Snohomish, Washington
KRKO AM
A four-tower AM array project involving four self-supporting towers, including three 199' low-profile towers and one 349' tower, plus a complete AM ground system, conduit, and feed lines from the transmitter building to every tower.
Project Overview
Northstar Broadcast Contractors executed a complete multi-tower directional array construction project for KRKO AM in Snohomish, Washington. The project required rigorous coordination across site civil works, specialized foundation pouring, precision tower stacking, and intricate broadcast RF interconnects.
Engineering & Scope
The installation comprised a comprehensive four-tower array designed to deliver optimal signal coverage and directional pattern compliance:
- Tower Construction: Erection of four heavy-duty self-supporting steel towers, including three 199-foot low-profile towers and a 349-foot primary radiator.
- Ground System Engineering: Complete radial ground system installation utilizing high-conductivity copper strap and wire networks spanning the entire array perimeter.
- Conduit & Feed Line Distribution: High-capacity conduit runs and low-loss transmission feed lines extending from the central transmitter facility directly to antenna tuning units (ATUs) at each tower base.
- Rigging & Stacking: Controlled crane and gin-pole lifts adhering to strict safety protocols in variable Pacific Northwest weather conditions.
Execution & Results
Every phase of the KRKO AM array was inspected, tuned, and verified to ensure maximum structural integrity and broadcast signal efficiency, providing the broadcaster with decades of dependable transmission capability.