CCA AM1000D
It was a cold snowy day on March 16th, 2002, when I embarked on my latest adventure, to pick up a new AM broadcast transmitter. I knew it was a CCA and guessed it was an AM1000D from the '75 NAB handbook I have. I was quite surprised when I arrived at the transmitter site to find that the transmitter was in excellent condition, and it was indeed a CCA AM1000D, built February 14th, 1972. Mmmm. A Valentines transmitter. It is a sweetheart!
 |
 |
Wouldn't you just love to be an engineer responsible for maintaining this transmitter site. B.C. sure has some picturesque locations. This is about 100 miles east of Vancouver, in a beautiful remote community, who's only radio station moved from AM to FM. My friend Pete and I dismantled the old station and removed the transmitters from the building. We started at 9am and were on the road by 1pm. It was a great way to spend a day!
 |
 |
| As you can see, the transmitter shack was a bit cramped. There was barely enough room to get around the back of the transmitter or get a full frontal shot. That gorgeous looking grey box is a Gates BC250GY which was bought and installed in 1972 when the station was built. The CCA was moved into service here in 1977, when the increased power license was issued. |
Dismantling began promptly after the drooling stopped. It was only after we had most of the transformers removed and all of the antenna tuning circuits disconnected, that we stopped and had a look at the doorway......and then the width of the transmitters........uhhh ohhhh......
Seems the slab was poured, the transmitters placed and then the bricks laid. There was no way these babies were going through the doorway. Unless of course.....
 |
REMOVE THE DOOR & FRAME :-) |
 |
Now they will go through with an inch to spare. I even saved the nails and put the door frame all back in. You'd never know it was out.
Back up the truck, tip over the transmitter, slide it onto the truck, and away we go. It was pretty simple, although as I type this, I have ice on my back.
 |
 |
Now the only concern was....will we get across the bridge. It has a 6 ton load limit, and after all, these are TRUE boatanchors.
I'll make a page up for the Gates 250GY as soon as I get time. The Gates is in mint condition. Inside is like new. It has never been moved since it was installed. I also found all the transmitter log books and these transmitters have been maintained by the same engineer since 1972. He really did a spectacular job looking after them, right up until the station went off the air, December 3rd, 2001. Last entry in the log book reads........"December 3rd/2001 shut TX off - done - the end - a.p.s."
Probably a sad day. Good job Arnie!