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Post by David on Apr 2, 2020 13:47:24 GMT -7
No CA, I wasn't joking when I mentioned that the Idaho earthquake may have had something to do with KDYL disappearing from the airwaves. I'm not a seismologist, but I would think a 6.5 magnitude earthquake has the potential to do some serious damage, especially if KDYL's tower was already leaning to one side as christopher john mentioned. According to the reports I've read, the Idaho earthquake was felt in Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber counties, although I haven't read any reports of serious damage along the Wasatch Front yet. I first noticed that KDYL was off the air Tuesday evening just shortly after the Idaho quake, which seems rather coincidental given the fact that there was a dead carrier on 1060 for at least a month before the signal disappeared. I suppose it's possible that the power to the transmitter was shut off for non-payment, but considering that Rocky Mountain Power has already said they were temporarily suspending service disconnections due to the Covid-19 crisis, that doesn't seem likely. I think the most likely scenario is that the owner decided to take KDYL silent until a buyer for the station can be found, which makes sense given the current economic situation. It's also possible that the station was sold and the new owner had to take the station silent to make repairs on the tower and/or transmitter. I'm sure we'll hear "the rest of the story" eventually.
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Post by drpepper on Apr 3, 2020 19:33:52 GMT -7
while i doubt the earthquake had anything to do with KDYL going off the air, FWIW, it is pretty crazy how far reaching the seismic activity was across id, a good chunk of MT and UT. the 3 states i know of.
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Post by CAwasinNJ on Apr 4, 2020 1:31:50 GMT -7
The Idaho quake had no potential for damage even at the ID/UT border, let alone 80 miles further south. There's a big difference between being felt and the potential to actually cause damage, even if a tower is already compromised. The moderate winds earlier this week would have been a better bet. Attachments:
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Post by kenglish on Apr 6, 2020 20:22:37 GMT -7
Looks like I guessed right. Just came from beautiful, downtown Lark, UT.
The KDYL tower looks fine, but the power must be off. No top beacon flashing. No side obstruction lights seen. This was a bit after 8:00 PM MDT tonight, as the last vestige of light came over the Oquirrh Mountains.
I guess the PacificCorp/RMP guy took the March reading and pulled the meter.
Now, there's a 436-foot, guyed tower standing there unlit. There's a hospital about a mile away, in Daybreak, with a helipad and a dozen red lights on it. I wonder if choppers fly over the copper pit out there.
Not sure if I could post a NOTAM on the new, automated system.
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Post by kenglish on Apr 6, 2020 21:44:19 GMT -7
Was able to post a NOTAM by getting hold of a live operator at the FAA. It's marked as a "permanent", but needs updating in a few weeks by the tower owner.
Anyone know how to reach them?
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Post by CAwasinNJ on Apr 7, 2020 0:19:32 GMT -7
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Post by kenglish on Apr 7, 2020 8:49:37 GMT -7
The NOTAM (#04/023) was there last night around midnight. It's good through 9-2021.
I got the ASRN off the FCC search page. I thought the FCC required the ASRN number and contact info be posted at the last point of public access, as well as near the base of the tower. There was no KDYL-related signage at the gate on Bacchus Highway.
I think there's a picture some where on-line of the ASRN for the Empire State Building, etched in to the marble wall of the top floor elevator lobby.
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Post by friendlee on Apr 7, 2020 11:19:27 GMT -7
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Post by amanuensis on Apr 7, 2020 12:52:28 GMT -7
I heard a religious station when I checked 1060 this morning. What was on right then was Catholic. Could KIHU be heard so far off frequency?
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Post by David on Apr 7, 2020 13:51:47 GMT -7
I heard a religious station when I checked 1060 this morning. What was on right then was Catholic. Could KIHU be heard so far off frequency? Not likely. You probably heard KRCN in Longmont, CO, especially if you heard the station after local sunrise. KRCN's daytime power is 50 KW, and they have a Catholic format. I've also heard KBGN in Caldwell, ID on 1060 around local sunset time, but they're strictly a daytimer that signs off at sunset. KBGN has a Christian format, but it's not just Catholic oriented like KRCN is. |
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Post by CAwasinNJ on Apr 8, 2020 3:24:23 GMT -7
50 kHz off frequency seems pretty unlikely. David's idea is a pretty good bet. If you really heard KIHU on 1060 it could also be receiver issues like front end overload or a homebrew antenna if you're using one.
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Post by amanuensis on Apr 8, 2020 8:48:05 GMT -7
Now that I know that there is a Catholic station in Colorado on 1060, I am sure that that is what it was. I heard it on my car radio as I was driving.
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Post by David on Apr 10, 2020 7:53:59 GMT -7
I noticed that KDYL is back on the air with a dead carrier, and the accompanying off frequency low rumbling HUMMM at night as well. If the power to the transmitter is back on, I'm assuming that the tower lights are also illuminated. I still don't understand why KDYL's owner hasn't filed an STA to go silent until he can sell the station. Broadcasting a 10 KW dead carrier seems like a huge waste of electricity, and I'm sure it isn't cheap either.
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Post by kenglish on Apr 10, 2020 9:12:15 GMT -7
I noticed that, too, about 30 minutes ago. The question is, do the tower lights work? If not, how long ago did they fail, and how have they been monitoring them?
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Post by kenglish on Apr 10, 2020 22:12:41 GMT -7
Noticed they are still on tonight (Friday). KNX-1070 is making it through OK, but with some growling.
Maybe KDYL is on low power?
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