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WLAC TRANSMITTERS THROUGH THE YEARS

B

Bob E. Nelson

I hope this catches Watt Hairston's attention since he'd certainly be one to know.

1). When did WLAC switch to the 50,000 watt Continental? I seem to remember that it was in service circa 1974 and still going into the early 80's.

2). On a marginally-related topic, did Collins ever make an AM 50 kW rig? I've seen those flamethrowers made by Westinghouse, RCA, Western Electric, GE and Continental back in the day but don't remember a Collins with that power.
 
Bob,
The Continental 317C replaced the 1941 WE 407A in late 1968, but it ran sitting out on the porch surrounded in ply-wood until the old WE was removed about 1972. In 1991, we purchased one of the WABC MW50A/B units as a main and moved the 317C as back-up. After I departed in 1998, they installed a Harris DX-50 to replace the Continental, then several years later they replaced the MW-50 with a Harris 3DX50 after a dramatic failure of that box.

On the Collins question, they never marketed a 50kw medium-frequency AM transmitter. I think I saw a photo of a prototype once, but they never went into production.
 
Watt Hairston said:
Bob,
The Continental 317C replaced the 1941 WE 407A in late 1968, but it ran sitting out on the porch surrounded in ply-wood until the old WE was removed about 1972. In 1991, we purchased one of the WABC MW50A/B units as a main and moved the 317C as back-up. After I departed in 1998, they installed a Harris DX-50 to replace the Continental, then several years later they replaced the MW-50 with a Harris 3DX50 after a dramatic failure of that box.

On the Collins question, they never marketed a 50kw medium-frequency AM transmitter. I think I saw a photo of a prototype once, but they never went into production.
Click to expand...

Watt,

Didn't they add the BE 5A, 5 KW, back up transmitter when you where there. Jason Cooper, who's taking care of the site now told me there was a new BE over there that look as if it was never used. I bought a BE AM1A, rack mount box. It's been the best investment I ever made. All I'm using for processing is an Inovonics 235, that has the AGC 3 Band limiter, clipper, etc, not their cheap 222 NRSC Box. I did have an Omina 3, but it always sounded muddy with the BE. I called Bob Mayben at SCMS and had him send me an Inovonics 235. The audio cleared up, the muddy sound went away, and I gained some loudness.

I was going to by the Nautel J-1000, but at the time I didn't know anybody who had one. I sold my Harris (Gates One). To me, that box was never loud and used 80's technology from the old SX Series of the 80's. I was not impress with the Harris DAX-1.

Man, it's been 20+ years since I've been to the WSM-AM transmitter site. I'd like to see the Harris 50 KW box in action.

For Bob Nelson, where in the Hell have you been? We have all missed ya! I asked Hoyt at WNAH where you were and he acted like he didn't have a clue, but I think he was tired that day. He still beating that Gates BC-1T. We've talked and "I think" he has Jo Ann Irwin talked into a BE, since he saw mine. I think Mr. Irwin doesn't care anymore, as long as it's on. Why not you take the old Gates BC-1T and use it for 160 meters? Call me or come by when you can or get Hoyt to let me know when your in town so we can meet up!

Scott
 
The MW-50 series was known for its "dramatic" ends.
The 3DX-60 in action is kind of a let down. Just sits there with its pretty display.
The floor no longer vibrates with bass modulation like the older transmitters.
 
I have a question for Watt:

What was WSM's first transmitter? From reading, I know it was a 1,000 watt rig. Was it homebrew box? Was the antenna for WSM two poles and long wire on insulators?

I've seen a picture of WLAC's transmitter of the 30's on the Clear Channel Site, the 5 KW Box. Was WLAC at 1000 watts when they went on in 1926, to share time with WTNT? Was their transmitter a homebrew box?

I guess back in the early 20's, lots of transmitters were homebrewed boxes, until the 30's rolled around when Collins and RCA started regular production of their gear. It's amazing how we can get 1,000 watts in a 60 lbs box these days. Now, they need to make it where the user can change frequency "on the fly", for multi sites or letting a station that's off the air borrow a box, since they are so lite now.
 
boiseengineer said:
The MW-50 series was known for its "dramatic" ends.
The 3DX-60 in action is kind of a let down. Just sits there with its pretty display.
The floor no longer vibrates with bass modulation like the older transmitters.
Click to expand...

Yes, they could indeed go off with a "bang!", the 317C could also but with the MW-50 25 kV B+, it could make you consider other lines of work.
w/
 
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