W62AB, Channel 62 (PBS)
Westerly, Rhode Island (1973-2000)
Owned by the Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority
W62AB, Westerly, Rhode Island was a full-time satellite for co-owned and operated WSBE-TV, Channel 36 in Providence. It came to the air on April 23, 1973 to provide public television service to the Town of Westerly, RI, and adjacent communities. This area of Southwestern Rhode Island was unable to get an adequate signal of primary station WSBE-TV. So, it was especially important for WSBE-TV to provide this translator service... since, at the time W62AB came to the air, Channel 36 was only using a fraction of the power it is now operating with.
W62AB operated with 1,160 watts (ERP), with a directional antenna. The station transmitted the entire WSBE-TV composite signal with Stereo and SAP subcarriers intact. In addition, high speed data was broadcast on lines 14-16. The W62AB legal ID was amplitude modulated using the aural portion of the downconverter, gated from a drum and photocell.
W62AB left the air for good on August 17, 2000. The reasons were three-fold. First, WSBE-TV was unable to secure a new lease agreement with the landowner who owned the site where the W62AB facility was located. Secondly, cable penetration in Southern Rhode Island was reaching nearly 80%. Third, it was a matter of economics. WSBE-TV is partially funded by the State of Rhode Island. Since WSBE-TV is carried on virtually all cable systems in Southeastern New England, the need for W62AB was no longer economically feasible.
WSBE-TV has grown tremendously since the day it first came to the air in 1967. Later on in life, WSBE-TV moved to the former studios of WPRO-TV (now WPRI-TV) Channel 12 on Mason Street in Providence, at the Cherry and Webb Building. Today, Channel 36 has a brand new state-of-the-art facility on Park Lane in Providence. The WSBE-TV transmitter and antenna is located atop a hill in Johnston, RI, courtesy of WPRO-FM in Providence. The station now operates with 1,230,000 watts of visual power with a fine signal covering all of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
To get a look at the former W62AB site, click here.
History written by Peter Q. George, with information provided by Bob Knott (K1RWK). Bob is the Chief Engineer of WSBE-TV, Channel 36 in Providence. We thank him for all of his generous help!!- Editor
