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September 3, 2024 11:49 am  #1


Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

They're not sure who did it or why, but two of Welland's radio stations - and a crucial link to emergency information - are unavailable, as they work to get everything restored. 

Vandalism disrupts vital radio communications: 91.7 GIANT FM and COUNTRY 89 transmitter damaged overnight

 

September 3, 2024 12:13 pm  #2


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Certainly any act of vandalism like this needs to be dealt with, but there does seem to be some overreaction:

"However, its destruction has plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray, with residents expressing disbelief and frustration over the senseless act of vandalism."

Plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray? Wish they'd elaborate. And what, pray tell, is a sensible act of vandalism?

 

September 3, 2024 12:24 pm  #3


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Saul wrote:

 And what, pray tell, is a sensible act of vandalism?

Exactly. Vandalism of any kind is senseless. Here in London, the latest fad is to go around late at night smashing the windows of stores and businesses. Or smashing the glass out of bus shelters.

It must make them look cool on their face page.

 

Last edited by turkeytop (September 3, 2024 12:24 pm)


After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
 

September 3, 2024 12:32 pm  #4


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Thats horrible and such a great station but apparently back on the air now.  Whats wrong with society?  Its worse and worse. 

 

September 3, 2024 12:34 pm  #5


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Did they attempt to steal copper? That's what happened to the former CKCO-TV-3 (channel 42) site in Lambton County a number of years ago. 

 

September 3, 2024 12:50 pm  #6


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Marc1178 wrote:

Did they attempt to steal copper? That's what happened to the former CKCO-TV-3 (channel 42) site in Lambton County a number of years ago. 

The picture on the article shows just the feedlines cut down below. 

 

September 3, 2024 12:57 pm  #7


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Saul wrote:

Certainly any act of vandalism like this needs to be dealt with, but there does seem to be some overreaction:

"However, its destruction has plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray, with residents expressing disbelief and frustration over the senseless act of vandalism."

Plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray? Wish they'd elaborate. And what, pray tell, is a sensible act of vandalism?

It appears the human forgot to edit the AI-generated text. 

 

September 3, 2024 12:59 pm  #8


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

My memory isn't exact, but didn't something similar once happen to CHUM-AM? I think it was the studio-to-transmitter link on top of 1331 Yonge St. that was affected. Anyone recall this and whether they ever arrested anyone? 

     Thread Starter
 

September 3, 2024 1:04 pm  #9


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Here it is - Aug. 12, 1986. The guy behind it apparently became convinced that the CHUM tower was interfering with his TV reception, so after a drunken night of plotting, he and his buddies climbed the roof of 1331 Yonge St. in the darkness and cut the guy wires.

     Thread Starter
 

September 3, 2024 1:18 pm  #10


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Saul wrote:

Certainly any act of vandalism like this needs to be dealt with, but there does seem to be some overreaction:

"However, its destruction has plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray, with residents expressing disbelief and frustration over the senseless act of vandalism."

Plunged the neighbourhood into a state of disarray? Wish they'd elaborate. And what, pray tell, is a sensible act of vandalism?

Might as well use the incident for a little self promotion, I guess.

 

September 3, 2024 1:24 pm  #11


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

I figured it was the launch of The Fugitive!   Sadly, it's just dirt bags doing dirtbag things.

 

September 3, 2024 2:02 pm  #12


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Marc1178 wrote:

Did they attempt to steal copper? That's what happened to the former CKCO-TV-3 (channel 42) site in Lambton County a number of years ago. 

A few years ago, a guy scaled the fence at a London Hydro facility in an attempt to steal copper wire. He ended up winning the Darwin Award. They found him fried the next morning.
 


After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
 

September 3, 2024 3:44 pm  #13


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

A disgruntled listener?  There's only so much Trooper a body can handle.  Or Gino Vannelli's 'Black Cars'. 🤔
*
😁

Last edited by Easily Amused (September 3, 2024 3:48 pm)

 

September 3, 2024 3:51 pm  #14


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Looks like every first draft of a news story these days is handled by AI...this is brutally written...even for a Terminator T-1000.

 

September 3, 2024 4:10 pm  #15


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Back  in the 80s and early 90s, when I was living up on the Bruce Peninsula, I was receiving the test transmissions from a new FM coming on in Orangeville. They were asking listeners to call in and report their reception. When I called, their engineer was surprised they were getting out that well. I asked where their transmitter was located and he said they weren't giving out that information.


After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
 

September 3, 2024 4:15 pm  #16


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

If this is a new country station, it might be a good thing 

 

September 3, 2024 4:43 pm  #17


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

markow202 wrote:

Whats wrong with society?  Its worse and worse.

All civilizations crumble. We just happen to be living in the (un?)fortunate era of being able to experience it firsthand.

 

September 3, 2024 6:45 pm  #18


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Easily Amused wrote:

A disgruntled listener? There's only so much Trooper a body can handle. Or Gino Vannelli's 'Black Cars'. 🤔
*
😁

Had the vandals been fried, Trooper might very well have played right through/over their bodies...they would have been human radios.
 

 

September 3, 2024 7:05 pm  #19


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Didn't take 91.7 long to get back on the air, easily heard downtown this afternoon. 89.1 is blocked by 88.9 CIRV IBOC so have no idea from here if they're back or not...

 

September 4, 2024 9:15 am  #20


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Johnny B wrote:

Looks like every first draft of a news story these days is handled by AI...this is brutally written...even for a Terminator T-1000.

This version is much more succinct, and avoids the hyperbole in Giant's reporting: https://www.chch.com/vandalism-at-transmitter-kicks-2-niagara-region-radio-stations-off-air/

 

September 4, 2024 9:26 am  #21


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

“This will send shockwaves in our community, in the province, and into Canadian radio,” he said.

Wonder if one walked into town and did a street sample of 100 people, how many would even know what happened. The only potential shockwaves are to vandals who don't know what they're doing (and possibly even to those who do).

 

September 4, 2024 2:15 pm  #22


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Here's the St. Catharines Standard's version of this story. 

It indicates whoever did it, knew exactly what they were up to.

They're still trying to figure out a motive.

"...we’re scratching our heads,” [P.D. Dave] Devine said. “Did we do something? Did we tick someone off? Did we make someone angry? Did they not like the prize they won? That’s what we’ve been talking about, but we don’t really know.”  



 

     Thread Starter
 

September 4, 2024 3:08 pm  #23


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

markow202 wrote:

Thats horrible and such a great station but apparently back on the air now.  Whats wrong with society?  Its worse and worse. 

What's wrong with society? Among other things, the craving of social media likes/thumbs-up/subscribers is causing people to forget the lessons they learned in childhood.
Narcissism gave America a felon for a president,
a man so incapable of rational thought or self-analysis, that he trying (but failing) again.
Now everyone is dying (sometimes literally) to be a social media star, and many will do the most outrageous things to achieve said end.

Pathetic.

 

September 6, 2024 10:17 am  #24


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

 

September 6, 2024 2:43 pm  #25


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

Not exactly a radio tower but in the same vein there is this involving a crane tower in London
https://london.ctvnews.ca/reported-high-rise-crane-stunt-dubbed-risky-and-dangerous-1.7026921
The swinging from the end might be AI but the scaling of the crane seems to be real.  Darwin Award prospects.
 

 

September 8, 2024 11:52 am  #26


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

No back up generators?

 

September 8, 2024 8:32 pm  #27


Re: Giant FM & Country 89 Knocked Off Air After Transmitter Vandalism

A back up genny  doesn'.t matter if there is no feed to the antenna.