Empire State Building 'Bermuda Triangle' By Richard Weir New York Daily news staff writer Sunday, January 27th 2008, 4:00 AM
In the shadow of the Empire State Building lies an "automotive Bermuda Triangle" - a five-block radius where vehicles mysteriously die. No one is sure what's causing it, but all roads appear to lead to the looming giant in our midst - specifically, its Art Deco mast and 203-foot-long, antenna-laden spire.
From: Steve Cichorsky' Sent: Mon Jan 28 0:12 To: 'TCI" Subject: Empire State Building 'Bermuda Triangle'
A number of years ago, while working on top of our county's main FM radio and Television broadcasting site, Cuesta Peak, one of the cable television company's engineers came from next door, into the television transmitter building to visit with me.
We had our antenna located at the two-hundred foot level on KSBY-TV's
460' tower and I was working on our FM transmitter which was also located in the same building along with KZOZ-FM's transmitter.Years earlier, when we moved our transmitter onto the site, KSBY's Chief Engineer told me that KZOZ's transmitter was of poor design and if I ever saw the fluorescent lamp that hung directly above their transmitter lit-up when the light switch was turned-off, go over and retune the P.A. until it went out. A few years latter KZOZ was cited by the F.C.C. and F.A.A.for radiating spurs in the aviation band and the cable company was constantly having problems with them radiating into their cable systems.
If the final amp was not properly tuned, the power would reflect back down the transmission line and the excess r.f. would cause havoc throughout the hill. As a matter-of-fact, Channel Six had to install chokes even on the analog filament meters or they would provide erroneous readings.
Of course the telephone company had previously installed r.f. suppression on the lines and equipment long ago.
He also told me if my vehicle had an electronic ignition and would not start when I got ready to leave, go back inside and make sure the lamp was extinguished.
Anyway, when my friend from the cable company came over to visit, a short time later a carpenter came inside and ask him to open up the cable company's building so he could start remodeling.
My friend gave him the key and told him to go over and get started and he would be there in a short while. While we continued to visit, the carpenter came back inside and asked if we could assist him since his car would not start.
My friend and I looked and each other with a smirk and asked if he had an electronic ignition. He said no but his vehicle did have electronic fuel injection.
We suspended our urgent conversation about barbecuing and beer-drinking and went outside and pushed his car about 75-feet away from the tower, into a null area.
His vehicle started right up!!
Posted to Telecom Digest by Neal McLain