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WWVA

K

KeyTimes950

This actually was posted in some other places including Facebook. Thoughts, folks? From WWVA's website ...

DURING THE SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE 3 TOWERS IN ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH USED TO BROADCAST THE SIGNAL FOR NEWS RADIO 1170-WWVA, WERE LITERALLY KNOCKED OVER BY THE STRONG WINDS AND CURRENTLY ARE ON THE GROUND, AND THE STATION IS OFF THE AIR. OUR CREWS ARE WORKING TO GET SOME TEMPORARY TOWERS IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT UNTIL THEN…STARTING AT 6AM THURSDAY MORNING 8/5/10, ALL OF WWVA’S PROGRAMMING CAN BE HEARD ON AM 1400…WBBD, WHERE WE WILL BRING YOU FURTHER UPDATES.
 
Not a reply to myself, per se, just an update from WWVA's website ...

OUR ENGINEERING CREWS ARE ON SITE NOW WORKING TO GET SOME TEMPORARY TOWERS IN PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE….HOPEFULLY THE 1170 SIGNAL WILL BE BACK ON THE AIR SOMETIME THIS AFTERNOON.

CHECK BACK HERE OFTEN OR STAY TUNED TO AM 1400 FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.
 
When were these towers placed in service? Are these the same ones I listened to in the mid 60's?
 
They sure were, Bob. These were the original towers dating back to the 1940s move to 1170.
 
Scott Fybush said:
They sure were, Bob. These were the original towers dating back to the 1940s move to 1170.
Click to expand...
I found a WWVA history site. Looks like they had a good 68 year run. I'd say they got their money's worth out of that steel!
 
Anyone know what the temporary antenna is?
 
Long wire (actually inverted L) from the 50' stub of one of the towers to the stub of another; about 5 kw.
 
TomT said:
Long wire (actually inverted L) from the 50' stub of one of the towers to the stub of another; about 5 kw.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Is it operating 24/7 at that power?
 
BobOnTheJob said:
TomT said:
Long wire (actually inverted L) from the 50' stub of one of the towers to the stub of another; about 5 kw.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Is it operating 24/7 at that power?
Click to expand...

This is the application WWVA filed today with the FCC for a SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY to operate with A LONG WIRE ANTENNA:

https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/w...xt=25&appn=101394966&formid=911&fac_num=44046

Exhibits Exhibit 16
Description: EX 16

CAPSTAR TX LLC SEEKS SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OPERATE STATION WWVA WITH A LONG WIRE ANTENNA IN A NON-DIRECTIONAL MANNER WITH POWER REDUCED TO NOT EXCEED 12.5 KW, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT, DUE TO VERY SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO ALL 3 OF THE SELF SUPPORTING TOWERS UTILIZED AS ELEMENTS IN THE WWVA ANTENNA ARRAY.

AN EXTREME WIND EVENT IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 4, 2010 RESULTED IN EACH TOWER BEING DAMAGED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ONLY 40 TO 50 FEET OF EACH SELF SUPPORTING TOWER WAS LEFT STANDING.

WWVA HAS REMOVED THE DAMAGED SECTION OF TOWER, LEAVING STUBS OF EACH TOWER IN PLACE. FROM THE TOP OF THE EASTERN MOST TOWER IN THE ARRAY, A LONG WIRE HAS BEEN ATTACHED AND BONDED TO THIS TOWER AT THE HIGHEST ACCESSIBLE POINT. THIS WIRE EXTENDS APPROXIMATELY 125 FEET IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION TO AN APPROPRIATE INSULATING ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS ITSELF SUSPENDED BY A REMAINING STUB TOWER, AT APPROXIMATELY 40 FOOT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.

THE PUBLIC INTEREST WILL BE SERVED BY THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF WWVA AS THE LICENSEE MAKES THE NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE ARRAY.
 
Guyed. Self supporters look nice, but guyed towers might have survived the straight line winds that took down the old towers.

They were surveying this week.
 
I remember reading in a book about a long-wire antenna used by WLW before they put up the Blaw-Knox tower. Is this the first time a long-wire antenna has been put to use since then?
 
TomT said:
Guyed. Self supporters look nice, but guyed towers might have survived the straight line winds that took down the old towers.

They were surveying this week.
Click to expand...
Hope they check the signal in the main lobes when they tune it up. Self Supporter fell at WNDE 1260 Indianapolis 16-18 years ago. Their once killer nightime signal at 40 miles is now inaudible. Whether the fact that they replaced the huge self supporter with a skinny little guyed tower contributed to the loss or not, I can't say. But in a directional antenna world where the nulls get all the attention--and while the insurance company is on the hook for the rebuild, I hope that the consultants who tune this will pay attention to the main lobe as well as the nulls.
 
I know the signal really isn't aimed at Pittsburgh but with its current situation WWVA seems to be coming in clearer in some parts here at night, and I live in the city's eastern suburbs.
 
TomT said:
Guyed. Self supporters look nice, but guyed towers might have survived the straight line winds that took down the old towers.

They were surveying this week.
Click to expand...

Any tower has a weakness. Guyed towers can fall if there is a single support (guy) wire failure and the correct angle of wind and some ice. Murphy’s Law can strike. I have been at two stations where a guy wire and a farmer’s bush hog get tangled. I have got to give credit to the brave tower climbers who fixed the support wires. As for the signal, daytime ground wave is what most people receive. There should not be much of a difference if the towers are the same height and the ground system is intact. I have always heard that five eights wave length is a good practical physical height for AM towers if you can not afford a full wavelength tower.
 
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