[BC] WPGC/WHFS/WNEW

[Broadcast List USER]

>From: Dave Hultsman <DHults1043 at aol.com>
>
>I remember that RCA AM  10 kW.   was the loudest thing on the dial. I had an RCA 5kW. similiar version less the second PA tube but never could get it to modulate like WPGC,

Actually, the CCA was louder, much louder.  The RCA had tube  
rectifiers and what amounted to a pretty soft power supply.  Once the  
Optimod 9000 was installed, it made the RCA pretty unhappy, and it had  
to be cut way back for the RCA.  While we were setting it up, the 9000  
overloaded the CCA many times, but with no damage.  We got it working  
great in the end.  For a plate modulated transmitter, that old CCA did  
great.  I always thought the 9000 to be far too bright, but those were  
the wars of the time.

I believe the transmitter you may remember is the RCA at WEAM, in  
Falls Church, Virginia.  It was pretty much the same transmitter, but  
a 5 kW PA with a 10 kW modulator.  It would modulate well in excess of  
200% positive, and was loud as heck until the FCC rewrote the rules,  
limiting the positive peaks to 125%.

At that time, the big stations were WRC, Washington, WPGC,  
Morningside, and WEAM, Falls Church, with a follow on station of WEEL  
in Fairfax.  All but WRC had a night problem.  WPGC was a daytimer.   
WEAM and WEEL I don't recall because I lived in Maryland as a child  
and didn't listen to them.  I think WEAM had night power, but lower,  
and WEEL may have been another daytimer.  I just don't recall.

The really amazing thing to me was that when I was a kid, WPGC-FM  
signed off with the AM!  Later it signed on with the AM but signed off  
at 11 PM.  It was a big deal when it went 24 hours a day.  Tippy's  
Taco House in Arlington, VA owned the station overnights.  They were  
the only advertiser, and they were open all night.

--chip