Dielectric TDM-3A5 362.7m
WGBH-TV RF05 - D02 Boston
Primary
Dielectric
TUM-AP-O4-14/56H-2-B new master antenna. 350m (2019 Added)
WFXT Primary
WBZ-TV Aux, WCVB-TV Aux,
WSBK Aux, WGBX, Aux.
Former TV
antennas
WFXT RF31 -
D25 Boston
780kW DA 363m (2018 Removed)
WLVI
RF41 - D56 Cambridge
- 690kW DA 346m (2018 Removed)
WFXT
RF31- D25 Boston
78kW DA 331m (Aux)
ERI SHPXA-8AC-HW-SP
WBZ-FM
98.5 Boston 16kW (Aux) 255.4m
WZLX
100.7 Boston
3.8kW (Aux) 255.4m
WODS
103.3 Boston
15kW (Aux) 255.4m
WWBX
104.1 Boston
3.7kW (Aux) 255.4m
SHIVELY 6812-1R
W243DC
96.5 Needham
0.01kW 159.5
The repack build at Cabot is mostly been completed. Here are pictures of the RF build.
A very picturesque view of the now non candelabra tower.
The two stacked antennas and RF systems below them.
A closeup of the antennas.
And WGBH-TV's new primary antenna closeup. VHF 3 bay circularly polarized.
Pretty advanced Dielectric antenna, despite the shroud. This is a dual polarized, dual input broadband antenna.
The antenna is fed by this state of the art, dual chain combining system. Each station can vary the phase into the combiners,
which varies the phase into the antenna. Thus each station can operate with different levels of polarity.
Pictures from the install and everything else below.
As part of the FCC's Reverse
Incentive Broadcast Auction
(Known as the "repack"), several stations in Boston will be moving
around.
In order for the stations to move around, a total reconfiguring of the
top of the Candelabra tower had to occur.
In a span of a month* from December 2018 to January 2019, a couple of
large helicopter lifts, the Candelabra
was transformed before our very eyes. Scroll through these pictures to
see the changes as they occured.
*Note: Other work such as feedline work, inspections and building
construction has been
on going since Spring of 2018.
The top of the tower, as seen prepared for the Helicopter pick on this
chilly December morning...
The WFXT antenna closeup with the section removed to connect to the
helicopter.
The crews starting to disassemble the "wedding cake" used to support
the antenna.
The first of the Helicopter lifts began with the WFXT antenna.
The tower looks a little different with no WFXT antenna on top!
Next goes the top half of the old WLVI antenna and pole.
The tower crew scrambled to the WSBK side to prep for the removal of
their pole.
And down she goes!
Getting ready for the next pick, they prepare the bottom half of the
WLVI pole and antenna.
And with WLVI out of the way, all that remains is the pole that
supported WFXT's antenna...
The antennas landed in their final resting spot outside of the WFXT
transmitter room.
Series of pictures from May 2014 prior to the repack moves.
The tower taken from the parking lot of the Sheraton
The master backup FM
A closer shot
The top section with the TV antennas, receive antennas and abandonded
MediaFlo
The new 96.5 translator antenna.
A wider shot of the translator antenna.
A cool shot looking up from the transmitter buildings.
Series of pictures from
November 2012
WFXT Main (Top left), WFXT Aux (Bottom left), WLVI Tine (Center), WSBK
Tine (Right).
ENG antennas side mounted (WFXT, WHDH)
Media Flo
WFXT Main
WFXT Aux
Former WSBK Tine (Antenna now gone)
A view of the upper part of the 1200' tower.
WLVI-DT (Left), WFXT (Right)
WLVI
A different angle of the tower
A different angle of the top
The aux master FM
A wider view of the aux master FM
The four station FM combiner
Another view of the four station combiner
The aux transmitter room. Click on each station to get a closer view
of the specific TXen. Note that 98.5 is the only station with HD radio
here.
Pictures below, circa April 2009
A view looking at the top with the analog antenna for WSBK still in
place.
Another shot with the analog antennas still in place.
Another shot.
A cell camera shot from behind the WFXT transmitter room, October 2012
Looking up from the rear of the WFXT transmitter room.
Pictures below March 2006.
Here is a view of the candleabra looking from the ground up.
From
The CANDLEABRA.....
The sign on the building circa 2009.
Another view looking up the tower.
A closeup view of the top.
Here is a different view of the Candleabra.
Left hand side, WLVI Analog (Top/Removed)
WLVI Digital (Side mounted)
Front WFXT Analog (Top removed)
WFXT original Digital (Bottom Hanging down)
Right hand side WSBK Analog (Top Removed)
Below are historic photos from 1999/2000
The Candelabra taken sometime in 1997. Notice all the microwave dishes
for the NESN/WSBK cable feeds.
The sign on the side of the building, circa 1997
The digital-less top! WLVI on the left, WSBK center, and WFXT right.
Late 1997/Early 1998
The last FM I ever saw on the Candelabra from the "originals" was this
aux for WBOS 92.9,
which was since removed. (Before the CBS master FM)
The NESN uplink facility was also located here at the Candelabra.
The Candelabra tower, photo taken just after completion of construction
in 1969