Many changes took place at the WDAZ transmitter site during early 2005. We're now broadcasting with a new Harris Platinum Series Transmitter. The original RCA TT25-DH transmitter that was installed in 1967 is now only occasionally used as a backup. Before the new Harris was installed we had to make room by removing our RCA TT-11AH transmitter. It was used as a backup transmitter from 1986 to January 2005.
In time, the new Harris will be converted to broadcast a digital HDTV signal. Actually WDAZ is ready to broadcast digital TV right now. When the new transmitter was brought in, the proper digital equipment was also installed. It would only take about 10 minutes to switch over. According to the FCC, WDAZ was supposed to start broadcasting a digital TV signal during the summer of 2003. Since most people in the viewing area didn't own HDTV receivers yet, the FCC allowed us to just install a temporary low power digital transmitter in Devils Lake, which is our city of license. It was known as WDAZ-DT Channel 59. The transmitter only broadcasted a signal for a few years. Due to an oversight at the FCC, they assigned WDAZ-DT to the same frequency spectrum which was soon going to be used by the North Dakota Telephone Company for mobile phone communications. After talks between the FCC, WDAZ and NDTC it was decided that WDAZ-DT 59 would go dark. WDAZ was happy with this agreement due to the costs of power and maintenance the transmitter required. The lack of viewers didn't justify its operation. To this day the transmitter is still in place waiting for a new use. The main site where I live and work near Petersburg will go digital when the market allows or the FCC requires the transition. The scheduled date for the switch is February 17th of 2009. It could be moved forward if over-the-air viewer demand becomes high enough. Because WDAZ is a satellite station of our bigger sister station WDAY-TV in Fargo, we are not required to simulcast both analog NTSC and digital HDTV.
If something goes wrong with the transmitter I'm right here to fix it. When everything is operating properly, I keep busy with preventive maintenance and area beautification. I occasionally get called to perform maintenance work at the studio in Devils Lake. WDAZ and local PBS affiliate Prairie Public Television came to an arrangement that allows me to work for them when needed. PPTV has a number of microwave transmitter sites in northeast North Dakota. It's sometimes quicker to call me than send someone from their studios in Fargo or Minot, ND for equipment repairs. During the autumn and winter months WDAZ is very busy producing sporting events at UND. When they get really shorthanded I might get called in to help out. So far I've done video playback or was an audio board operator at some hockey and football games. I was once even a courtside cable puller at a basketball game. I'm willing to at least try anything. As of late the newsroom has used me for Live Van operation on a number of occasions.
Up until May of 2004 I did regular part-time maintenance work for PPTV. They leased building and tower space from WDAZ. On Wednesday, May 12th, 2004 this area had a bad Freezing rainstorm. The end result here was the tower getting coated with thick ice. Over the next three days the outside temperature warmed and the ice fell. The average size chunk was about 4 feet long. Many were between 8 to 10 inches thick. Some were the size of basketballs or watermelons. The noise they made while falling to the ground sounded just like jets flying overhead. On Thursday the 13th, the transmitter building received a number of holes in the roof. Water poured in and shorted out much of the equipment. Prairie Public Television, KGFE ended up with the majority of the loss. Besides losing a transmitter to water, their transmission line going up the tower and antenna were badly damaged by falling ice. Their final total was a loss of approximately $750,000. Late on Saturday it was finally over. Crews were called in right away to survey and repair problems caused by the ice. Thankfully WDAZ stayed on the air the entire time. Sadly KGFE channel 2 will never return. Because TV stations are upgrading to digital broadcasting, it wasn't cost effective to rebuild out here. They instead decided to build a new tower site near Devils Lake, ND. It's known as KMDE Channel 25. They also have a new digital transmitter site near Crookston, MN. This way PBS has northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota covered with new HDTV. PPTV's misfortune was a blessing in disguise for WDAZ. With their old transmitter removed from our building, we had a nice big area to install our new equipment.
I've had a few other "fun" jobs over the years. Before Channel 8, I worked in an aluminum foundry machine shop. I was just out of college with lots of bills to pay. It was hard work, but a lot better than sitting around waiting for job offers. From high school until I moved to Petersburg, I worked part-time in a pet store for Joline and Ole Olson. Their shop was located in Crookston, MN. It has since closed and they moved to Erskine, MN. Joline continues to sell pet supplies and collectables on eBay (user name jo-lines) and elsewhere on the internet. I still help her out with web site design when I can. Ole continues to own and operate a custom cabinet shop. Starting in 1991 up to 2006 I was a part-time pyrotechnics technician for Rich Brothers Interstate Display Fireworks Company from Sioux Falls, SD. In 2006 Rich Brothers sold off the display fireworks part of the business.
In my spare time and when someone needs me, I've been known to help people in my area with computer repair and upgrades. I also help people new to computers learn how to navigate the internet and use email. I'm fairly good at keeping the instructions simple and I've made a few local senior citizens very happy over the years. My cookie jar always seems to be full!
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