Propagation in 1965

[Walter Runyon <wrunyon@earthlink.net>]

Here's my 'Bermuda High', 'Indian Summer' Propagation report that still 
stands out as my best ever.

Background:
I was 15 years old in 1965 when my father moved us from our home just 
outside of Philadelphia to (of all paces) Vicksburg, MS. Forget the 
cultural shock (considering the time period), it was just a move for his 
work - he was a Mechanical Engineer and this was just the first move of 
many that kept us hopping all over the planet.

Anyway, It was around this time of year in 1965 when I was watching TV in 
the late afternoon (Probably Discovery '65) when all of a sudden a bunch 
of 'lines' started running through the picture. To get an idea of what it 
was like to get 'TV' in Vicksburg in 1965 you had to have an antenna that 
was at least 60 feet up, and then you could only get three channels (2 
from Jackson, MS and 1 from  Monroe, LA). All three were mixed network 
affiliates, with ABC getting 'short sheeted' in the mix. Anyway I turned 
the 'knob' to change channels, and on Channel 4 a perfectly clear picture 
from WBZ in Boston was coming in. It only lasted about about 1/2 an hour, 
but to me it was an event that got me interested in Radio/TV, and not to 
mention a breath of fresh air in Vicksburg.

It's funny how something as simple as that event had such a major impact 
on my life - I moved to the Boston area in the '80's and now I can get WBZ 
about as well as I did in 1965 - at least when Adelphia has its amplifiers 
tuned properly!

Walter Runyon
wrunyon@earthlink.net