The KGNC-AM Rebuild Project

On June 24, 1998 I had an opportunity to visit the KGNC-AM transmitter site northeast of Amarillo, Texas. This 10,000 watt station was the NBC affiliate in the Texas Panhandle and was owned by the Amarillo Globe-News for many years. It is still on the air (710kc) but a mere shadow of its former self.

At right, I'm sitting at the Supervisory Console for the original RCA BTA10-F transmitter which is directly in front of the console. Behind me is the audio rack with the microwave STL equipment and next to that is the Nautel solid state 10KW transmitter now running the plant. To its far right is a Continental 10KW Daugherty transmitter which replaced the 10F in 1979.
The transmitter site is about 30 miles out of Amarillo, just north of the Pantex Plant. Five 300 foot towers make up the DA radiating system. The station is directional with three towers during the day and all five at night. For many years the site was manned on a 24-hour basis so comfortable living quarters were incorporated into the building's design. Construction started on this site in 1946 and it was fully operational on November 27, 1947 (with the 10-F).

Steve White, Chief Engineer, was kind enough to arrange two visits to the plant. Once for me and Jack Sellmeyer, PE and two weeks later for me to go back and take pictures. At right Jack and Steve mug for the camera in front of the old RCA 10KW transmitter.
Little did I know that within a year the plant would be completely remodeled and I would plan a major role in the project!

The five towers at KGNC were built with an unconventional above ground counterpose system. The first 50 feet of each radial was elevated six feet above the ground and then tied to a ring wire which was bonded to the remaining 250 feet of the underground radial. Each tower was fed with two hard line feed systems with one for day pattern and one for night. Exterior of the transmitter plant in June 1998. Located 30 miles northeast of the studio, the site is in a remote but beautiful part of the Texas panhandle. The five tower array is barely visible at the left. The large concrete block addition was a fallout shelter built by FEMA in 1964 to protect the operators in case of a nuclear attack-- go figure.

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This page created on October 1, 2000


On June 24, 1998 I had an opportunity to visit the KGNC-AM transmitter site northeast of Amarillo, Texas. This 10,000 watt station was the NBC affiliate in the Texas Panhandle and was owned by the Amarillo Globe-News for many years. It is still on the air (710kc) but a mere shadow of its former self.
At right, I'm sitting at the Supervisory Console for the original RCA BTA10-F transmitter which is directly in front of the console. Behind me is the audio rack with the microwave STL equipment and next to that is the Nautel solid state 10KW transmitter now running the plant. To its far right is a Continental 10KW Daugherty transmitter which replaced the 10F in 1979. The transmitter site is about 30 miles out of Amarillo, just north of the Pantex Plant. Five 300 foot towers make up the DA radiating system. The station is directional with three towers during the day and all five at night. For many years the site was manned on a 24-hour basis so comfortable living quarters were incorporated into the building's design. Construction started on this site in 1946 and it was fully operational on November 27, 1947 (with the 10-F).
Steve White, Chief Engineer, was kind enough to arrange two visits to the plant. Once for me and Jack Sellmeyer, PE and two weeks later for me to go back and take pictures. At right Jack and Steve mug for the camera in front of the old RCA 10KW transmitter. Little did I know that within a year the plant would be completely remodeled and I would plan a major role in the project!


The five towers at KGNC were built with an unconventional above ground counterpose system. The first 50 feet of each radial was elevated six feet above the ground and then tied to a ring wire which was bonded to the remaining 250 feet of the underground radial. Each tower was fed with two hard line feed systems with one for day pattern and one for night.	Exterior of the transmitter plant in June 1998. Located 30 miles northeast of the studio, the site is in a remote but beautiful part of the Texas panhandle. The five tower array is barely visible at the left. The large concrete block addition was a fallout shelter built by FEMA in 1964 to protect the operators in case of a nuclear attack-- go figure.