"Doug Smith W9WI" said:
The WPAT-AM transmitter is still in Clifton. (skyscrapers are not a
suitable site for an AM transmitter, especially a multitower
directional array like WPAT's)

So I guess it's safe to assume that if the AM transmitter and towers
are still located in Clifton then the building which originally housed
WPAT's offices and studios is still standing as part of the transmitter
site. I also assume that the current owners of WPAT-AM kept some of the
studio equipment in Clifton in the event of an emergency such as a
blackout in New York City they could switch over the broadcast to the
backup in Clifton? (Am I wrong about this?).

In article ,
says...


"Doug Smith W9WI" said:
The WPAT-AM transmitter is still in Clifton. (skyscrapers are not a
suitable site for an AM transmitter, especially a multitower
directional array like WPAT's)

So I guess it's safe to assume that if the AM transmitter and towers
are still located in Clifton then the building which originally housed
WPAT's offices and studios is still standing as part of the transmitter
site. I also assume that the current owners of WPAT-AM kept some of the
studio equipment in Clifton in the event of an emergency such as a
blackout in New York City they could switch over the broadcast to the
backup in Clifton? (Am I wrong about this?).

I was a summer replacement engineer in 1964 (between my first and second
years in college). At the time, programming originated from the Clifton
site except for the morning show, which was done in Manhattan and
brought to Clifton via equalized phone line.

The programming came from Ampex 351 decks, operated by the talent. To
keep the IBEW union happy, the outputs of the tape decks were mixed to
mic level and this sum was then brought into one input of a Gates
console operated by the engineer, who also operated the switch that
keyed the talent on-air.

The AM transmitter operated from the Clifton site (as now), with the TX
(a huge, ancient Federal 5 KW rig that had a separate vault for the
power supply and modulation transformer) being in the same room as said
Gates console. There was a Gates backup AM TX as well.

The FM ordinarily ran from the Empire State Building, but there was an
FM backup transmitter in Clifton, with the antenna mounted on one of the
AM towers.

In 1964, WPAT's business offices were already in Manhattan.

As an amusing aside, one of the essential engineering tools was a broom
handle. Held by the engineer, who balanced it on the console meter
bridge he used it to push the button that switched the DA from day to
night pattern while he stood by the Federal and hit the breaker that
turned the plates on and off.

Processing of the AM was via an old GE RF-mode limiter -- the audio was
modulated to RF, gain-controlled, and then demodulated. This prevented
thumps, which were typical of the vacuum tube technology of the time.
During that summer, the station added a vacuum tube Audimax I to the
chain ahead of the limiter.

Bob Orban

"Robert Orban" wrote in message
...
As an amusing aside, one of the essential engineering tools was a broom
handle. Held by the engineer, who balanced it on the console meter
bridge he used it to push the button that switched the DA from day to
night pattern while he stood by the Federal and hit the breaker that
turned the plates on and off.

To be technically correct, since the XMTR was already on, the plates were
turned off and then on after the array was switched...


Gary Schnabl