KGEI Transmitter Building, Redwood City, CA, 2024.
All the pixels, straight from the ionosphere, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/54131707918/
#photography
KGEI Transmitter Building, Redwood City, CA, 2024.
All the pixels, straight from the ionosphere, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/54131707918/
#photography
KGEI was a 250KW commercial shortwave international radio broadcast station. Originally constructed, owned and operated by General Electric, the station opened in 1939 on San Francisco’s Treasure Island. In 1941, it moved to a permanent site in Redwood City. This building housed the transmitter and control facilities; the exterior walls are three feet thick, to better resist any WW II enemy bombings. At the time, KGEI was the only US broadcast station capable of reaching across the Pacific.
In 1960, the station was sold to the “Far East Broadcasting Company”, which changed the format to chiefly Christian religious programming. The station ceased operation in 1994, and its antenna field was razed soon afterward.
Fortunately, the transmitter house remains in excellent condition. It currently belongs to a wastewater treatment plant now located adjacent to the site. I believe it is now leased out as office space.
@mattblaze@federate.social that is a truly glorious looking building.
If it housed the transmission gear, the walls may have been that thick to prevent explosions getting out rather than in!
@mattblaze@federate.social
250kW is a lot for a radio transmitter right?
I vaguely recall growing up listening to the radio some stations boasting that they were broadcasting with their 100kW tower but I didn’t understand what they were saying other than thinking, it’s a hundred, that must be a lot 🙃
@bayport@theatl.social Yes, though not uncommon for international shortwave broadcasters (who want to achieve maximum coverage for their signals).