{"id":45089,"date":"2020-08-30T07:43:46","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T11:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=45089"},"modified":"2020-08-30T07:43:46","modified_gmt":"2020-08-30T11:43:46","slug":"radio-waves-questions-about-new-hf-stations-towers-damaged-after-hurricanes-evolution-of-ham-radio-and-the-vintage-radio-repairman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/radio-waves-questions-about-new-hf-stations-towers-damaged-after-hurricanes-evolution-of-ham-radio-and-the-vintage-radio-repairman\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Questions About New HF Stations, Towers Damaged after Hurricanes, Evolution of Ham Radio, and The Vintage Radio Repairman"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio<\/h2>\n

Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s<\/em> Radio Waves<\/em>, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0<\/strong>Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em> contributors Ed, Paul, Bennett Kobb, and Kanwar Sandhu for the following tips:<\/p>\n

\n

Questions Remain as New HF Stations Wait for Licenses (DMRNA.info)<\/a><\/h3>\n

Here is the story by Bennett Kobb:
\nAs previously reported here at DRMNA.info, the New York company Turms Tech LLC has applied to the FCC for a license for International Broadcast Station WIPE in New Jersey. The license would cover a station already built under a FCC Construction Permit, and would allow it to begin regular operations.<\/p>\n

The FCC announced on August 13, 2020 that this license application was accepted for filing, a routine stage at which the FCC examines the application, and might even visit the station, and if everything is in order it will be licensed.<\/p>\n

We’re not sure everything is in order. The application for Construction Permit placed the transmitter site at N 40\u00b0 57′ 40.38″, W 73\u00b0 55′ 23.97″, the broadcast and communications center surrounding the famous Armstrong Tower at Alpine NJ. Its Application for License, however, specifies N 40\u00b0 51′ 40″, W 73\u00b0 55′ 23″. (Hat tip to Alex P for noting this discrepancy. More about him below.)<\/p>\n

While the substitution of 51 for 57 in the coordinates might seem a simple typo, the FCC typically has no sense of humor about coordinate errors. Commission examiners may wonder why a station intended for a historic radio-TV facility ended up among some Manhattan apartments.<\/p>\n

The deeper question with WIPE and another, apparently similar station WPBC, is what these stations are really for and what that means for the FCC Rules. WIPE was extremely vague about its program plans, but told the FCC that it will transmit data obtained from third parties using Digital Radio Mondiale. Putting that tidbit together with exposures in a series of public articles in the media and tech blogs, it would seem that audio programming will not be the central mission of this peculiarly named station, whose principal is a financial executive and forestry entrepreneur without any broadcast experience we could find.<\/p>\n

We suspect instead that the WIPE data stream will be used not for broadcasting to the public — the only function permitted to International Broadcast Stations under FCC Rules — but instead will be used for private communication with foreign exchanges for high-speed trading.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

KSWL-TV tower crashed into buildings near 210 Interstate Hwy (Brad Dye)<\/a><\/h3>\n

Images of tower damage in Lake Charles, LA Bottom photo by KATC-TV of KSWL-TV tower crashed into buildings near 210 Interstate Hwy<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>After bombarding coastal areas of southern Louisiana with wind gusts up to 130 mph and a storm surge over nine feet as a hurricane, Laura swept north while also spreading over Arkansas Thursday. Laura weakened to a tropical storm early Thursday afternoon, with winds at 70 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Laura is predicted to move through the Tennessee Valley and the Mid-Atlantic today into tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Power outages from the storms totaled over 900,000 as of Thursday afternoon, according to PowerOutageUS. The site collects data from utilities nationwide. The bulk of the outages were in Louisiana and Texas, according to ABC News. Mississippi reportedly had over 9,400 customers without power as of Thursday morning, reported the Clarion Ledger.<\/p>\n

Louisiana and Texas had the most cell site outages as of Thursday mid-day, according to the FCC\u2019s Disaster Information Reporting System. Of the 4,650 cell sites served in Louisiana, 380 were not working. Over 200 of the site outages were due to a lack of power, 141 had a transport issue and 16 were damaged.<\/p>\n

Calcasieu and Cameron counties were hit especially hard. 140 sites (75 percent) were not working in Calcasieu County and 20 (69 percent) were out in Cameron County.<\/p>\n

Of the 17,621 cell sites served in Texas, 113 were non-operational.<\/p>\n

Jefferson County was the hardest hit, with 39 (15.8 percent) out of 247 sites not working. Just over 45 of the non-working sites were out due to a lack of power, 41 for transport reasons and 20 were damaged, according to DIRS.<\/p>\n

Cable and wireline companies reported 192,915 subscribers out of service in the affected areas; this may include the loss of telephone, television, and\/or Internet services.<\/p>\n

Three television stations, five FMs and one AM reported they were off-air.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ham radio is dying! No it\u2019s not, it\u2019s evolving (K0LWC)<\/a><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve heard ham radio is dying since as far back as I can remember. It\u2019s one of those common sayings you always hear. Like, \u201cget off my lawn,\u201d and \u201ckids these days.\u201d But is it true? Is there any evidence to support this? Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n

Data from the ARRL shows that ham radio licensees are increasing. When you look at the chart above, you see two significant markers that are likely driving this growth.<\/p>\n