An oddity from the golden era of Cable TV

[mikegilbert]

I remember seeing this website years ago referencing a large off-air TV antenna setup for a local cable company un in the central valley.

I spent way too much time searching google earth hoping it was still standing. The website only mentions it was still standing in 1999. After finding it on streetview, I confirmed it's still intact. Decided to drive a few hundred miles to document this amazing feat of engineering in case it does meet the wrong end of a bulldozer some day.

The original guyed tower with periscope antennas for CARS microwave has been replaced by a beefier self support, whose story is interesting in itself.

It's hard to see, but the "birdcatcher" wires are still mostly intact. See the closeup lower in the post.

 

[mikegilbert]

Original CARS microwave shack. Small towers for the microwave antennas from the periscope setup are still there.

Closeup of the "birdcatcher" wires.

Love the old tube TV someone smashed on the fencepost.

 

[mmckenna]

Absolutely fascinating post. Thanks for sharing. I love this old telecommunications archeology stuff. Proof that good antennas make the difference.

Growing up in the South Bay, we could often get TV stations out of Sacramento, ~100 miles with two formidable ranges in the way. As a kid, I was always amazed by that. That, and AM DX...

 

[IC-R20]

Those shark fin towers with the wire curtain between are really cool. What were they originally used for?

 

[mmckenna]

Those shark fin towers with the wire curtain between are really cool. What were they originally used for?

It was in one of the linked posts.
It was used for VHF TV band, getting a signal from ~90 miles away (and over two ranges). Pretty impressive.

 

[IC-R20]

It was in one of the linked posts.
It was used for VHF TV band, getting a signal from ~90 miles away (and over two ranges). Pretty impressive.

Oh I thought that was referring to one the bigger tv antennas sitting on the top. Didn’t realize it was a giant parabola at first. Would love to have that for 6 meter band DXing.

 

[mmckenna]

Oh I thought that was referring to one the bigger tv antennas sitting on the top. Didn’t realize it was a giant parabola at first. Would love to have that for 6 meter band DXing.

You should do a google search on "White Alice". That'll rustle your RF jimmies.

 

[mikegilbert]

Oh I thought that was referring to one the bigger tv antennas sitting on the top. Didn’t realize it was a giant parabola at first. Would love to have that for 6 meter band DXing.

If it wasn’t fenced off, I was planning on bringing my 8000 in there to see if I could make some 2 meter contacts 😂

 

[oldradioguy2010]

So is it still in some operating condition?
We still have a tower that's been up for more years I can remember. Located above grant park (father Serra cross) area in Ventura.
I believe it is in part still running.


DW
So. Cal