Trying to recall - BNS Tower Fatalities

[Allfirdup]

WXMX was allowed to stay on the air at full power only because there were located further down. The station had a regular transmitter putting out (Don't quote me on this) around 3KW. It was also hooked into the community diplexer at that time. The station did have to lower it's power to half or less in order for the tower crew to work on the tower after the accident.

If I remember right, 98.9 was around 800 watts until 1997 when Jacor lowered it even more to bump it up to its current 2600 watts at 581 feet.

in the records i found, 98.9 started out in 1990 at 3000w at 121m above ground, then in late 1993 moved to the top of the tower (255m) with 580w, it was 2 years later in 96 that they dropped back down to 177m with the current 2600w

[Radioboy989]

Wow...Jacor ownership of 98.9 completely slipped my mind.

I worked there when it was The Mix 98.9, owned by Mary and Mike Mahaffey, then I worked there when it was The River-Country 98.9 owned by Tri-Cities Radio (Alan Gray) then I went back when it was Jammin Oldies under Radio one and stayed for a couple of years or so when it became the current R&B/Classic Soul.

Lots-o-history with the frequency (I guess that explains my screen name!). Kinda feel strange forgetting one of it's stages of life!

[CatFM]

WXMX was allowed to stay on the air at full power only because there were located further down. The station had a regular transmitter putting out (Don't quote me on this) around 3KW. It was also hooked into the community diplexer at that time. The station did have to lower it's power to half or less in order for the tower crew to work on the tower after the accident.

    The only stations on the diplexer are the ones on the master antenna near the top of the tower just below the TV masts.  WXMX later moved to that antenna with much lower power as noted, but they started out (and were still at the time of this incident) as a completely independent operation with a 3 bay antenna much lower on the tower.  Even at that lower site, the station had to reduce power when climbers were on the tower.  A borrowed McMartin exciter was brought in for that purpose since there was no aux. xmtr. and the regular xmtr. couldn't be stepped down low enough.

[CatFM]

   Now that I think about it, that was a Wilkinson exciter if I remember correctly.  We had a Wilkinson xmtr. at an FM station I worked for and it was a piece of junk, but that could have been partially due to its age.  As for appearance, it looked like a piece of military surplus gear.  We had a lot of trouble keeping it on the air and we didn't have an aux. to back it up.  Those were the days...

[RF Man]

Now that I think about it more I believe it was connected to it's own antenna and not the combiner. It's regular operation was through a Harris transmitter. This was during the Mary Mc Haffey period when the station was known as "The Mix 98.9" and the studios were right off of Dublin Rd.

[/quote]

    The only stations on the diplexer are the ones on the master antenna near the top of the tower just below the TV masts.  WXMX later moved to that antenna with much lower power as noted, but they started out (and were still at the time of this incident) as a completely independent operation with a 3 bay antenna much lower on the tower.  Even at that lower site, the station had to reduce power when climbers were on the tower.  A borrowed McMartin exciter was brought in for that purpose since there was no aux. xmtr. and the regular xmtr. couldn't be stepped down low enough.
[/quote]

[xmusicmatt]

I know this is off topic but if I remember right.. Mix 98.9's studios where off Watermark drive (which is off dublin rd) when they started back in the day.

[Radioboy989]

I know this is off topic but if I remember right.. Mix 98.9's studios where off Watermark drive (which is off dublin rd) when they started back in the day.

1650 Watermark, 2nd floor. we had a small gym and sauna on the first floor! Those were the days!!