Re: WXKS-AM & WJIB

[Aaron Read <aread@speakeasy.net>]

At 12:51 AM 6/10/2003, A. Joseph Ross wrote:
>On 9 Jun 2003 at 13:32, Aaron Read wrote:
>
> > A better solution would be to try and diplex onto WBZ's tertiary backup
> > tower in Lower Allston.
>
>"tertiary backup"???

"tertiary" is an adjective for "third".

Last time I talked to Bob Hess about it...say 6-8 months ago...he said they 
have a primary transmitter system in Hull that is NOT stereo-enabled and 
they're installing IBOC on.  Then there's a backup system, also in Hull, 
that IS stereo but is not getting anything IBOC yet.   Otherwise the two 
systems are identical in power, pattern, and capability.   As you might 
imagine, the backup is rarely used....the primary is pretty reliable 
(somewhat recent events notwithstanding).

The tower in Allston by their studios is a tertiary (third-level) backup 
that's only 10,000 watts and I think the soil conductivity there isn't as 
good as Hull, either (not sure - the Charles IS only 300ft away I suppose) 
so overall the signal's nowhere near as good but it's better than no signal 
at all should a natural disaster wipe out the primary/backup site in 
Hull.   I don't know the last time the tertiary backup was fired up for 
actual use (or for testing for that matter) but I'll bet it was 
lo-o-o-o-o-ong time ago.  Our esteemed Mr. Fybush may know more about that.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron "Bishop" Read             aread@speakeasy.net
FriedBagels Consulting          AOL-IM: readaaron
http://www.friedbagels.com      Boston, MA