Category: Radio

Sky-high serenade: Tuning into Corbin’s WCTT-AM

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Google Street View photo shows a radio tower rising into the sky from a country scene in Kentucky.
WCTT-AM transmits from this site in Whitley County, Kentucky. (Photo © Google)

Picking up WCTT-AM from my high-rise home felt like a serendipitous dance with radio waves, a connection across almost 400 miles that brought me right into the heart of Corbin, Kentucky.

At night, with only 830 Watts powering its signal, the station on 680 kHz beams out tunes that transport listeners back to the days of Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong, and other such ilk. The wonder of receiving this signal, especially from within the confines of a Faraday cage on the 54th floor, added a touch of magic to the experience.

Logo for WCTT-AM, a radio station in Corbin, Kentucky.

WCTT, known affectionately as “Great 68,” is more than just a radio station; it’s a piece of living history, broadcasting since 1947. Now under the ownership of the Eubanks family, who run Encore Communications Inc., these folks’ dedication has kept the station alive and kicking, offering a slice of Americana to anyone lucky enough to tune in.

Corbin, the small town from where WCTT-AM broadcasts, is nestled in the heart of southeastern Kentucky, with a history that speaks to the complex tapestry of American life. Known for its scenic beauty and historical depth, Corbin is a place where the past is always present, echoing through the streets and the airwaves alike. It’s also where Colonel Sanders‘ dreams took wing.

So, as I sit back and let the oldies play, I’m not just listening to music; I’m connecting with a part of America’s heartland, a storied station, and a town steeped in history, all through the faint crackle of radio magic.

Receiver: CCRadio 2E using internal 8-inch AM ferrite antenna.

Maps show the distance from Chicago to Corbin, Kentucky, as well as WCTT-AM's nighttime coverage.
Maps: Distance Calculator and Radio-Locator.com.

Why smartphones fail as true emergency tools

L.T. Hanlon1 Comment
My CCRadio Solar will be a great resource in an emergency. In the meantime, the radio is a stellar performer on AM, FM, and NOAA Weather Radio.

Every week, I check the power level on my CCradio Solar to ensure its battery is charged.

Just in case.

We live in an era dominated by smartphones. These pocket-sized devices have transformed our lives in countless ways, granting us unparalleled connectivity and access to information. But while smartphones are immensely versatile tools, a smartphone is not an emergency radio.

“But I can access any news site or weather app from my phone,” you might argue. Under normal circumstances, your smartphone can inform you about global news, local incidents, and upcoming weather conditions. In short-lived emergencies, such as power outages or brief network disruptions, a smartphone can be a lifeline, giving you essential updates.

However, the value and utility of a dedicated emergency radio, especially one that can receive AM, FM, and weather service broadcasts, should never be underestimated.

Here’s why:

1. Battery Longevity: An emergency radio is built to last. Many models have hand-crank or solar power options, ensuring they remain functional even when electricity sources are compromised. Smartphones drain batteries rapidly with their myriad applications and features. In prolonged emergencies, a dead smartphone is of no use.

2. Network Dependence: Smartphones rely heavily on cellular or Wi-Fi networks. These networks can be overloaded or down in disasters, rendering smartphones useless for gathering information. An emergency radio operates independently of these networks, directly receiving broadcasts to keep you informed.

3. Specificity of Broadcasts: Weather service broadcasts on emergency radios provide specialized information tailored for emergencies, including storm tracks, evacuation routes, and shelter locations. This targeted information might not be readily available on general news sites or apps.

4. Durability: Emergency radios are often built with rugged designs to withstand adverse conditions. Smartphones are generally more fragile, susceptible to water damage, and not designed to endure extreme conditions.

While smartphones are indispensable tools in our modern lives, they cannot replace the tried-and-true reliability of a dedicated emergency radio. It’s always wise to invest in an inexpensive emergency radio, ensuring you have a dependable source of information when it matters most. In an emergency, being well-informed can make all the difference.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Todderbert reviews the CCRadio Solar as well as many other emergency radios.

Farpoint Farms explains three types of radios you need right now.

From type slugs to steamy tubs: An unexpected journey

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment
Photo of a desktop on which we see a portable Sangean HD Radio, a copy of DX News, a leather memo book cover for Field Notes notebooks, and a curvy-top Hermes 3000 typewriter. In the typewriter is a sheet of paper on which I typed the accompanying column. Here is what's on the paper: Ah, the joys of typewriter maintenance. Picture me, just your average Joe, undertaking the noble task of maintaining my precious Hermes 3000 in pristine glory. Armed with cotton swabs and a spray bottle of 99.9 percent isopropyl alcohol, I was all set to dive into the fiddly, smudgy, inky world of typeslug cleanliness. What I wasn't ready for was the time travel that occurred after the first spray. The moment that acerbic scent of isopropyl alcohol hit my nostrils, my brain went on an impromptu trip down memory lane. Picture this: One moment, I was elbow-deep in the guts of a vintage typewriter, and the next, I was back in the sultry, steamy setting of Denver's Empire Baths. I'd somehow managed to astrally project myself into the midst of a memory of my first visit to the former gay bathhouse. Why, you might ask, did my brain make this leap from cleaning typeslugs to steamy encounters? Here's the explanation. Poppers are recreational inhalants of isobutyl nitrite or related compounds made by reacting isobutyl alcohol with sodium nitrite in dilute sulfuric acid. These aren't exactly household chemicals, but their distinctive scent is oddly reminiscent of alcohol. At the Empire Baths — or any other gay bathhouse — the aroma of poppers infused the humid air, subtly overlaying the scent of damp towels and sweat. Quite the unique olfactory cocktail. It's not a far stretch to say that my nostrils picked up the thread of familiarity between the isopropyl alcohol and those ethereal nitrite wafts from the past. And voila! My brain leaped from typeslugs to steam rooms faster than a pussy pouncing on a laser pointer. But I must cut this blog post short before we digress further into memory and nostalgia. There’s an irresistible siren call from my living room I cannot ignore: a new Chris Pratt movie on Amazon Prime.

Ah, the joys of typewriter maintenance. Picture me, just your average Joe, undertaking the noble task of maintaining my precious Hermes 3000 in pristine glory.

Armed with cotton swabs and a spray bottle of 99 percent isopropyl alcohol, I was all set to dive into the fiddly, smudgy, inky world of typeslug cleanliness.

What I wasn’t ready for was the time travel that occurred after the first spray.

The moment that acerbic scent of isopropyl alcohol hit my nostrils, my brain went on an impromptu trip down memory lane.

Picture this: One moment, I was elbow-deep in the guts of a vintage typewriter, and the next, I was back in the sultry, steamy setting of Denver’s Empire Baths.

I’d somehow managed to astrally project myself into the midst of a memory of my first visit to the former gay bathhouse.

Why, you might ask, did my brain make this leap from cleaning typeslugs to steamy encounters?

Here’s the explanation.

Poppers are recreational inhalants of isobutyl nitrite or related compounds made by reacting isobutyl alcohol with sodium nitrite in dilute sulfuric acid.

These aren’t exactly household chemicals, but their distinctive scent is oddly reminiscent of alcohol.

At the Empire Baths — or any other gay bathhouse — the aroma of poppers infused the humid air, subtly overlaying the scent of damp towels and sweat. Quite the unique olfactory cocktail.

It’s not a far stretch to say that my nostrils picked up the thread of familiarity between the isopropyl alcohol and those ethereal nitrite wafts from the past.

And voila!

My brain leaped from typeslugs to steam rooms faster than a pussy pouncing on a laser pointer.

But I must cut this blog post short before we digress further into memory and nostalgia.

There’s an irresistible siren call from my living room I cannot ignore: a new Chris Pratt movie on Amazon Prime.

How the FCC tracks radio signals

L.T. Hanlon5 Comments

Ringway Manchester does a great job of explaining how, since the dawn of broadcasting, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has been tracking radio transmissions by using direction-finding installations in remote, rural areas.

Many employ a unique antenna known as a Wullenweber array that looks sort of like a wireframe Stonehenge. Viewed from above, some of these circular setups could pass for center-pivot irrigation systems.

Panasonic RF-596 is almost perfect

L.T. HanlonLeave a comment

My favorite radio is this Panasonic RF-596 manufactured back in 1978. It tunes like a champ, has wonderful sound, and the illuminated dial and LED tuning light make every monitoring session a visually dramatic experience. Its dial is slightly off and should be recalibrated, but I don’t want to risk surgery on this otherwise perfect little beauty.

What treasured yestertech do you own?

Tuning around on the FM band in my kitchen on the 54th floor of a Chicago highrise.