75 years of WLW

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Force Commander
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75 years of WLW

Post by Force Commander »

A Cincinnati Enquirer story about the anniversary of the start of 500kw broadcasting.

This article also has a link to some cool photos, including a few of the old 500kw transmitter. Wait until you see those transformers!

Article:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2009 ... /1055/NEWS

Photos only:


http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... s=Itemnr=1

http://www.wmkvfm.org/ will broadcast a program today (5-1-09) at 4pm eastern called “The WLW Superpower Years”. Description:
Historic audio from programs broadcast on WLW-AM’s 500,000 transmitter in the 1930s will air during a one-hour special at 4 p.m. today on WMKV-FM (89.3), the noncommercial nostalgia station in Springdale.

“The WLW Superpower Years” also will include interview from those who worked at WLW-AM during the half-million-watt years of 1934 through 1943, says host Mike Martini.

The special marks the 75th anniversary of WLW-AM being the first and only U.S. station to broadcast on 500,000 watts starting May 2, 1934.
They have a stream link at the front page.
Last edited by Force Commander on Fri May 01, 2009 3:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Hoosier Daddy
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Re: 75 years of WLW

Post by Hoosier Daddy »

Great article. Neat pictures.

A question to the engineering folks: Is there something technically superior about those diamond shaped Blaw-Knox towers? I notice a number of clear channel heritage AM stations have them. Was it just a marketing gimmick? Was there any technicial or engineering superiority to using the diamond shaped tower over a traditional guyed stick? Why doesn't anyone use them anymore? Just really curious.

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genlock
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Re: 75 years of WLW

Post by genlock »

When using towers of about a half-wavelength or so the maximum current node will be at the center of the tower.
The fat center helps keep a low resistance in that area. The guy wires are there and are insulated from the tower.
The middle is a low voltage point on that type of tower. This type of tower would be very expensive to build today.
And nobody cares about AM broadcasting. The look of the tower is way cool. WSM has one of these that is slightly taller
and is visible from the interstate in Brentwood, TN. AM radio engineers are usually fat around the center also.
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Hoosier Daddy
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Re: 75 years of WLW

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Cameron should build one for 930. Or four of them.
He has unlimited money now, and he isn't fat around the middle.

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Re: 75 years of WLW

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An engineer sits at the control console in front of WLW-AM's 500,000-watt transmitter in Mason in the 1930s.
Sadly, later, his children were born with purple hair, green noses, and four ears, and his brain was found to resemble Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Steak & Cheese soup.
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Re: 75 years of WLW

Post by sportsvoice »

Arp2 wrote:
An engineer sits at the control console in front of WLW-AM's 500,000-watt transmitter in Mason in the 1930s.
Sadly, later, his children were born with purple hair, green noses, and four ears, and his brain was found to resemble Campbell's Chunky Baked Potato with Steak & Cheese soup.
Telling people that sort of thing is a good way to keep them away from the Marti antenna at ball games.
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Re: 75 years of WLW

Post by Big Media »

sportsvoice wrote:Telling people that sort of thing is a good way to keep them away from the Marti antenna at ball games.
Ever touch one with your tongue?

I did. Lightening actually struck at that very moment.
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