[BC] TIS facilities (WAS:Smallest AM Radiator)

[WFIFeng@aol.com]

In a message dated 06/29/2006 6:24:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
ranchorobbo at hotmail.com writes:

> I wonder what those little automated traffic information stations use, that 
>  are on 1610 and 530 or 540?  what kind of small tower can work well on 
>  540--or maybe they don't care as they don't have to get out all that far.  
>  must have a loading coil the size of a farm silo  :  )

There's one very easily visible from I-95 north, just before Exit 43, on the 
right. It's maybe 20' from the right shoulder, near the former toll office 
building there. It looks like a traffic light controller box (about 3' high, 1' 
wide, 1' deep) mounted to a post with what appears to be an aluminum pole 
protruding from the top of the post maybe 10' or so. I live two miles away, and can 
hear it reasonably well on a portable radio. It's on 1670.

What frustrates me about the thing, is the apparent lack of audio processing. 
Some announcements are loud and clear, others barely audible. I like to check 
it before I leave for work in the AM, and sometimes the adjacent skywave 
splatter from 1660 and 1680 make that very difficult. When the low audio 
announcements come on, forget it.

Willie...