Re: How's your ground?

[Kyle Stephanos <MajorRadioFreak@excite.com>]

In a message dated 01/19/2000 01:06:29 EST PM Eastern Standard Time
WhomFAN@aol.com writes:

>> 
>>  --- SteveOrdinetz <steveord@wavewizard.com> wrote:
>>  > 
>>  > 
>>  > I know about channel 8, WHOM & WPKQ but what is
>>  > the second tv station with
>>  > it's tx on Mt. Washington?
>>  
>>  As I read the article, it said that there were two
>>  TV transmitters, not 2 TV stations.  I would presume
>>  that the second TX is a backup for WMTW.  I would
>>  presume that a complete backup would be absolutly
>>  necessary, since if something went wrong with the
>>  main antenna or tower in the middle of the winter,
>>  It might be months before anyone could safely go up
>>  there to access and fix the problem. 
>>  
>>  I think this ground system predates digital TV, so I
>>  don't think we are talking about WMTW-DT.
>>  
>>  =====
>>  Larry Weil
>>  Lake Wobegone, NH
>--------------
>that is correct I checked it last year when I was up there WMTW-8 has a 
>primary which is a RCA and a backup which looks well weathered (I would
guess 
>the old one) I have some PICS from up there will have to dig them out.

>WHOM and WPKQ have only one ant each they are separated by at least 200
feet 
>as I recall more likely 500 feet or more.


>good day

Hello!
I was up on the summit on one of those EDU trips back in JAN 96 when we had
the last cold WX outbreak and visited with Marty! What a nice guy!
Just wanted to mention that WHOM has its own back up antenna with
two bays. http://www.mountwashington.com/summit/wmtw-tv.html
 This is a photo of WHOM's main antenna on the left, the
WHOM back up (2 bays) and the WMTW back up on the right (The old
Alford antenna). By the way, Marty told me that that old Alford
antenna used to be the location of the original Yankee FM antenna,
but is now the Channel 8 back up. And it is true, the elements on that
antenna are made out of truck springs! When asked if the signal in
Portland was OK, Marty said the term "OK" was a poorly defined term
and they were happy the RCA was retuned and operating fine. They
try not to use the old back up even though it works, when its iced
up as the SWR levels hit the roof.
WPKQ has the big directional tower on the North side of the summit.
I have noticed two bays on the lower NW side of their tower below their main
antenna bays that I would assume is their back up.
I am still amazed they have 103.7 on Mt Washington. Just seems to 
be so short spaced with Keene. Someone must have been quite upset
about this station in Keene. They are directional to the NE of course.

One more interesting thing about WHOM...During a previous visit, WHOM
was using their back up antenna and the main was all apart and being
repaired. I asked Mr. Engstrom what that repair was all about during
my winter visit, and he said they were "tightening the beam" to focus
maximum signal towards the far horizon and to keep as much RF from that
mighty
blow torch off the parking lot and over peoples heads. They did not raise
the tower at all on account of the grandfather status WHOM enjoys.
I found that quite fascinating.


Best Regards!

Kyle (MajorRadioFreak@excite.com)








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