What Do The Giant Antennas Do On One World Trade Center?

[@psikeyhackr6914]

Why did you start with WTC1 that no longer exists?

[@RingwayManchester]

What?? Why do you think?

[@rherman9085]

@@RingwayManchester Ignore him, he's an idiot.

[@psikeyhackr6914]

We need to be reminded of that to have antennas explained?

[@RingwayManchester]

I think it’s pretty relevant

[@xxxBlueIncendiaxxx]

I think it was pretty interesting to hear what that antenna did since I always wondered what it did as a kid.

[@Mike-H_UK]

I heard from someone at Cisco.(don't know how true this is) that there were some Cisco routers in the basement of one of the original WTC buildings. After the building collapsed, they continued pinging the outside world until the UPS battery became flat and they died. Pretty impressive if correct.

[@nicc5122]

I work with OpenVMS (VMS) operating system which provides shared everything cluster model (as opposed to failover) and some clusters based in this tower kept operating because the other part of the cluster was located in NJ or upstate. The only cluster that did fail was ... between the two towers. I was actually on a support call with people in the US east coast as it was all happening so I recall very clearly telling my US colleagues what I was seeing on the BBC news at the time (comparitively primitive web pages by todays standards). If you get the chance to, visit the museum of 9/11 and leave aside a full day to see it all, it is surprising what did survive from the towers.

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@nicc5122 Thanks. Yes, I bet the museum is interesting. I last visited NY after the 9/11 attack when it was still being debated what would happen to the site. What you say sounds very reasonable. Interestingly, I was visiting TI in Dallas at the time of the 9/11 attack, and, in the morning, was doing a UK colleague a favour by checking out the feasibility of accessing UK servers from a laptop PC in another continent using ADSL/VPN and performing graphic-intensive chip design. That was fairly new in 2001. Of course, the internet was totally clogged up, and the only phone call that I could make to the UK was on the dedicated company lines, so the experiment was totally inconclusive!! I'll never forget that day!!

[@s3c0nd1mpact]

Are routers a type of equipment or are you referring to actual people?

[@tyttuut]

​@@s3c0nd1mpactA router is a type of computer networking equipment.

[@KieranMahoney]

@@s3c0nd1mpactlol.

[@Lisatropolis]

I’m sitting here in Manhattan wondering how you learned all of this. They’re things I’ve wondered about. Thank you.

[@wisteela]

What a fantastic building. Your research skills are incredible. I was going to mention the remains of the original antenna mast being on display. It would be great if you could cover the roll that amateur radio operators played when everything went down.

[@thebegrsshow]

Something I've never noticed before was the mist from the roof top water to air heat exchangers engulfing the spire. That can't be good for all the critical connections, and the general structure itself. Maintenance must be an absolute nightmare with all that moisture, or soon will be. Thanks for another great video.

[@Peter_S_]

It's all very waterproof and designed to deal with passing hurricanes in addition to winter weather. Galvanized steel does quite well in the elements and antenna installers are masters of waterproofing connections.

[@dirk013adfa]

I think it is interesting to find out about the antenna, not just the old "It's for TV" or "It's for radio"...

[@danielmilligan3298]

4:42 "Tim Brohan , passed away peacefully at home on June 6th, 2018, after a four year courageous battle with cancer. He was 59. Tim was born in Bayshore, NY on July 30, 1958. He was a proud member of Local Union #3 IBEW, and took great pride in his work. He made a lasting impression on those he worked with and the friends he made during his 37-year career as a Union electrician. Tim also served proudly as a volunteer member of the Bullville Fire Company."

[@diamonddave45]

Thank you Lewis for your hard work! This Yankee loves the attention to detail that you went through on this and other NYC videos!

[@3v068]

As always, its fantastic to hear about radio gear in general, but again, you coming to my side of the world and country and commenting on the gear is phenomenal work. Thank you man!

[@RingwayManchester]

Wow, thanks!

[@HansWHoefnagels]

There's an FM station up there as well, you can spot its aerial in the last part of the video. It's on the 'rings'.

[@montef]

Hey Lewis, great work on this whole series of videos about the antennas on the NYC skyscrapers! Thanks for putting this series together. 👍

[@robsmithracing]

I remember the antenna on the original WTC when the building collapsed watching the thing shake as it fell 😢

[@terrorizedgermany5039]

The spire ...... Dr. Judy Wood explains it.....

[@fukyutube2279]

@@terrorizedgermany5039 Dr Judy Wood is a CIA psyop. A shill. A laughing stock. There to disctedit legitimate concerns raised by bodies such as Architects and Engineers for 911 Truth.

[@hectormiguelperezgomez6612]

Hi! I'm from Mexico and I've been watching your videos for some quite time and I really enjoy them. Mexico uses the same digital TV standard as the USA, that's why I van explain a little bit more about what digital and virtual channels are. For example: in my city we have a Televisa transmitter with local programming broadcasting on channel 4, but that doesn't mean that it broadcasts on channel 4. This station broadcasts on digital channel 16, virtual channel 4. The digital (also called physical or RF channel) is the actual channel used to broadcast by the TV stations and the virtual channel is a numbering scheme used to identify a channel, for example in Mexico, the Azteca Uno network broadcasts on virtual channel 1.

[@joeblow8593]

There is a video of the original World Trade Center observation deck where they show all the antennas and you can hear a buzz in the video from the all the RF power. I forget the exact name of the video, but it's on KZbin. I think the video was probably taken by a tourist.

[@marcusdamberger]

I believe your referring to History Channels Modern Marvels episode? Rather I believe it was on the Empire State Building. They show a segment at one point with a wider perspective near the base and you can see tourists in the shot, and the narrator mentions the noise in the picture that is generated from the strong RF signals passing through the camera is also passing through those tourists getting a view of the city.

[@glennwillems9924]

I have designed a couple of modest UHF DVB-T antenna systems for our national public broadcaster in my days as a younger RF engineer... Even with a simple setup it was always a bit of solving a jigsaw puzzle to make all of the phased splitter coaxes fit inside the mast structure. Looking at this video I can only stand in awe for the guys who made this RF feeder puzzle come together. As always: a great installment, sir!

[@ianmichael5768]

4:44 Respect.

[@budakdk]

🫡

[@michaelmeyer2725]

My father-in-law worked on this mast after the events of Sept. 11. He was very proud of the work he did with the rest of his team.

[@iBackshift]

Like #55. That 408ft spire. Hmm, my yard is 300 feet long, so it gives me a perspective of how gigantic that monster tower is. wow!

[@aramb]

I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach just seeing the photos of those high-up antennae!

[@numeristatech]

Same! And I think I spotted welded footpegs on the outside so I guess whoever is brave enough to go up there is going up the outside at certain points. Someone has to change the bulb at the top if it fails!

[@aramb]

@@numeristatech I can't even imagine!

[@HamRadioDX]

Another great video Lewis. That spire is super impressive! There is a video on YT showing the lifting of it, amazing!

[@RingwayManchester]

Cheers as always mate!

[@neotheapplefan332]

This is the video i've been waiting on! Thanks mate :)

[@AlanTheBeast100]

That is a fantastic set of antenna systems benefitting from being very new... mechanical (load) components of it were manufactured a few km from where I live, actually - and were subject of legal disputes between 1 WTC and ADF (formerly "Au Dragon Forge").

[@paulsradiohacks]

Love your facts! always amazes me how you research this... love the channel mate!

[@RingwayManchester]

Thanks Paul!

[@thomashardy9994]

Fantastic engineering.

[@ke0vrc182]

Great video! I was always curious what the transmitters were used for on One World Trade Center.

[@LuisBelmontShow]

You should do one for Mt. Wilson in California. This one may be complicated because most of the antennas 📡 are also shared by radio stations that serve the Los Angeles area.

[@billmilosz]

I can't imagine working up there on that mast.

[@hensan5150]

thanks for that detailed info, it will really help me out alot.

[@booblla]

I have always been impressed by the engineering that goes into antenna arrays. Mainly because my "engineering" skills would extend as far as attaching a cable from the transmitter to the biggest and highest metal pole I could find and hope for the best!

[@rherman9085]

Holy cow that's a lot of RF!

[@sonarbliss]

There is so many OTA channels in NYC that you don't even need cable.

[@nickmagers1]

ive looked out at the WTC everyday for 3 years and just now the questions popped into my head, what do all those bits on the spire do. thanks for the vid!

[@mikesmith5139]

Thank you for an excellent explanation. I have never seen cross polarized/ circular polarized aerials used for TV transmissions, so seeing the Alan Dick ADC panels used for VHF television broadcasts was both surprising and enlightening. The inclusion of both the actual channel and the virtual channel information really added to your very comprehensive presentation. I didn't notice any VHF/FM radio stations. Are there any FM stations transmitted from here?

[@hanktorrance6855]

You are doingman awesome job! i would pove to hear your thoughts on the differences. from watchimg your UK segments, things seem mich more organized and orderly, ie designatied transmittimg areas or even specific towers, whereas in the states, antenna systems can be found everywhere, as well as in concentrations like this presentation....

[@raymondmartin6737]

Lewis, thanks for the rundown for antennas 📡 at the new 1 WTC. We have seen a few years ago from an outgoing cruise 🛳 ship from Manhattan. Interesting to know what I'd up there. I guess NYC transmitters are pretty set with the different sites you have shown. 73 de W2CH Ray, New Hampshite.

[@jamesorenthal-bm4sp]

Well done. Thank you.

[@petersmith5199]

One word. WOW !!!

[@erikmutthersbough6508]

Very informative as usual Lewis 👍.

[@rolly4x4]

Would be great to see all the equipment connected to those antennas, would make a great video. Especially if you could get a tour from someone that works there.

[@Crosbie85]

Keep doing these building antenna videos!

[@TheOpticalFreak]

The things we take for granted ay, 👍

[@jimlaforte1755]

Did you actually climb up there? LOL. Engineers are the silent heroes of the Broadcasting and Telecom Industries. Without them, these important communication resources would never have become a reality. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@jessepetty8636]

wow, im super early! another great vid in the series! thanks!

[@TheSillyshyguy]

Great video Lewis.

[@leetucker9938]

must be crazy to work on these towers

[@MM0IMC]

I think you are a VHF and UHF aficionado. 👍

[@bassangler73]

Awesome!!! If you ever go to the mid south states hit me up...im in Arkansas

[@mitch_sorenstein]

The antennas are like on an RC car, if another plane ever comes its way we can just remote control the building out of the way.

[@MatthewKeys]

WCBS is on virtual channel 2, not 32.

[@RadioWhiz]

Hey ringway Manchester If you want to do a antenna video like this can you come to long island NY and review the antennas there and high school radio station antennas and how they look like Just like these videos

[@AustinSteingrube]

Great video, but a bit of constructive feedback - hold off on the “digital channel x, virtual channel y” info. While it could be useful for some, most folks won’t pay attention or even remember all of that.

[@SDS-1]

Thanks sir ❤️❤️☺️

[@RingwayManchester]

Most welcome

[@larryfine6865]

Just a tiny piece of Nikola Tesla’s dream.

[@jimpawlak7806]

gee...maybe you should come for a visit to canada... and take a look at the cn tower in toronto... it's in ontario... incase ya didn't know...

[@szaki]

When there is a terror attack or war, communication is the #1 target to paralyze a city or country!

[@christophersmith1155]

i wonder if their are any GMRS or HAM repeaters up their. ?

[@Ztbmrc1]

No cellphone base stations???? The engineers must not be afraid of heights here...

[@luccacerminaro8003]

Observation deck on communication ring ?

[@openscholar9908]

I'm guessing they link to other trade centers around the world.

[@RadioWhiz]

They should of putted the VHF stations on the very top for better signal coverage

[@marcusdamberger]

I'm sure every consideration and arrangement was looked at when they designed the mast. Years in planning for sure. I'm pretty sure the VHF antennas are lower down because their signals can follow the curvature of the earth easier and for a bit longer than the UHF signals can and aren't nearly as directional and fill in gaps closer in better than UHF does. Thus placing UHF antennas higher than their VHF antennas probably gives them similar performance in terms of signal fill. If I had a choice, I would choose UHF, as it tends to bounce around better and by it's nature as a shorter wavelength has better penetration (inside structures) and requires a much smaller antenna easily fit into a cell phone or other portable device. While a VHF antenna would need a minimum length longer than most portable devices to have decent reception, or rather ingenious antenna design to fit inside a small device to get similar quality. While U.S. digital TV signals are adjacent to newer cell frequencies already One UHF antenna inside a cell phone can be used on a broad range of frequencies that easily encompasses UHF digital TV. While VHF reception will require a second antenna inside the phone where space is at a premium. I doubt many manufactures will pay much attention to VHF reception since their antennas are designed for the best UHF reception for obvious reasons.

[@RadioWhiz]

@@marcusdamberger thanks for the info I didn't know that I'm still learning more about radio

[@chrisf1147]

Hit up the CN tower too!

[@TheOpticalFreak]

I wonder wat would happen if you would stand over there on top of the platform with everything on. How powerful are all the antenna's and microwave repeater's and the other stuff. How much watt's of RF would you get in your face! 😅 Do you think it would melt a packet of Hobnobs!? 😁😜😅

[@AC3DG]

WWOR, WCBS, and WNJU are on there twice? Each on the upper and lower UHF?

[@RingwayManchester]

Main and auxiliary

[@AC3DG]

@@RingwayManchester They have a backup Tx site on the same tower? The WCBS and WWOR backup Tx site is the Empire State Building and has been for ages. Though WCBS is virtual channel 2, not 32.

[@marcusdamberger]

@@AC3DG So who was insane enough to choose a channel 3 digital channel, and actually build an antenna for that? Is the low VHF antenna used for anything else besides channel 3? It's crazy such a large antenna taking up the bottom portion is only used by one station, while the rest have multiple users. WJLP's virtual channel is 33, presumably a frequency they were once on, but are now on channel 3? How did that happen?

[@AC3DG]

@@marcusdamberger I have no idea. I work in TV production and have to make 100+ wireless mics work in the very limited free RF spectrum.

[@TomStorey96]

Any idea what those large white drums are? Not the ptp microwave ones that point horizontal but these other ones look like the point vertical. There was one all by itself in the photo of the top of the original WTC building but it looked like there were several spread around the top of the new WTC building on that ring?

[@rowanjones3476]

Steerable parabolic microwave antennas for ENG (electronic news gathering). The news van points their antenna on a pneumatic mast at the tower, and an operator at the broadcaster points the tower antenna at the van. They both have a signal power meter to get them adequately aligned. The white cover is just to keep the weather off and allow the antenna to sweep a 360 degree centre pivot rotation. they have a smaller freedom of up/down adjustment available too.

[@TomStorey96]

@@rowanjones3476 ah that makes sense!

[@dangruner5926]

@@rowanjones3476 Yes, just goes to show you cannot rely on cellular communications for ENG..!

[@konstkarapanpro]

Great video! Is it just me or you sound sick?😅

[@RingwayManchester]

Haha I was!

[@hereforthefreewater]

👏👏👏

[@Rob2]

Are there any amateur radio repeaters with antennas in that tower or sharing a broadcast antenna?

[@Dratchev241]

if any repeaters are up there it would be a rooftop antenna, and i doubt any ham repeaters are up there as id suspect security is on the extremely tight side.

[@Rob2]

@@Dratchev241 It will depend on e.g. an active radio amateur working at a transmitting service and having good relations, and/or the attitude of the management towards emergency services etc. I think there were repeaters on the old WTC towers.

[@Dratchev241]

@@Rob2 well id also suspect nyc has suffered the same thing the rest of us has had to suffer with is companies like american tower, crown castle, etc buying up rooftops so they have control and they are NOT ham friendly unless you want to pay their insane rates.

[@Rob2]

@@Dratchev241 Fortunately, the similar companies here are quite ham friendly. Of course it still requires a good working relation, and performing work to their standards of safety. I can assure you that those UHF transmit antennas used for digital TV are quite usable for a 70cm repeater as well!

[@Dratchev241]

@@Rob2 here its all crown castle/american tower. and if you don't pay $1k a month they tell you to piss off. I have seen towers with no users owned by said companies, property overgrown look like shit. make offer such as hey let us use for our ham stuff and we will clean property up and response is $1k month rent or piss off. UHF tv antennas be good if its the circular polarized antenna, if its the horizontal pol antennas not so good for repeater.

[@randall1959]

They don't do anything anymore.

[@Handlebar-MustDash]

Make it bigger ?

[@terrorizedgermany5039]

Where is my comment?

[@RingwayManchester]

I’ve not deleted any. Try again

[@terrorizedgermany5039]

@@RingwayManchester Yes, I know you didn't delete anything. YT is deleting almost all of my comments. Your channel is the best of its kind. Absolutely awesome. Thank you for your effort in gathering so much information.

[@RingwayManchester]

Thanks so much

[@leetucker9938]

why cant you just select channel number ? why have a pretend number for another number . seems pointless

[@Dratchev241]

because when the US went to digital TV FCC gave stations other channels then the one they was originally on. (and now many have had to move yet again thanks to the repack) stations didn't want to rebrand so in comes the whole "virtual channel" shit. like where I am WISH-TV channel 8 is actually on rf channel 9. WRTV channel 6 is rf channel 25. its stupid honestly. and as for why they all didn't just move the DTV signals to the old analog channels? $$$$$$.

[@diamonddave45]

@leetucker9938 TV stations were allowed to keep their analog channel numbers for identification indefinitely. As someone else said, they've actually adjusted more than once due to the FCC repack of 2018-2020, but most people didn't know that. The stations just kept identifying themselves as their old numbers pre-2009.

[@diamonddave45]

@@Dratchev241 Actually ATSC 1.0 is very bad in VHF, especially VHF low. The smart ones moved to UHF and stayed there. VHF has all sort of multipath problems. ATSC 3.0 should fix that, if enough stations move to ATSC 3.0 which is very doubtful. The worst ones got the short end of the stick when they were moved to VHF low due to the repack of 2018-2020.

[@fukyutube2279]

Maybe they stop the building collapsing symmetrically at free fall speed into its own footprint? Should have put one on Building 7.

[@RingwayManchester]

Let’s not go into all that. We’re here for radio.

[@chevboy4.813]

Spot on Lewis! Thanks. Check your email for a link I think you will like.

[@RingwayManchester]

Thanks, will do!

[@raysoucie489]

Very good Info.-- KE0DNQ....73