Final Broadcast of Experimental FM Station KE2XCC

The audio on this item has now been cleaned up and restored.

This is an audio recording of the March 6, 1954 final broadcast of Major Edwin Armstrong's experimental FM station at Alpine, NJ. This broadcast came a month after the inventor of FM radio jumped to his death. The audio track is accompanied by historical photos and footage.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• FM
• Radio
• Major
• Edwin
• Armstrong
• Alpine
• New
• Jersey
• W2XMN
• KE2XCC
• Frequency
• Modulation
• Final
• Broadcast
• 1954

[wiedep]

screwed by sarnoff and rca...

[LifesHardLessons]

Shame:-( Who knows? Mr Armstrong could have invented digital radio? Early version of WiFi? I've been listening to wfdu 89.1 for almost 20 years! They play great music on the weekend,music that the big corporate stations up the dial will never play

[lrd9999]

@wmbrown6 From what I've read, KE2XCC was moved from its original location, 42.8 to 92.1 in 1946, then to 93.1 in 1948. Sort of ironic, since 93.1 was part of the "new" FM band that helped put Armstrong out of business. More ironically, Armstrong's band, 42-50, which Sarnoff wanted for CH1, was never used because of seasonal interference problems; the FCC could have left it with with Armstrong without displacing anyone.

[k4nbc]

Ive been to the tower site. I have 8mm film of the original 93.1 FM antenna I shot back in early 70's 's when Columbia University owned it. They kept the antenna on the tower. Now it's gone but 100 or more antennas were added after 9/11 by the (almost) new owner.

[bbacon62]

A true American hero

Bill  KE2XC

[altfactor]

The transmitting tower for KE2XCC looks like one of those towers used to carry electric power lines from power plants.

The tower, in Alpine, New Jersey, is still there.

It was used after Septemebr 11, 2001 as a temporary transmitter site for some New York TV stations, and is currently being used for cell phone service and other uses.

[rocco4116]

Fortunately his wife was later able to get some measure of justice through the court system.

[rocco4116]

No kidding.

[wmbrown6]

And the 93.1 frequency would not come alive again for another three years, until 1957 when WPAT-FM signed on.

[DrumTVShow]

Neat!

[DoubleMiz]

WHoever cleaned the audio up did an awesome job