79:
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59:. WBEN's staff soon began an ambitious series of research and development. In mid-1932 WBEN was issued licenses for two low-power transmitters, W8XD on 60.0 MHz, and W8XH on 51.4 MHz, which were 10-watt portable units, capable of being "strapped across the shoulders of one of WBEN's engineers". At this time W8XD and W8XH were both used for remote pickups to relay programming for broadcasting by WBEN.
95:
automobiles are well aware of the fading from these two causes when listening to regular broadcast bands. And, it also has been discovered that reception of ultra-short waves is about the same day or night, winter or summer, and that perfect reception is possible even during thunder storms—barring, of course, man-made interference which is subject to control or elimination.
125:
Although operating on a frequency expected to be high enough to eliminate skywave signals, under certain solar conditions the ionosphere became reflective enough to affect W8XH's transmissions, and in April 1937 station engineers were shocked to receive two reception reports from listeners across the
38:
station, i.e. the first to transmit programming intended for the general public over what was then known as "ultra-high short-wave" frequencies. W8XH primarily simulcast programming originating from a co-owned AM radio station, WBEN, but it also aired some original programs. It ceased broadcasting in
90:
When W8XH went on the air in March, 1934, WBEN announced that its objectives would be to (1) obtain higher fidelity in transmission; (2) do away with fading and static; (3) develop "on-the-spot" broadcast service by broadcasting events taking place beyond the range of telephone lines, and (4) to aid
86:
WBEN's ultra high frequency experimental work is carried on through
Station W8XH, and also through W8XD, a portable, self-contained transmitter. Frequently, these stations work in conjunction but WBEN is planning exclusive programs of an interesting character for W8XH. These should be received by a
70:
W8XH's experimental license was upgraded from its previous status as a relay transmitter, and it became first Apex station to be used for broadcasting entertainment to the general public. Regular broadcasts under this new configuration were begun on March 18, 1934, initially at 51.4 MHz (5.8
134:
listed it as relaying the
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Red Network programming carried by WBEN from 1:00 to 5:00 and 5:45 to 9:00 p.m. However, two days later references to the station ceased. In addition, although W8XH had been included in the Apex station lists in the 1938 and 1939
62:
In the early 1930s, technical advances made it possible to transmit at much higher frequencies than before, and a number of organizations independently began applying for experimental licenses in order to investigate the potential of was then known as "ultra-high short-wave" transmissions. These
155:
announced that it had received a license to transfer the transmissions from WBEN to a new "experimental facsimile broadcasting station", W8XA, which employed much of the equipment originally used by W8XH. By August the new station was operating on 43.7 MHz. However, the newspaper ended the
129:
In
October 1937, it was announced that W8XH's hours had expanded from five to seventeen hours a day. However, eventually the station's programming, especially programs separate from WBEN, began to decline. On March 4, 1939 a new schedule was announced of 6:30 p.m. to midnight, daily except
113:
Because W8XH was operating under an experimental license, original programming had to be commercial-free. However, programs simulcast from WBEN were allowed to include the original commercials. W8XH underwent a major upgrade in
January 1936, with the installation of a new 100-watt RCA designed
94:
It already has been ascertained that, ultra-short radio waves—those below nine meters—have tremendous penetrating powers. For instance, ultra-short radio waves are received with no apparent fading when traveling through a steel tunnel, or under railway viaducts. Persons with receivers in their
87:
constantly increasing audience because some of the leading radio manufacturers have been encouraged, by this experimental activity, to develop and offer in
Western New York radio sets capable of picking up the high fidelity signal which W8XH will broadcast on 41 Megacycles, or 7.3 Meters.
150:
service, initially transmitted by WBEN during overnight hours. Facsimile broadcasting employed dedicated equipment to receive the transmissions and print a special edition of the newspaper, that was limited to a few pages. In April 1939, the
163:
in 1944 at 43.3 MHz, a short distance down from W8XA. This FM station would not reach the air, but by 1946, its license (now moved up into the standard FM broadcast band) was used for a new station. This license remains active as
39:
July 1939, after the newspaper began to focus on operation of an experimental facsimile broadcasting station, W8XA, which in turn shut down shortly prior to World War II and was succeeded after the war by the establishment of an
71:
meters), and by April it was announced that the station was broadcasting five hours a day. The next month W8XH was reassigned to 41.0 MHz (7.3 meters), which it would use for the remainder of its broadcasts.
118:", that had been developed by RCA's Dr. G. H. Brown. The antenna was mounted on a 70-foot (21 m) pole atop the Hotel Statler, 350 feet (105 m) above ground. (W8XH's original transmitter was donated to the
397:
139:, it did not appear in the January 15, 1940 listing included in the 1940 edition. The station would have been ordered off the air by the end of the year as all remaining Apex stations were in 1940.
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signals tended to be limited to line-of-sight coverage, so there was a premium on placing antennas at high elevations, which led to the stations as a group becoming informally known as
212:, June 30, 1932, page 7. The "8" in the call signs indicated that the stations were located in the 8th radio district, while the "X" reflected their operation as experimental stations.
78:
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27:
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weekends. There apparently was no formal announcement when W8XH ultimately ended operations. The July 3, 1939 issue of the
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101:
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333:
205:
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189:
55:
first became involved with radio broadcasting in 1930, when it took over local radio station WMAK, which it renamed
168:
382:"Short Wave Listener: Two Receivers in England Hear Buffalo's W8XH, Excelling Old Record of 60-Mile Transmission"
1483:
1501:
868:
659:
119:
510:"Short Wave Listener: W8XA, WBEN's New High-Frequency Transmitter Is to Be Used for Facsimile Broadcasting"
1506:
631:
369:
301:
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74:
A review of W8XH's early operations, written by a WBEN technician, summarized its activities as:
655:
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35:
23:
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108:(published by the Buffalo Evening News, Stations WBEN and W8XH), October 1, 1935, page 3.
82:
April 1936 W8XH promotional advertisement. "Turnstile" antenna is pictured on the right.
1531:
604:"Audacy Sells WLFP Memphis & WTSS Buffalo To Educational Media Foundation"
1407:
1333:
1251:
1214:
1065:
793:
778:
694:
56:
1428:
1000:
147:
16:
Experimental radio broadcasting station in
Buffalo, New York (1934–1939)
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transmitter, that fed into a crossed-dipole antenna, known as a "
30:(FCC) as an "experimental audio station", which was owned by the
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430:"Monday Evening Programs: Other Local and Nearby Stations: W8XH"
174:, which only separated from common ownership with WBEN in 2023.
171:
40:
627:
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1303:
1060:
684:
372:
National Museum of
American History (americanhistory.si.edu)
102:"WBEN Continues To Pioneer In Ultra Short Wave Broadcasting"
462:"High Frequency Broadcasting Stations in the United States"
238:"Portable Transmitter to Aid WBEN in Covering Centennial"
34:, and which operated from 1934 to 1939. It was the first
318:"Short Wave Listener: Mechanism of New W8XH Explained"
254:"WBEN Short-Wave Station To Begin Broadcasts Sunday"
1416:
1104:
999:
979:
867:
753:
674:
575:"FCC History Cards covering WBEN-FM for 1946-1981"
159:WBEN was awarded a new license to broadcast using
370:"W8XH high-frequency radio broadcast transmitter"
222:"One of WBEN's Two New Short-Wave Transmitters"
76:
639:
8:
464:(Authorized by FCC as of January 15, 1940),
1538:Defunct radio stations in the United States
340:, April 1936, pages 22, 31 (reprinted from
206:"General and special experimental stations"
1558:1939 disestablishments in New York (state)
864:
646:
632:
624:
156:facsimile transmissions in December 1940.
494:"Real Newspaper Delivered Through Ether"
1553:1934 establishments in New York (state)
478:"One Thousand New FM Stations Foreseen"
182:
1563:Defunct mass media in New York (state)
1548:Radio stations disestablished in 1939
7:
354:"'Turnstile' Antenna Array at W8XH"
1543:Radio stations established in 1934
1517:List of radio stations in New York
334:"W8XH, New High Frequency Station"
270:"Features Planned For Ultra Waves"
91:in the development of television.
14:
1474:Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia/Warren
583:Federal Communications Commission
446:"Other Local and Nearby Stations"
286:"W8XH to Change Wave Length Soon"
28:Federal Communications Commission
26:radio station, authorized by the
1491:
1453:
602:Venta, Lance (April 7, 2023).
1:
1004:by frequency & subchannel
500:, December 18, 1938, page 18.
304:(WBEN / W8XH advertisement),
190:"Alterations and Corrections"
564:, December 21, 1940, page 5.
404:, October 24, 1936, page 7.
324:, January 11, 1936, page 7.
126:Atlantic Ocean in England.
1579:
548:, August 12, 1939, page 5.
276:, April 13, 1934, page 34.
169:owned-and-operated station
1447:
532:, March 7, 1939, page 17.
308:, April 1, 1936, page 29.
260:, March 17, 1934, page 4.
196:, June 30, 1930, page 15.
516:, April 8, 1939, page 5.
484:, June 1, 1940, page 18.
452:, July 5, 1939, page 19.
436:, July 3, 1939, page 13.
420:, March 4, 1939, page 5.
388:, April 3, 1937, page 7.
244:, July 1, 1932, page 16.
228:, July 23, 1932, page 7.
1451:Nearby regions –
292:, May 19, 1934, page 5.
120:Smithsonian Institution
654:Radio stations in the
360:, July 1936, page 138.
210:Radio Service Bulletin
194:Radio Service Bulletin
142:In December 1938, the
111:
83:
558:"Short Wave Listener"
542:"Short Wave Listener"
466:Broadcasting Yearbook
414:"Short Wave Listener"
398:"Short Wave Listener"
137:Broadcasting Yearbook
81:
562:Buffalo Evening News
546:Buffalo Evening News
530:Buffalo Evening News
514:Buffalo Evening News
498:Buffalo Evening News
450:Buffalo Evening News
434:Buffalo Evening News
418:Buffalo Evening News
402:Buffalo Evening News
386:Buffalo Evening News
322:Buffalo Evening News
290:Buffalo Evening News
274:Buffalo Evening News
258:Buffalo Evening News
242:Buffalo Evening News
226:Buffalo Evening News
161:frequency modulation
132:Buffalo Evening News
106:Radio Log: 1935-1936
53:Buffalo Evening News
32:Buffalo Evening News
560:by Earnest H. Roy,
544:by Earnest H. Roy,
526:"WBEN Gets License"
512:by Earnest H. Roy,
416:by Earnest H. Roy,
400:by Earnest H. Roy,
384:by Earnest H. Roy,
336:by R. J. Kingsley,
320:by Earnest H. Roy,
272:by Earnest H. Roy,
148:facsimile broadcast
981:NOAA Weather Radio
84:
1525:
1524:
975:
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668:metropolitan area
468:(1940), page 374.
116:turnstile antenna
24:Buffalo, New York
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1502:Hamilton-Niagara
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100:Earnest H. Roy,
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65:"Apex" stations
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1461:
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1439:WFWO (89.7 FM)
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338:Broadcast News
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660:Niagara Falls
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756:FM frequency
677:AM frequency
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608:RadioInsight
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586:. Retrieved
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869:Translators
342:Electronics
1532:Categories
588:2020-06-06
178:References
41:FM station
1484:Rochester
1107:call sign
984:frequency
36:apex band
1513:See also
664:New York
613:April 7,
98:—
1507:Toronto
1417:Defunct
1361:WNED-FM
1319:WHTT-FM
1272:WDCX-FM
1262:WCOM-FM
1096:107.7-2
1091:107.7-1
1086:106.5-1
658:–
656:Buffalo
579:fcc.gov
47:History
1498:Canada
1496:
1458:
1205:W297AB
1200:W295BW
1195:W291CN
1190:W287CV
1185:W284AP
1180:W275BB
1175:W263DC
1170:W262CQ
1165:W261EB
1160:W255DH
1155:W248AT
1150:W243DX
1145:W239BX
1140:W239BA
1135:W238DD
1130:W235BC
1125:W231EA
1120:W227BW
1081:99.5-2
1076:99.5-1
1071:98.5-4
1066:98.5-3
1061:98.5-2
1056:98.5-1
1051:96.9-1
1046:96.1-1
1041:94.5-2
1036:94.5-1
1031:93.7-1
1026:92.9-2
1021:92.9-1
1016:88.7-2
1011:88.7-1
991:162.55
905:W239BX
900:W239BA
166:K-Love
22:was a
1115:KEB98
967:107.3
962:106.9
957:106.1
952:105.3
947:104.7
942:102.9
937:100.5
932:100.3
927:100.1
896:95.7
859:107.7
854:106.5
849:104.1
844:103.3
839:102.5
834:101.7
1469:Erie
1460:U.S.
1424:W8XH
1408:WZDV
1403:WYRK
1398:WXRL
1393:WWWS
1388:WWKB
1383:WUFO
1378:WTSS
1373:WTOR
1356:WLVL
1351:WLOF
1346:WLKK
1324:WKSE
1314:WHLD
1309:WGRF
1299:WEDG
1294:WECK
1289:WEBR
1284:WDCZ
1267:WCOU
1257:WCGP
1252:WBWA
1247:WBUF
1242:WBNY
1237:WBLK
1232:WBKV
1220:WBFO
1215:WBEN
1210:WBBF
922:98.9
917:97.5
912:96.5
892:95.5
887:94.9
882:94.1
877:93.3
829:99.5
824:98.5
819:96.9
814:96.1
809:94.5
804:93.7
799:92.9
794:92.1
789:91.3
784:90.7
779:89.9
774:89.3
769:88.7
764:88.3
745:1520
740:1440
735:1400
730:1340
725:1300
720:1270
715:1230
710:1120
705:1080
615:2023
172:WBKV
153:News
144:News
57:WBEN
51:The
20:W8XH
1429:WWT
1366:HD2
1339:HD4
1334:HD3
1329:HD2
1304:WGR
1277:HD2
1225:HD2
1105:By
754:By
700:970
695:930
690:770
685:550
675:By
122:.)
1534::
666:,
662:,
606:.
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67:.
43:.
647:e
640:t
633:v
617:.
591:.
344:)
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