Great tour of a wonderful AM transmitter site. I managed a 5kW site (2 tower day, 4 tower nite; different day and nite patterns) and they had a similar Art Deco transmitter building complete with basement. Unfortunately, the many previous owners had never put any real maintenance or upkeep to the place and it looked like the apartment area of this site. I tried to clean it up, but it was just too much. Coincidentally, I worked with a CCA Ultimate stereo console back in the late 70's. It was a workhorse and sounded great on the FM station where I worked. When they retired it, I tried to get it, but no luck. I loved watching those huge meters when on the air! Thanks for the tour. Great facility. I'm so glad someone cares enough about this station to keep the transmitter site in such great shape. By the way, I started in radio when I was 15 and am 61 now, spending about 40 years on the air. Semi-retired now only doing voiceovers.
I'm glad you enjoyed the transmitter tour. We went through several sites that day but the one which really blew my mind was the one where you could walk into the transmitter! I entered broadcast service in the summer of 1983 while still in high school. Was working as a television CE until a couple of years ago when new owners came in and started tossing people out.
Wow! A Sparta AS30, the original model with the pushbutton rotary input selector on Channel 5. I not only worked at a station with one of these, but my HS station had an A15, which also had that selector!
I am looking at photos of the KIRO transmitter plant taken October 2021. There appears to be rectangular panels mounted at roughly one third height on the antennas. Curious to know the function of those panels. Old school equipment = warm sound / works of art. Modern equipment = low distortion / cost efficient.
The panel is a microwave link. Regarding the old equipment, yes the sound was warm. A lot of those consoles were still in use when I started working in radio. They were bullet proof and worked well!
The old transmitters contrast with the Nautel which is so futuristic. Interesting tour seeing the old and new together under one roof. I still marvel at the efficiency and low operational cost of the Nautel.
The new rigs are definitely more efficient but when you apply plate voltage to one of those old Continental 50kw monsters, there is no doubt that it's on the air! You can hear it and feel it.
Those old, room-size tube transmitters are a cool relic but not very economical. Poor efficiency (maybe 60% vs 88% on today's solid state AM transmitters), lots of internal noise, costly to maintain, takes up a lot of space.
All true but I will say this...….When you applied the plate voltage, there was no doubt that you were on the air! You could hear it and almost feel it. I think the old rigs had a warmer sound quality as well.
@@exploreupstateny413 At the start. I do old radios and that would be great for my workshop. My dad used to play music like this at various clubs we used to go to. He had a band etc. Loads of war time and 50's and 60's stuff like "Strangers in the night". Just reminds me of those wonderful times now sadly lost. Austin Healey's look great too. Where exactly is this station? Also how about the update if possible?
Great tour of a wonderful AM transmitter site. I managed a 5kW site (2 tower day, 4 tower nite; different day and nite patterns) and they had a similar Art Deco transmitter building complete with basement. Unfortunately, the many previous owners had never put any real maintenance or upkeep to the place and it looked like the apartment area of this site. I tried to clean it up, but it was just too much.
Coincidentally, I worked with a CCA Ultimate stereo console back in the late 70's. It was a workhorse and sounded great on the FM station where I worked. When they retired it, I tried to get it, but no luck. I loved watching those huge meters when on the air!
Thanks for the tour. Great facility. I'm so glad someone cares enough about this station to keep the transmitter site in such great shape.
By the way, I started in radio when I was 15 and am 61 now, spending about 40 years on the air. Semi-retired now only doing voiceovers.
I'm glad you enjoyed the transmitter tour. We went through several sites that day but the one which really blew my mind was the one where you could walk into the transmitter! I entered broadcast service in the summer of 1983 while still in high school. Was working as a television CE until a couple of years ago when new owners came in and started tossing people out.
a big greeting to all the engineers I send you a cordial greeting and from Miami.
The old equipment with the tubes was just too cool
Wow! A Sparta AS30, the original model with the pushbutton rotary input selector on Channel 5. I not only worked at a station with one of these, but my HS station had an A15, which also had that selector!
I am looking at photos of the KIRO transmitter plant taken October 2021. There appears to be rectangular panels mounted at roughly one third height on the antennas. Curious to know the function of those panels.
Old school equipment = warm sound / works of art. Modern equipment = low distortion / cost efficient.
The panel is a microwave link. Regarding the old equipment, yes the sound was warm. A lot of those consoles were still in use when I started working in radio. They were bullet proof and worked well!
this is so wholesome..
Great video thanks heaps from New Zealand, Brett
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Hands down those were the best AM transmitter sites I've ever been to.
The old transmitters contrast with the Nautel which is so futuristic. Interesting tour seeing the old and new together under one roof. I still marvel at the efficiency and low operational cost of the Nautel.
The new rigs are definitely more efficient but when you apply plate voltage to one of those old Continental 50kw monsters, there is no doubt that it's on the air! You can hear it and feel it.
SBE = Society of Broadcast Engineers
i need to get one of those optimods...I've seen them on ebay.
Oooh! I want that 5-channel Sparta Mixer!!!
really need to get rid of iboc am
Some really big iron. No Gates yard board?
There may have been one. I just took a quick look at the time.....
Those old, room-size tube transmitters are a cool relic but not very economical. Poor efficiency (maybe 60% vs 88% on today's solid state AM transmitters), lots of internal noise, costly to maintain, takes up a lot of space.
All true but I will say this...….When you applied the plate voltage, there was no doubt that you were on the air! You could hear it and almost feel it. I think the old rigs had a warmer sound quality as well.
What is the music at the beginning of the video?
"In Your Arms", available in the UA-cam creator library.
@@exploreupstateny413 Not that I can find. Sounds like Glen Miller but it is not his.
What was the music?
Which one?
@@exploreupstateny413 at the start and at the BBQ. Hope some of these stations can keep going they are needed.
@@exploreupstateny413 At the start. I do old radios and that would be great for my workshop. My dad used to play music like this at various clubs we used to go to. He had a band etc. Loads of war time and 50's and 60's stuff like "Strangers in the night". Just reminds me of those wonderful times now sadly lost. Austin Healey's look great too. Where exactly is this station? Also how about the update if possible?
"In Your Arms"
Bun