Glad to be done with this project!
In September 2020 Bulldog 93.3's FM signal seemed weak but this was ignored initially because it was thought to be the result of co-channel interference from WTPT and WVFJ during a time of changing weather patterns.
If only...
Upon a routine transmitter site inspection on the evening of Friday, October 1, an extremely high SWR was observed on the transmitter. The backup transmitter was deployed but the problem persisted, showing that the fault was likely in the antenna. Although the amount of reflected power could have in itself justified an immediate shutdown of the transmitter it was decided to stay on the air for the sake of the listeners and the sponsors.
The following morning a new antenna harness was ordered from Manufacturer, Shively Labs, for ~$500. The harness is the series of cables and adapters that splits the feed line to the individual antenna bays. Since this same harness had failed several years prior, it was assumed replacing it would solve the problem. On Tuesday, October 6 after the evening drive the antenna was removed with the help of friend and radio enthusiast Mark U'Ren. The N connector on the top bay was black and charred out similar to the problem several years prior, only this time the connector on the antenna was ruined and we did not have replacement parts on hand.
On Wednesday morning the N connectors were ordered from Shively ($75 each, one for each of the two antenna bays).
Telephoto image of the antenna on Friday during the diagnosis before taking the mast down. Looking for charred or melted electrical tape. The dots on the L-connector ended up being bird droppings.
View from atop the Fred Building
Our antenna is the second from the left - the pole with the round Studio Transmitter Link dish. This dish requires accurate calibration upon re-installation, but it is necessary to remove this dish to take down the mast.
The defective N Connector once removed from the top antenna bay.
Observe the melted center conductor.
The center conductor of the cable that attaches to this connector was disintegrated and black - it did not exist and there was no physical connection between the two.
Two Dogs, part of the bottom antenna bay, and really dirty baseboards along the wall.
This is what the connector should look like.
The STL receiver (top), FM broadcast transmitter (center), and backup transmitter (bottom)
Transmitter Rack
Antenna bays above the STL receive dish
Closeup of bottom bay
Closeup of top bay
