Why The Move To
AM 800? 
Our consulting engineer and many others in the
broadcasting industry are aware that AM signals on the lower end of the dial
tend to be received farther from the transmitter with less interference than
those on the upper end of the dial such as 1250. In effect, even though our
transmitter power is the same as before, many more people will be able to hear
the the signal clearer and for longer time periods than previously.
The old Bauer transmitter served WPEL for over 40 years. It is getting harder and harder to obtain replacement parts. The tubes the transmitter requires are getting more expensive each time they are replaced, and they typically are replaced at least annually. The new transmitter will save over $1,000 a year just for tubes alone. A substantial savings in electrical use is also anticipated.
Also our present tower was the right height to broadcast the AM 800 signal.
Strong reasons to make the change to
AM 800.
How Does A Radio Station Move Frequencies?
First an application must be submitted and approval must be granted from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington D.C. In 2006 the application was completed by our consulting engineer and then submitted for review by our attorneys (These attorneys deal specifically with communication and the FCC) and then the attorneys submitted the application to the FCC.
Approval to change the frequency was received in the summer of 2007 and the planning
began. In September, we purchased a 1KW Solid-State Armstrong Transmitter. Our
chief engineer ordered a rack, inductors, and vacuum variable capacitors. October
17, 2007 was the date decided upon to make the change. Our chief engineer with
the assistance of two other engineers began the change about 9 a.m. Before
moving from
1250 kHz to 800 kHz, the tower and associated cables such as the FM coax line
and deicer cables needed to be adjusted by the use of decoupling components.
The antenna tuning unit was completely rebuilt. A new caox line was
installed for the AM 800 transmitter. A new audio processor and a new
audio line were connected. The modulation monitor was installed. And
last but not least, air tests were conducted resulting in AM 800 being on the
air at approximately 3 p.m. on October 17, 2007.
Did You Note Our Newly Painted
Tower In The Picture?
The
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and also the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) require our tower to be painted, and the tower is also
required to be of a specific brightness. The tower here at WPEL needs to
be painted approximately every 5 years. The orange and white bands and their
related widths are prescribed by the FCC and FAA. The color is “Aviation
Orange”.
Our tower is 300 feet. In September of 2007 the tower was painted by a professional company located in Hazleton, PA. It took two men two days to paint it. If you are visualizing paint brushes or power paint sprayers that is not correct. They used “paint mittens”. Put on your mitten, dip your hand in the paint and paint away. Of course, hold on to the tower with the other hand!
Much Appreciation Goes To Our Listeners Who Contributed To These Projects.
Money designated for AM 800 Equipment is being used to pay for the new transmitter and other materials that were necessary for the changeover.
One of the projects that money contributed to the WPEL Equipment Fund was used for was the painting of the tower .
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