WHATEVER HAPPENED TO.....WWBS?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO....WWBS?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO....WWBS?
It's interesting to look back and reflect on the disappearing shortwave broadcasters from our past. Down in Macon, Georgia, USA there was once a private shortwave radio station with the callsign WWBS.
Its programming largely consisted of religious content, and it maintained a schedule of weekend operation for approximately 2 hours on both Saturday and Sunday evenings (local Georgia time). Mostly the station schedule was 0000 to 0200 UTC, although sometimes it was noted opening up at 2300 UTC.WWBS began transmissions in December 1998 and continued till February 2003. The station was owned, built and operated by amateur radio operator Charles C. Josey K4LNL and his wife Jo Ann Josey K4LHO. Charles was an enthusiastic and extremely proficient constructor of ham radio equipment, and his residence was filled with old home brew transmitters, receivers and auxiliary equipment.
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| One of Charles Josey's TMS-manufactured transmitters |
You can still see some of the TMS equipment Josey used by going to the following website: http://www.jamminpower.com/eBay/TMC/K4LNL.html
So, I guess it was logical that Charles would also build and maintain the 50kW transmitter that broadcasts programs from WWBS. I believe the signal transmitted was upper sideband and carrier (no LSB), although I can't confirm this fact.
In just over four years of operation, WWBS transmitted mainly on 11900 kHz, but was also known to swap to other nearby outlets of 11905, 11910 and 11915 kHz. The large 4-element rotatable yagi antenna on the roof of a building in downtown Macon was also designed and constructed by Josey, who is reported as saying it was 140 feet high (42 metres). In a recent Facebook forum, Charles Pennington reports that the antenna is delta fed with 450 ohm balanced line for broad bandwidth. It's SWR was measured good from around 9 MHz to 13 MHz enabling it to cover both the 31 and 25 metre bands.
The transmitter operated from 300 Poplar Street, Macon, GA. (Coordinates: 32 49 56 N Latitude 083 37 34 W Longitude). Pop the address into Google Maps and you can still see the antenna (and its shadow) sitting high on top of this old building, which is labeled on the map as "Christ Chapel The Warehouse"!
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| Google Street View |
Today, the huge yagi antenna still remains, as can be seen from these closeup photos below, taken last year by Mike Doughney N3MCU (and used with his permission - thanks Mike!) Click on each image for a closer view.
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| Mike Doughney N3MCU (used with permission) |
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| Mike Doughney N3MCU (used with permission) |
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| Mike Doughney N3MCU (used with permission) |
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| Mike Doughney N3MCU (used with permission) |
The station appears to have been a regular verifier of reception reports with a large QSL Certificate, although it seems that for some listeners, a reply could take many months to arrive! The verification signer was usually Jo Ann, however, Charles was also known to sign the odd QSL, too. The station address was given as Radio Station WWBS, P. O. Box 18174, Macon, GA 31209. However, in response to one listener, Charles suggested that mail to this address was unreliable and that a better address for reception reports was 965 Hickory Ridge Drive, Macon, GA 31024 USA. This may have been the home address of the Josey family.
So why did WWBS suddenly disappear from the shortwave bands? Well, Charles died on February 28, 2003. And as he was the owner/operator of the station, WWBS died along with him. We don't know what happened to the transmitter and studio equipment. I believe it was later sold, but the antenna still remains. I would be interested if readers have any further information.
Never heard WWBS before? Well, over at IntervalSignals.net, there is a recording of the opening announcement. You can download this small file here:
http://www.intervalsignals.net/Files/usa-z-wwbs_ga_270200.m3u
73 and have a great weekend everyone!
Rob Wagner VK3BVW
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Thank you Rob! I have never heard that one before. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting Report. I was wondering in the last few years, if the Station is still active or not, because reception of this Station never was easy in central europe. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it! Cheers, Rob
DeleteI have some memory of listening to US English voices around 11915kHz. This frequency is still, althoug occasionally used by one of my favorite stations, namely Radio Gaucha of Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil.
DeleteTnx fer the vy interesting info in article abt "Josey's" WWBS former stn complete wid antenna photos.
ReplyDeleteVy 73, Greg-W2MYA
Glad you enjoyed it, Greg. All the best! Rob
DeleteTnx for nice article on my friend and electronic wizard, Charles K4LNL. I first met Charles in 1959 as a teenager who was on 75 meters with several of us. He could fix or troubleshoot transmitters, receivers, RTTY, etc. Later in life when he was in the X-Ray biz, he would stop by my office and I would go on several local service calls with him. Again, he could build, fix, trouble shoot anything as evidenced by WWBS. We all miss him. 73, K4VBH-Jim, Americus, GA.
ReplyDeleteHi Jim! Thanks so much for sharing your story about Charles. Really interesting and nice to hear about his work and background. For me living here in Australia, it was a bit difficult researching for the article, but people certainly seem to have appreciated reading about Charles and WWBS. Best 73, Rob VK3BVW
DeleteOh it wasn't sold it's still there. Surprised people could run a shortwave station with a tiny ham radio like setup though. Probably wouldn't do well internationally but could probably cover all the way to west coast to a receiver with telescopic whip.
ReplyDeleteAs my article points out, this was not a "tiny ham radio" setup. It was a honkin' great 50kW AM SW broadcast transmitter built by Charles. And contrary to to your assertion that the station "wouldn't do well internationally", over the years WWBS received many reception reports from all over Europe inc. Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, and even as far as here in Australia where numerous DXers have WWBS QSLs in their collections.
DeleteThe real story.......After Charles's died in 2003 Charles Pennington was a great help to keep it on the air which we did for several years.
ReplyDeleteIn 2009 the station equipment was sold to Livingston Fulton in Albany Ga and was moved there. He also owns an AM station there. The tower and antenna still stand but the building has been converted to lofts on the third floor and now the second floor has been leased to another business. The building was sold to Bryan Nichols, my son, ans wen on to receive the National Award for Historic preservation. This station was Charles's dream and I am glad he had the opportunity to see it happen before his death at the age of 60. He was a true electronic genius and few others will ever accomplish what he accomplished in his lifetime.
Jo Ann Josey
Hi Jo Ann! Lovely to hear from you. Thank you for clarifying what happened to the transmitter and the building after the death of Charles. My article appears to have created much interest amongst radio enthusiasts, so it's great to have your additional information. Best wishes, Rob VK3BVW (Mount Evelyn, VIC, Australia.)
DeleteThe image shows commercially built TMC (Technical Materials Corp) equipment, NOT homebrew. FYI.
ReplyDeleteThank you, "Unknown"! You are right. The image was labeled incorrectly - now rectified. Thanks for your eagle-eye. 73, Rob.
DeleteThank you all for the interesting story. Sometimes over the yeasy I have entertained the notion of starting a short wave broadcast station. Never did it. FM yes. So now I have some coin to live on. Shortwave probably would not have supported anyone.
ReplyDeleteI would love to buy the antenna and move it to barnesville and put it back in service as a Shortwave service, profitable or not.
ReplyDelete