sowny.net | The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

SOWNY » Rockin' Robin (Robin McMillan) » Yesterday 5:41 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 5

Go to post

Correction:  Sunday April 7th

The family will be holding a Celebration of Life for Robin on Sunday April 7th between 12pm to 4pm, at the Black Bull in Burlington. (2475 Mountainside Dr. at Guelph Line, North of the QEW).

https://www.smithsfh.com/memorials/robert-mcmillan/5402650/


 

SOWNY » New CHCH tower... » March 26, 2024 12:45 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 151

Go to post

markow202 wrote:

This wavestack antenna was used up until the digital conversion for Channel 11?

No, it was used as the primary antenna from sign on in 1954 until it was replaced with the much taller guyed tower in the early 60s. It was probably used as a standby facility only until the introduction of colour broadcasting on CHCH in 1968. 

As mentioned before, it also supported the standby antennas for CKDS FM, while the main FM array was on the taller guyed tower.
 

SOWNY » New CHCH tower... » March 26, 2024 8:50 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 151

Go to post

Here are some shots of the recently dismantled Wavestack antenna from the former CHCH Stoney Creek site (lovely 3 bedroom, 1 bath designs coming soon!)

The photos are in the approximate location as the original sections were when the original construction was occurring in 1954.

The closeup views show the interior waveguide / paddle, and on the upper section shots show the radiating slots for the signal to emit from. The lower sections of the wavestack were simply for structure/height. There would be no point in radiating the signal at or near to ground level. The "magic" of the antenna design occurred towards the upper height of the wavestack. 

In on of the photos, the connection point for the rigid RF Transmission line is visible. The rigid feed line was secured to the exterior of the stack, and was then connected using an right angle connector.

Yes, Skywave is correct. The original height of the Wavestack was 565 feet. I was told that after it was retired from TV use, it was partially lowered to approximately 400 feet in height. I cannot confirm if this actually true or not.  I do know that the structure was left to be the standby antenna for CKDS FM. The exterior of the stack had FM antenna elements secured on the upper sections of the original structure.

From the same RCA advertisement, it mentions that the transmitter was 10 Kw, and there was an ERP of either 30 Kw or 50 Kw.

upload


 

SOWNY » Bell CEO To Be Forced To Report To Commons Cttee. Over Mass Firings » March 26, 2024 7:52 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 4

Go to post

It would be oh so sweet if the HoC committee told Bibic that he would called to appear sometime between 9am and 5pm on April 11th...  kinda like waiting around for a Bell service call...

SOWNY » Rockin' Robin (Robin McMillan) » March 23, 2024 4:29 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 5

Go to post

My father-in-law worked with Robin on a few occasions over the years.

He was hired as the DJ for a couple of milestone birthday events...   Pat was always at his side... a very nice lady.

It was Robin who pointed me in the direction of the Big Yellow Board / SOWNY...

I asked him at one of these events what it was that got him interested in radio and a career in radio. He said that he was always interested in radio, and he even had his own "station" as young teen in Burlington.  He bought a small transmitter with money saved from his paper route and had a turntable in his parents garage. His father helped him with the antenna. I recall he said they lived on Hurd or Hager Ave., and after school, Robin and some friends would get home and head into the garage and turn on the transmitter. He claimed that his station was quite popular with the neighbours. He even sold commercials to friends and neighbours of his parents who had small businesses in Burlington.

Robin said that he eventually had a visit from a couple of men from the Ministry of Communications or CBC ???  According to Robin, they were quite impressed by his station setup, but he was told to cease transmitting.  They also let him keep his equipment, but he was warned that if they had to return in the future, that the transmitter would be ceased.

I'm guessing that this was probably in the early 50s...   I wonder who complained?  Its not like Burlington had a local radio station...  CING FM did not take to the air until '76....


 

SOWNY » New CHCH tower... » March 22, 2024 11:10 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 151

Go to post

There was a fourth smaller tower on the CHCH Stoney Creek site.

It was a shorter microwave tower with one dish/element. The tower was approximately 40 feet, and stood immediately on the front N/E side of the transmitter building. (The larger Bell Microwave H frame was slightly / further north of the building. The two micro towers were separated by the driveway curving around on the north side).

My understanding is that this smaller tower was used for relay of the CKDS signal when it launched in '66 (?) although I am not totally certain on this fact. Like CHCH, CKDS could not get a clear shot (LOS) to the Stoney Creek tower from the Main St. E / Springer Ave. studio location, so CKDS probably had to use another point for micro transmit feed (perhaps from a Bell CO rooftop that was not in the shadow of the escarpment).



The picture above is from the late 60s or early 70s.  The small Microwave tower will be visible on the right of frame.   The picture also shows the Wavestack, and the newer main tower in the background.

The main tower was built and supplied by Dominion Bridge which was a major manufacturer of large steel transmission structures. DB built many of the CNCP Microwave network towers (both guyed, and self supporting).  Dominion Bridge was a competitor to LeBlanc and Royal of Oakville.



 

SOWNY » CN Tower Master FM Antenna » March 21, 2024 6:02 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 16

Go to post

It has been a busy year for Grundy...  The new CHCH Tower project commenced around this time last year, then they were onto Stoney Creek to start on the decommissioning of the tower there. 

And now the Master FM project...  High heights, and tight spaces!


 

SOWNY » New CHCH tower... » March 16, 2024 1:30 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 151

Go to post

Some more pictures from CHCH TV at Stoney Creek.

Sections of RCA Wavestack antenna being inspected prior to installation


SOWNY » New CHCH tower... » March 12, 2024 9:45 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 151

Go to post

This is the SIRA UHF TV Antenna system that was on the one of the near top faces of the tower (iirc it was on the north face, just below the top mount of the tower). The frequency range of the antenna was sufficient for CITS when originally on RF 36, and also for CHCH when they moved to RF 15 for digital in 2012.

After the ATSC 3.0 re-pack, CITS was re-assigned to UHF 14. The antenna was able to handle UHF 14. T
In both situations, CITS and CHCH used mask filters for their signals, and were on a combiner. CITS also had to purchase a specialized filter to avoid causing potential interference into wireless/cell spectrum at the lower end of RF 14 ( Thanks to Mr. In Phase for explaining this filter requirement to me...) A recently retired engineer from CITS used to joke that it was "their North Korean missile launcher" 

The side mount of the antenna was required due to CITS originally being on air as RF 36 UHF, while CHCH was still on RF 11 VHF.  Later when Toronto 1 launched, their Hamilton re-transmitter was on RF 15 UHF, and Craig / Toronto 1 were able to combine their signal and use the CITS antenna.

After the demise of Toronto 1 and Sun TV, CHCH was able to obtain the RF 15 UHF assignment, and use it for their digital transition.

Both CHCH and CITS maintained their same RF assignments and power levels for the move to the new tower in Flamborough. CHCH chose to purchase the same model/series of the SIRA UHF antenna, largely because they had experience with it and performance would be predictable, The new SIRA UHF at Flamborough is Top Mounted, instead of Side Mounted like it was at Stoney Creek.

CHCH Alvinston re-transmitter also use a SIRA UHF panel type antenna. Again, due to the ATSC 3.0 repack, CHCH-DT2 was re-assigned to RF 14 UHF. The original RF 51 UHF antennae at Alvinston would not function at the lower UHF frequency. The Alvinston SIRA is side mounted. While the original CH 51 top mount antennae is still in place at Alvinston, the interior elements

SOWNY » Big Brother Canada is back... » March 6, 2024 10:10 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 3

Go to post

Big Brother Canada is back for Season 12. I admit upfront that I'm not a fan of this or even these type of shows.

I find the return of this series kind of mind boggling given the financial situation at Global / Corus... Big Brother itself is a very expensive series to mount and produce. This year, there is a new "house"/set, the addition of special guest star appearances....  The new set will be a considerable expense in itself.  I lost track of where the production is based. The last few years it was at the one of the former Showline Lakeshore studios. The studio was actually rented year round as it was deemed cheaper to do so, rather that load in and tear out set, lighting etc. after each season. (The first few seasons, the show was produced out of commercial/industrial space in Mississauga... under the flight path of a Pearson runway...)

Other costs for this series are production and technical crew(s) on a 24/7 schedule. Medical teams, safety teams, kraft/catering services etc.

Similar to the former ETC, Global only licences Big Brother. It has to follow a prescribed production book. The show cannot be sold to foreign markets, as it is only a licence.

Does it really do that well in terms of ratings? Yes, there are opportunities for product placements, and even featured or showcased services or products. But how much do these placements bring in terms of dollars? And if the TV Ad market is soft, how is this justified? Global is still under strict financial constraints relating to day to day business operations, capital and long term operating expenses, etc. 

Just curious....

SOWNY » Another Toronto Morning Show Host Laid Up By Surgery » February 21, 2024 5:38 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 10

Go to post

Ontario Provincial Election in May 1987...  After a riding realignment, two sitting MPPs end up going head to head to represent their respective parties in the election. Ian Scott for the Ontario Liberals against Susan Fish for the Ontario Conservatives... after the ballots were cast and counted, Ian Scott won the new riding handily.

The next morning, the front page of the Toronto Sun had a hilarious headline, complete with a classic Donato  cartoon...

"Scott guts Fish"
 

SOWNY » When Is It "Sampling" & When Is It Plagiarism? » February 19, 2024 11:34 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 6

Go to post

The Rolling Stones sued the British group "The Verve" for using a longer duration of notes from an earlier Rolling Stones release for the 60s on The Verve's 1999 hit "Bittersweet Symphony"

The Verve had previously requested and were given permission to use a small portion of the Stones track, but the Rolling Stones then sued when The Verve exceeded the duration of the previously requested music.

It was kind of bizarre as the rights were passed to both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards who then dropped the suit brought against The Verve....  


 

SOWNY » Top Brass At Bell Ordered To Ottawa To Explain Their Cuts & Firings » February 14, 2024 11:26 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 9

Go to post

February 29th is leap day!!! 

It will be LEAP of monumental proportions if anything useful actually comes out of of this hearing, er, friendly discussion by both the Government and BCE...

Q: Has the CRTC been invited to this Heritage Committee hearing on the 29th? just curious...

"The ironing is delicious"
   ~ Bart Simpson / Gracie Films


 

SOWNY » Bell Media Cuts 4,800 Jobs, Selling 45 Stations » February 8, 2024 11:06 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 171

Go to post

Chrisphen wrote:

There's nothing MBA's can't do!

Don't forget the CGA's...  'cause they are the "enablers"...
 

SOWNY » Is curling aging out? » January 30, 2024 4:48 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 5

Go to post

Pickleball is the next big thing....

SOWNY » FINANCIAL NEWS » January 28, 2024 7:34 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 7

Go to post

The Corus "B" (cjr-b) shares on an intraday basis more closely resemble a cardio ward ECG strip than that of a stock ticker....

 

SOWNY » Bad Boy Furniture Officially Bankrupt » January 26, 2024 5:29 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 11

Go to post

Radiowiz wrote:

...

Okay, as long as Bad Boy had nothing to do with Stewart's. 
I remember their over use of the word FACT like it was yesterday. (I was very young. I remember tons of Brick ads replaced Stewart's ads on TV after Stewart's left the scene)
FACT: Stewart's is going out of Business  FACT: Every furniture and appliance must go. 
FACT: Hurry before Stewart's Closes their doors forever!

I remember the Stewart's TV commercials very well...   it seemed like they were "Going out of business... The doors are closing forever!" for the better part of three years...


 

SOWNY » The TV Cartoons That Time Forgot » January 15, 2024 12:53 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 8

Go to post

Hanna-Barbera 50 Opening Animations and Themes...



 

SOWNY » Son Of A Critch Gets Ready To "Reach For The Top" » January 14, 2024 1:46 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 16

Go to post

ig wrote:

Lord, that old blue KSN character generator. has 2 font sizes, too big and too small.

 

KSN CG?  A staple for Keeble and York Cablevision community channels back in the day...

Still better than the Laird 3600 10X32 dot matrix ...  no font sizes, and I can't even remember if it had lowercase characters...  I think it was all upper case.


 

SOWNY » The TV Cartoons That Time Forgot » January 13, 2024 10:27 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 8

Go to post

mace wrote:

With a little digging I have found a site that is close to the now defunct Big Cartoon Database. Don Markstein's Toonopedia has a fairly extensive list of cartoon and comic book characters, all listed alphabetically. There are additional sections dealing with the voices behind the toons and the companies that made the toons. Sorry, but I have no idea how to post a link to the site.

https://www.toonopedia.com/



 

SOWNY » Son Of A Critch Gets Ready To "Reach For The Top" » January 12, 2024 11:36 am

Glen Warren
Replies: 16

Go to post

RadioActive wrote:

... I believe at one point, Alex Trebek hosted the one in Toronto early on in his career. 

Jan Tennant took over Reach hosting duties when Alex Trebek left the CBC.  Jan Tennant hosted Reach until she left to join Global News in the early/mid 80s.


 

SOWNY » On this date fifty years ago... » January 6, 2024 1:39 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 16

Go to post

With a live broadcast special from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

 

SOWNY » Familiar Canadian Face Fills In On The CBS News Live Stream » January 4, 2024 10:56 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 4

Go to post

and yet the Eye Network chose to go with Dan Rather... 

SOWNY » Odd New Show Features Animated Radio DJs Interviewing Real Celebrities » January 4, 2024 3:01 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 1

Go to post

Although this is themed around radio, it does seem to be a bit like Space Ghost Coast to Coast from 30 years ago...   my 2 cents....

SOWNY » CBC News Gets New CEO & G.M. » January 3, 2024 8:22 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 8

Go to post

bonuses...  Bonuses...  BONU$E$

SOWNY » What Happened To The "870" Radio/TV Phone Prefix? » December 27, 2023 9:20 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 12

Go to post

Peter the K wrote:

A very simplified explanation:

Years ago, the first three digits of the phone number, like 870, referred to a specific phone exchange.  A phone exchange was located in physical central office.  Usually, a typical exchange could handle a certain number of simultaneous calls, either incoming or outgoing although usually the 870 line was never used for outgoing calls.  I don't know where the 870 exchange was physically located, but it was designated as high traffic and used for high call traffic customers like radio stations so when calls started coming in they would go through one central location keeping all the heavy traffic off other exchanges.    ...

 

I believe that the "870" and "872" exchanges were/are part of the Bell Canada Adelaide CO in downtown Toronto. This is a major Bell Canada CO in the downtown business/financial district in Toronto at 76 Adelaide St. West.  The original CO or Wire Centre was just north of Adelaide at 12 Sheppard and it is still very active, the entire facility is bounded by Temperance to the north, 12 Sheppard, and 76 Adelaide St. West to the south.

76 Adelaide was also the base for Bell Canada's Toronto TOC (Television Operating Centre) which was the switching centre for analog television signal feeds to and from the Toronto based TV Networks and Stations (CBC, CTV, Global, TVO, City, etc.) as well as the former VTR Productions on Scollard, and the major Toronto hotels/convention spaces... Royal York, Sheraton Centre, Westin, etc.  and the former Exhibition Stadium.  Bell called these video trunks "Local Loops"  and they were based on a distance tariff for billing. The majority of the Networks and Stations had "permanent loops" and these included free "switch orders" for signals to/from the network or station and TOC. 

The television local loops usually only carried video signals, so audio feeds were handled on separate equalized/conditioned audio pairs. These audio circuits were routed thr

SOWNY » Tommy Smothers Of Smothers Bros. Fame Is Gone » December 27, 2023 3:16 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 13

Go to post

Tommy Smothers was also a great impressionist...

Here is his impression of Johnny Carson (on The Tonight Show)  from 1992




 

SOWNY » Women Needed Herpes Test Before Going On Richard Dawson's Family Feud » December 1, 2023 5:37 pm

Glen Warren
Replies: 1

Go to post

Well, that is certainly a new take on "contestants must meet eligibility requirements"

Date of Birth?   Social Security Number?  Place/State of residence?  Negative Herpes Simplex test?  
 

Board footera