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WADO transmitter plant March 7, 2000 |
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WADO transmitter plant March 7, 2000 |
WADO 1280 - NY, New York
5 KW
April 21, 1998
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WADO Transmitter Plant on |
424' WADO Diamond tower and self supporting second tower. |
| This WADO site was once WNEW. According to a poster on the NYRMB named "NY Radio Fan," the tower was Built in 1934 and was the longest-standing tower in Metro NY. The tower was torn down 10/17/1999 and replaced for the switch to 50KW." |
| Since 1998, this site has experienced some big changes. In the early 1990s, the FCC removed the power limitation of regional stations, allowing WADO to increase its power to 50KW day and 7500 watts night, according to information obtained from Scott Fybush's page st: https://www.fybush.com/site-020123.html The fence immediately in front of the building was torn down and the new fence is toward the back of the building. The building has been refinished inside and out. What I particularly like about the new appearance of the buildingis that it resembles the Art Deco style, reminiscent of the 20s-40s. The Collins tube transmitter was removed and the building now houses a Harris DX-50, 50 kW transmitter, a Harris DX-10, 10 kW transmitter, currently running at 5 KW, a new Harris phasing unit and new audio processing equipment. The Blaw-Knox tower has been replaced with a self supporting pyramidal tower. The old secondary tower was left standing and is still used. Two additional self supporting towers have been added for a new directional pattern. The antennas are series fed. With the subject repeatedly coming up on Allen Sniffen's New York Radio Message Board as to what the new tower configuration is, I decided to take a ride up to WADO on March 7, 2000, armed with my film and digital cameras to get some pictures of the new towers. The only place to park was at the facility parking lot, so I did. The place was humming with activity with about a half dozen or more guys working there. I decided it would be a good idea to knock on the front door to introduce myself, if for no other reason, to let someone know why I was parked there and what I was doing snooping around with cameras. I was greeted by a friendly young man (sorry for forgetting your name) and I could plainly see new equipment. I decided to ask who was in charge to see if I could get in to get some pictures. I was introduced to Tom Zeleski (N2OTV) who trusted me to snap away. Since the crew was busy, obviously on deadline to finish some remaining work, I did not ask too many questions and simply roamed around to take my pictures. The setup was fairly basic, so I was able to figure out most of it. This page is the result of my conclusions and a few questions I asked. After announcing this page on the rec.radio.broadcasting newsgroup, David Stewart of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. was kind enough to give me additional information. If you have any other information to offer, regarding the WADO site, it's history and especially information about Blaw-Knox, please send me a note! I am particularly interested in information of the history of the Blaw-Knox company when it was building towers. Blaw-Knox is now a paving equipment product line name of Ingersoll-Rand. My thanks to Tom Zeleski and crew for trusting me and allowing me to stumble around during their hectic work schedule. WADO will run 50,000 watts days on four towers, and 7,200 watts / four towers but somewhat different shape at night. According to David Stewart of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., parent of WADO, the site is testing right now. They expect to be making field strength measurements starting next week. If everything works out, they will be filing an application for license to cover construction soon after that and begin full time/full power use at the site. For extensive information about the power, coverage patterns and operation times, go to the WADO section of the FCC Mass Media Bureau, Audio Services Division, which shows data for four towers, or the following links from the Broadcast Station Location Page to see plotted patterns for DA1 or DA2. WADO studios are now located in the same building with WPAT studios and transmitter building. |
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| The new main 429' tower. |
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DX-50, 50 KW |
DX-10, 10KW |
Antenna Phasing Unit |
| When this building was constructed, it could not have fit a 50KW transmitter alone. The 50KW transmitter, 10 KW transmitter, phasing unit, Audio rack and two power conditioning unit racks behind the DX-50 now fit in the building with plenty of room to spare. |
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Equipment list Universal Audio: BL-4 MODULIMITER |
| Equipment used with the old 5 KW transmitter, which may not be used for the 50 KW transmitter (David Stewart). Kahn Communications: AM-Stereo Exciter Kahn Communications: POWER-side (focuses power more to one sideband to help fading) Kahn Communications: RF02 Stereo Modulation Monitor |
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| Digital to analog converter for a T1 telephone lines, which carries the main program feed from Manhattan. |
| Thanks to David Stewart of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. for information and use for the D/A converter, Kahn and Comrex equipment. Thanks, also to Hue Beavers (Dallas area), Texas for identifying the remote control and Marcos Sebastia for identifying the RF02 modulation monitor. |
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This 429' tower replaced the Blaw-Knox Diamond |
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Two additional 168' towers which were added for new pattern. |
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Foot of main tower shows insulators made up of 6 cylinders and two Auston ring transformers for tower lights. There are 4 of these transformers, two on another leg. |
| The new antenna system was designed by du Treil, Lundin &
Rackley, Inc. Based in Sarasota, Florida, the firm's core practice is devoted to representation of companies that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, or whose activities are affected by other state and federal rules and policies. This firm was also responsible for the design of the additional antenna system, constructed at WLW, featured on this site. |
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1939 Photo of WNEW Photo: Western Electric "Pick-Ups" |
Accessed times since March 8, 2000.
