Re: Query: Since WEIM Faces the Ocean, Why Does It Power Down At Night?

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

My guess is that the center tower would have to come 
down and be replaced by two towers. Who knows what 
environmental/zoning hassles would result? The current 
array consists of towers spaced 110 degrees apart. If 
the center tower were replaced by two towers, the 
spacing would be reduced to 73.33 degrees. The 
combination of more towers and closer spacing would 
definitely enable a narrower pattern and, presumably, 
higher night power. But the day pattern could then 
become a problem. The current day pattern uses two of 
the three towers. A pattern that used two towers 73.33 
degrees apart would be narrower than the current day 
pattern. A pattern that used two towers 146.67 degrees 
apart would be wider. Maybe a three-tower pattern could 
be synthesized that would mimic the current two-tower 
pattern or maybe all four towers could be used at higher 
power--improving coverage of the affluent corridor along 
Route 2 and also improving the signal in Lowell.
--
dan.strassberg@att.net
617-558-4205
eFax 707-215-6367
> Gee, since there's a "lurker" from WEIM out there, maybe he can answer 
> this question...WEIM's array points ESE toward the mighty Atlantic Ocean;
> but for as long as I can remember, it has reduced power from 5KW to a puny
> 1KW at sunset.  Why can't they just squeeze the pattern a little and keep going
> at 5K?  I only mention this because I just recently returned from upstate NY/
> Western Mass...and when I do, I check in at 1280 in the vicinity of Rt 2 @ 495
> (also 960) after dark.  Sometimes they're fine, other times, like last Sunday
> (07/07) they're being battered by co-channels, probably in La Canade.
> If WEIM had 5000 watts (or more!) it probably wouldn't interfere with
> other outlets at 1280 it seems to me.