[BC] Comparing the audio in the Big 50's

[Jim Seaman]

Gary Blau writes: 

> FWIW the MW-50 at WNBC was installed in 1980 by Mike Bock, and was one
> of the 'good' ones, with the 100KW supply, etc. Was always reliable,
> and played very loud. Certainly blew the old Fuzz out of the water on
> all audio counts.
> What may have happened after 87 or during WFAN times I have no idea.
> Jim Seaman can answer that.
 
When Emmis took over WNBC in 1988 I continued to run as NBC did using the 317C2 as main, and the MW-50A as alternate main.  We also had an RCA BTA-5 that ran into a aux tower and saw occassional use during overnight maintenance and during our generator replacement project. Around or about 1990 the 317C was upgraded from a "C2" to a "C3". I had J. Fred Riley come up from Texas and he upgraded the rig personally. I still have the original builder's plate from the C2 which he replaced with a new one from the factory that officially made it a "C3". When Emmis took over the site, both rigs were also set up to run Motorola C-QUAM.
 
The MW-50 never saw much air time, but it did not have anything to do with Imus. I also heard that story, but gave it no credence. I concur with Gary Blau's comments. I always thought that the WNBC/WFAN MW-50A sounded quite good, and I would ocassionally rotate it into service. My staff was generally more familiar with RCA and Continental maintenance than Harris, but I had run another MW-50A when I was chief at the old WPTR 1540 in Albany for some years, so I knew them. I generally found that the WFAN MW-50A was a reliable rig if it was used. It just did not like to sit idle for long with the transmitter site being on an island.  High Island is the closest I've ever come to operating maritime mobile, and the MW-50A could be contankerous until it warmed up and burned off any humidity.
 
Jim Seaman