Re: WAAF (was Re: WUMB/WMWM )

["Kyle Stephanos" <majorradiofreak@excite.com>]

>Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 10:08:01 -0500
>From: "Mike Fitzpatrick" <fitzradio@map.com>
>Subject: RE: WUMB/WMWM 

>Keep going....

>WAAF in Worcester isn't licensed to have a directional antenna, >but if
you
>look at it on Asnebumkit Hill in Paxton, its definitely a >directional
>antenna. In Hartford, Several of the Class B FM'ers are >directional
>(WKSS-WMRQ-WPKT-WHCN). The list goes on and on when you start >to get into
>it.
Hello.
 I have been up to Big Asnebumskit Hill in Paxton and noticed the latest
WAAF Installation. It was on the large self supporting type tower on the
southern end of the hill. They have two bays with Radomes or what ever you
call them mounted upper mid-tower. A cluster of cell antennas was located
above the two bays so they are not as high up as a station could be on that
tower. Both "buckets" were mounted exactly on the side of downtown Boston,
as I could see the Boston skyline from the bottom of the tower where I was
parked. The thickness of that tower where the bays are mounted is just that,
very thick and if I recall correctly, it seemed to almost eclipse the
thickness of the two bays, meaning, the opposite side, the West was very
much shadowed. (At least visually) Would this not direct a focused or
concentrated amount of energy towards Boston just by a sort of "default"?
Like it can't be helped that we have to mount these antennas on this
available tower, they have to be mounted, so here they go, all the while
getting an unaccounted directionality much wanted towards Boston without
having to have this on the books so to speak. This tower by the way appears
to be one very thick pole above the approx. mid point. Not a traditional
modern tower.
 I have also wondered if this particular tower they are leasing was part of
the original Yankee Network which tried to cover New England from Paxton as
well as Mt. Washington. The original "Alford" FM structure atop Mt.
Washington which is a WMTW backup has a similar structure with support for
one half at the bottom, and a very thick pole for the second top half. (By
the way, the old Alford antenna was made out of genuine truck springs which
still works for Channel 8 as long as there is no ice)

Best Regards!

Kyle (MajorRadioFreak@excite.com)




________________________________________________________________
Get FREE voicemail, fax and email at http://voicemail.excite.com
Talk online at http://voicechat.excite.com