ENGINEERING NEWS:

GREYLOCK ANTENNA DAMAGE REPORT.

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Hello my friend. Welcome to the WAMC engineering page. My name is Pat Cooney. I am Vice President for Operations  here at your public radio station. I will try to keep this page as up to date as possible. Sometimes things move very quickly during storms and power outages. Many of these times, I am out in the field working, and not near my computer or a reliable internet connection. I will do my best to keep this page updated.
If you are experiencing a problem with reception in your area, I would love to hear about it. Not all of our transmitter facilities have internet connectivity, so your report or complaint may be the best way for us to get the ball rolling on repair.
You can e mail me pcooney@wamc.org or call my desk (800)323-9262 ext 101, or just dial 0 and report your complaint to the operator. We have someone on duty here at all times, even the middle of the night, so your message will get through.
Look to this page often for the latest technical news about our transmitters and translators including some great new information about digital radio which is here and will get even better. Thanks for checking in.

Pat Cooney
WAMC Operations
pcooney@wamc.org


GREYLOCK ANTENNA WORK MONDAY OCTOBER 18, 2010.

What happened at Greylock???    Posted 10/08/10 Cooney

Damaged transmission line information. Posted 10/08/10  11am  P. Cooney

 

First, some knowledge…

WAMC utilizes rigid transmission line to connect the transmitter with the antenna on the tower.  Rigid line is basically copper pipe with a copper inner pipe to carry the signal.  These are usually in 20 foot sections, and get bolted together with flanges.  There can be pre-made 90 degree angles and other adaptors, inner connectors, and line sections that can be used here.  Think plumbing, which is why we sometimes call this plumbing.  Except there should not be water in this plumbing!

 

Well, guess what happened?  The transmission line had water in it.  It appears a leak existed for some time at a flange about 30 feet up on the tower.  This allowed water to seep in and gather in the transmission line.  We pulled apart about 80 feet of line to determine where it was wet.  It was dry at the antenna, the wetness started at about 30 feet.  The water had been in there a long time, potentially years, given the color and mold inside the line.

 

We dried the inside of the line, and put it back together, and ascertained it was not leaking. 

 

Ironically, we are replacing the transmission line when we change the antenna.  The line we will go to is a little different, as it will not have all of the adaptors, connections etc that are prone to failure, as happened.  We will have to protect the new line from ice. 

 

While we had down time, we were able to work on the STL systems .  the STL is the studio to transmitter link.  A few weeks ago, we installed a Starlink digital radio stl system that was purchased in 2004.  With configuration at the studio side and the Greylock side, we got sufficient signal to make that work, along with the discrete (left channel, right channel) system.    Yesterday, we worked with switching antennas and filters to maximize the signals, and also incorporate the Mosely LanLink, also purchased on 04.  I am happy to say we got the system working.  This is a major milestone, as the LanLink gives us IP connectivity to Greylock.  First indications were this signal was really good, we are going to have to check over some more time… but, I am encouraged, since yesterday had a lot of cloud cover and was wet, while all the trees that attenuate signals between Albany and Greylock still have leaves.  

 

We will use the LanLink for the remote control, at first.

 

Also, we got both new equipment racks in place.  We still have the old remote control connected, just in the original rack pushed away.  We cleaned out all of the old wiring we could to this point, and reworked the electric for the racks.  The foundation is in place for a solid rebuild. 

  

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW HD RADIO WORKS?
TRY THIS LINK.  

www.hdradio.com/how_does_hd_digital_radio_work.php


CONSTRUCTION DELAYS IN STAMFORD NY.

WANZ 90.1 Stamford, NY was supposed to go on the air September 15 2010. Unfortunately we have run into construction delays.

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ONEONTA FREQUENCY CHANGE - May 2010

Dear Listeners,

As you know, WAMC is no longer broadcasting on 88.9 mHz in Oneonta. WAMC continues to be available at 99.3 mHz.

Both 88.9 mHz and 99.3 mHz are licensed as translator facilities by the Federal Communications Commission. As such, they are considered secondary services and are subject to protection requirements to certain other facilities.

Family Life Network commenced operation on 88.9 Mhz at Unadilla, NY earlier this month. The interference to our 88.9 signal would have been significant and due to the proximity of the two facilities, our 88.9 signal was required to vacate that frequency prior to Family Life commencing operation.

It is our intent to relocate the 88.9 facility to a different frequency and location in order to maximize coverage of WAMC.

In the meantime, WAMC continues to be heard on 99.3 mHz. This facility is superior to the older 88.9 facility in that it operates with greater power and covers greater area. 

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97.3 FM is on the air in Cooperstown NY. ENJOY!!!!
We are very excited about this new frequency.
Welcome to the WAMC family. : ) -   Pat  GO METS!!

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Announcement:  WRUN-AM 1150  was signed off the air November 30, 2009. It's no longer part of the WAMC network. Please listen to WRUN 90.3 in Remsen. A sad day for me. I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that station, rebuilding the place after the fire. I will miss it. However, it was a monster and was sucking up a lot of resources. Pat

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ARE YOU LISTENING TO WAMC 2 ON YOUR NEW IBOC RADIO?
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. No really, let me know what you think. pcooney@wamc.org

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GREAT NEWS!  We are on the air at 90.3 FM in Remsen NY!

If you are in the Utica-Rome area, tune us in. I would be very interested in hearing reports on the signal quality and where you are listening. I hear it's not that great in downtown Utica. Let me know. Thanks.

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