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Rain, snow and warm weather play havoc with KUAC radio signalhe recent combination of warm weather, freezing rain and snow has reduced the broadcast signal ofKUAC-FM, creating reception problems in the Fairbanks area, according to KUAC General Manager Keith Martin.The extreme temperature changes and the rain and snow helped create a thick layer of ice and snow that is stuck like glue to the antenna. It is not the normal dust-like winter snow.When the ice and snow build up on the antenna, the transmitter has to reduce power to prevent damage to the equipment, which leads to a weaker signal for listeners, he said. The eight circular devices atthe top of the 190-foot tower serve as the FM antenna.Martin said he went to the tower Wednesday to try to knock some of the snowDermotColeFor more Dermot Cole see his blog at newsminer.comoff the antenna with a rubber mallet, which works with ordinary Fairbanks snow, but this stuff is frozen in place. It’s too dangerous to climb the tower now and remove the ice by hand.The antenna is about 16 to 17 years old and wasordered without plastic radomes, which would provide some protection. They are not available as an addon for this antenna, he said.A new antenna is the only long-term solution to this problem, which has been made much worse by the unusual winter weather?•?.-. p/.’ faMMPhoto by Gretchen GordonThe KUAC radio tower is encrusted with ice and snow.of recent years.In the meantime, a warm spell to melt the snow or a series of sunny days with a temperature of 15 below or warmer are needed to clearthings up. KUAC still is on the air and can be heard in many parts of the community.• • •TRAILER WORK: Theconstruction activity just west of the Sports Authority is a temporary project to connect five trailers that make up a 20-man work camp to be shipped north to Prudhoe Bay.Doyon Associated LLC is going to connect the units and install whatever fire supression equipment is needed before the trailers are taken apart and shipped north in February, according to a Dec. 8 letter sent by Bill Beistline, president of B-Line Construction, tocity building official Clem Clooten.Beistline said the “structures will be located temporarily in Fairbanks for the ‘practice’ assembly and the lots will be vacated in a fair ly short amount of time.”Businessman Jerry Sadler owns the property. B-Line Construction will be doing whatever limited repairs are needed on the camp, Beistline said.• • •GATEWAY ARCH:After I wrote about the proposed “Fairbanks Gateway Arch” for the Illinois Street project, members of the Chena Riverfront Commission contacted me to say that they did not approve of the design and had asked for changes.Here is a statement from Anna Plager, chairwoman of the commission:“In early 2010, the Chena Riverfront Commis-%%%%%%%%%%sion expressed concerns to DOTPF about the design, but were advised that the project was too close to going to bid to make changes. 'Rather than delay the ; project, the commission’s Design Committee contin- ' ues to discuss other options; and welcomes anyone who is interested in a gateway design that better represents Fairbanks. If interested, call Commissioner Anna Plager at 455-6695.” *• • • *iCHRISTMAS BELLS:;The Soroptimists will be aU Fred Meyer West Saturday and Chena Kiwanis will be at the Bentley Mall, ringing bells for the Salvation Army. The Golden Heart Shootists Society plans to be at Fred Meyer West from 6 to 8 p.m. today for the same task.Dermot Cole can be reached at cole@newsmlner.com or 459-7530.
Newspaper Details
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Sun, Dec 16, 2012
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 17 Jun 2020
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