How about this upcoming FM broadcast!

[Bill, KD0HG]

OK, it's just like AM but sideways, OK?
I think this is very cool for you folks in the NYC area...
Can anyone roll some tape?

-----------------------------

FM pioneer Edwin Armstrong will be honored on June 11 - on his original FM band.
Back in the very beginning - before World War II - Armstrong envisioned static-free Frequency Modulation radio in the area just north of 40 MHz. (That was before General Sarnoff and others got involved in the spectrum wars. Things got ugly.) New York-market non-com WFDU (89.1) is doing a fine thing with a special broadcast in Armstrong's memory on Saturday, June 11 - and doing it from Armstrong's still-standing tower in Alpine, NJ, and at the Armstrong frequency of 40.8 MHz. It will also be heard on WFDU's own FM signal and online at WFDU.FM.

[k4kyv]

I used to have an old radio with the 40 mc/s FM band.

Maybe some collectors who have receivers that still work will be able to pick up the broadcast on a radio that was originally designed to receive on that frequency.

Attention AWA members.

[WD8BIL]

I've got an old receiver that'll do 40 mhz FM.
I wonder how well a 6 meter beam would do
There's still time to add some pipe to it .... hmmmm.

[W2VW]

There are plenty of scanners that should work just fine for this. Publication of the deviation and power seem to be hard to find. One place said the broadcast would be on 42.5 MC.

[Bill, KD0HG]

I just read more details on this...A fellow named Steve Hemphill built a replica of Armstrong's transmitter for the broadcast...The freq is still supposed to be 40.8 MC and more details are posted at http://alpha.fdu.edu/wfdu/wfdufm/index2.html

[W2VW]

The CSC site has it at 42.8. Maybe it drifts.
No details on power, antenna or deviation.

[KB2WIG]

the freq doesn't drift its wideband.................










My opinions cost money, but the dumb looks are still free.

[wa2zdy]

42.8 is the one I've read before.  I'll have to fire up the TS480 and the 6m antenna and hope for the best from about 50 miles south.  I don't even know if I can hear the main transmitter on 89.1.  Maybe I should try that first.  Hmmmm . . .

[Bacon, WA3WDR]

Cool!  I know Steve, he used to service stuff through Solid Electronics Labs for the two-way shop where I worked around Philly.  He's a ham, of course, although I forget his call.  Haven't seen him in twenty years.  I didn't know he was into historic radio.

[Bill, KD0HG]

You know, the *ideal* receiver for tuning in the broadcast would be a Hallicrafters S-36. How cool would that be?


..

[WD8BIL]

Propogation shud be similar to 6 meters.
Maybe there will be an opening to Jersey that day !!!

Hey .... it could happen !!!

[W2VW]

It's New Jersey. Jersey is a place in England. We don't go around calling your place 'hio now do we?

[W2VW]

Cool!  I know Steve <snip>  Haven't seen him in twenty years.  

He is not easy to get in touch with

[wa2zdy]

I don't mind hearing this place called "Jersey."  Considering what I call it, "Jersey" is a compliment.

Steve Hemphill is WA3ZAE.

[Bacon, WA3WDR]

I -think- he used to be WA3AAE.  He lived in Broomall, PA when I knew him.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

What exit?

It's New Jersey. Jersey is a place in England. We don't go around calling your place 'hio now do we?

[W2VW]

What exit?

It's New Jersey. Jersey is a place in England. We don't go around calling your place 'hio now do we?

Exit 80. We number the exits so that tourists can figure out how to get the f--- home and offa our roads.

[W2VW]

Some info with more to come:


>Hi Scott,
>
>      A bunch of hams in the northeast would like to know some specifics
>about the upcoming Armstrong memorial station which will be on 42.8 MHZ.
>There seems to be no useful contact info so I decided to ask you. Nobody
>does anything on commercial radio without Scott Fybush finding out about it!
>     The questions are what power level, deviation and antenna polorization
>will be used with the replica transmitter? It may very well be able to be
>heard on a regular scanner instead of just some classic boatanchors. I'd
>like to get the word out and could have a whole lot of hams listening. Maybe
>enough interest can be generated to make this a yearly thing. Yes, we know
>about the WFDU simulcast.

Hi, Dave!

Here's what I know: 75 kHz deviation, mono. I believe the antenna is a
vertical whip mounted at the 400' level of the tower, unless Steve's
changed it again, and I think he's using between 100-200 watts.

I've borrowed an Icom IC-R3 to attempt to tune it in on-site. We'll see if
its WFM setting is wide enough. I know Steve's encouraging people to use
the boatanchors, if they've got them.

I'd certainly be listening towards the end of next week for tests, as I
suspect Steve will be there getting everything ready - and I'll be
interested to know what you guys hear!

73 de sf

[W2VW]

Thanks for your interest in our commemorative broadcast honoring Major Armstrong at Alpine on June the 11th.
 
The 42.8 MHz. transmission will be using a full +/- 75 KHz. deviation, just like a standard FM broadcast station and just like the Major first used on the original W2XMN station at Alpine in the 1930's. The audio will be monophonic with standard 75us. pre-emphasis, also just like standard FM broadcast procedure.
 
Unfortunately, a standard land-mobile communications receiver or scanner will not respond cleanly to our wideband signals on 42.8 MHz. You would need a receiver with a +/- 100KHz. acceptance-bandwidth, such as one of the old, vintage 42-50 MHz. pre-WW2 FM table radios or something like a Hallicrafters SX-62 with wide-band 42-50 MHz. tuning range. A communications service monitor, such as a Cushman or an IFR, would also be satisfactory for reception purposes.
 
The power output of the transmitter is 250 watts and the transmitting antenna that we are presently using is a Cushcraft BR4 which is an extended half-wave vertically polarized element mounted on the top of the Alpine tower structure. ( 920' AMSL and 400' AGL).
 
Hope that this info helps,
 
Regards,
 
Steve Hemphill

[Tom WA3KLR]

The Regency MX-5000 and MX-7000 general coverage scanners do have a wideband FM mode (WFM) that will demodulate the standard broadcast FM signal.


So is it 42.8 MHz. or 40.8 MHz?

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

As will most AOR, Icom and Elenco receivers/scanners.

The Regency MX-5000 and MX-7000 general coverage scanners do have a wideband FM mode (WFM) that will demodulate the standard broadcast FM signal.


So is it 42.8 MHz. or 40.8 MHz?

[WD8BIL]

From the WFDU website:

For those who do not have an FM radio on the 42.8Mc frequency, the broadcast can be heard through the facilities of WFDU(FM) 89.1 MHz.

[Bacon, WA3WDR]

42.8 MHz

About all I have for that frequency range is an R-10 - although if the signal is there, I'll hear it.  Otherwise I'll listen via the web.

I saw the story broadcast on TV.  It will be interesting to hear it as a radio broadcast.

The story of Armstrong versus De Forest, and then Sarnoff, is interesting.  Armstrong was right, but fighting Sarnoff like he did only broke him.  He would have been much better off taking the deal, even though the bucks weren't too good.  His wife did win posthumously.  Small comfort.

Those of you who know Jesse K3GKB might be interested to know that his dad, J. Charles Wagner, said that Armstrong stole the superheterodyne idea from him.  Charlie was not a crackpot... but I wouldn't have thought he was that technical, either.

Whatever.  Armstrong was absolutely brilliant; he was a pioneer in the field of vacuum tubes, the regenerative detector, the superhet, and FM.  People who worked with him were pretty darn loyal to him.  Engineers considered him clearly to be the inventor of the regenerative detector despite De Forest's claims.

[W2INR]

Gee This is cool stuff

Is there anyone in the NYC area that could send a live feed to me. I could set up a broadcatser here on the server and then all on the site could listen.

Anyone out there

[ve6pg]

THE DOCUMENTARY BY KEN BURNS,ABOUT 15 YRS AGO DEALT WITH THIS. EMPIRE OF THE AIR WAS THE NAME,AND AIRED ON PBS. I TAPED IT THEN,AND STILL HAVE IT. VERY COOL PROGRAM. IT DEALS WITH THE HISTORY OF RADIO,AND DETAILS THE FIGHTS BETWEEN ARMSTRONG,SARNOFF,DEFOREST...ARMSTRONG JUMPED OUT OF HIS APARTMENT WINDOW,AFTER YEARS OF BATTLES WITH SARNOFF. IT SHOWS THE TRANSMITTER SITE FOR THE YANKEE NETWORK,AND IT IS SAID IT WAS HEARD ALL OVER THE EAST COAST. IT LEAVES ONE CONVINCED THAT SARNOFF WAS A REAL JERK,AND STOPPED AT NOTHING TO GET WHAT HE WANTS. BTW,ON JUNE 11,WHAT IS THE TIME OF THE BROADCAST?..73..TIM...SK..