless an auxiliary antenna is available, a not so common occurrence) such as replacing spark gaps, isocouplers, working on the "dog house" or even in some cases painting the tower itself will requirer being off the air. Also, work on the phasor for directionals will do the same thing usually (unless a bypass at low power to a single tower is an option). Similarly, rewiring of the transmitter building, replacement of master breakers and changes in alternate / main antenna switches might require silencing, even for an hour or two, the station to put in temporary wiring.

In other words, blink and you'll miss it, because it is rarely posted on Facebook.

Jeff in Sa-ra-so-ta!