AM Ground Systems Company

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AGSC NEWS
UPDATING NEWS

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Method of Moments array design and proofing approved by the FCC.

AGSC begins MoM proof retrofit preparations for stations.

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Law Enforcement Officials overjoyed that Heroin use is increasing...

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New State laws aimed at curbing copper theft seem to be working.

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2010

WQEW  New York, NY
August 2010

Repair original ground system where builder used incorrect brazing alloy, install ATU arc gaps and other repair work.

KILT  Houston, TX
January & August 2010

MoM Preparation.  Install new sample lines, fences and other grounding

KIKK Houston, TX
August 2010

Install fence grounding

WAGG  Birmingham, AL
May 2010

Repair ground system damage caused by construction around towers.

WIOZ  Aberdeen, NC
March 2010

Evaluate vandalism to ground system and feed system.

KWAM  Memphis, TN
July 2010

Locate and mark ground system and feed lines for future site construction.

 
 
 
 

2009

WRLM  Irondale, AL
Janurary 2009

Install new ND ground system

KELP  El Paso, TX
March 2009

Rebuild 3 tower ground system following construction damage

WQXI  Atlanta, GA
December 2008

Rebuild 2 tower DA ground system and other grounding work

WBCO  Bucyrus, OH
August 2008

Install new sample line via Directional Boring

WABC.  New York, NY
July 2008

Ground System Evaluation and Repair

KRVN  Holdredge, NE
July 2007

Ground System Evaluation

WBWL  Jacksonville, FL
June 2008

Rebuild 5 tower Inline DA

KWAM  West Memphis, AR
Feburary 2008 and beyond

Refurbish array infrastructure, site access, array tuneup

XEGH  Rio Bravo, Mexico
November 2007

Build new ground system

KTIS  Minneapolis, MN
October 2007

Evaluate and repair ground system

WILC  Laurel, MD
July 2007

Repair and enhance tower base grounding

KDWA  Hastings, MN
July 2007

Build new ground system

WIBC  Indianapolis IN
July 2007

Repair and enhance tower base grounding

WNOG  Naples FL
June 2007

Ground System Evaluation

WYHL  Meridian MS
June 2007

Rebuild ND Ground System

KZDC  San Antonio TX
March 2007

Build New 4 tower ground system

WCIN  Cincinnati OH
June 2007

Repair vandalism damage.

WMBG  Williamsburg VA
March 2007

Build New ND ground system

KCRG Cedar Rapids, IA

 

October 2006

Rebuild 3 tower ground system and install new feed and sample lines.

KRLD Dallas TX

December 2006

Rebuild 2 tower array ground system and building ground infrastructure.

WPHE Phoenixville, PA

September 2006

2 tower DA rebuild

KDWA Hastings, MN

July 2006 ND Build

WCIN Cincinnati, OH

Feb.  2006  5 twr DA Build

WNDA Deland, FL

Dec. 2005  ND Rebuild

KMOX St. Louis, Mo

Nov. 2005  ND Rebuild & other work.

 
     
     
     
 

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Hit Counter

 
 

Visitors Since The Site was Rebuilt September '05

 
     

 

Winter is Coming again this year.

Duh...

 

Every year we get at least one call in October wanting to know how quick we can build a ground system.  My standard answer is, "It will take about a week start to finish for a single tower and probably less than 2 weeks for multi-tower arrays".

The caller meant but didn't state; "It is 33 degrees here today.  Even though I have had my CP for two and a half years, I have waited until the forecast is calling for a FREEZE warning and I still haven't gotten my station built.  AND the CP runs out in January.  How QUICKLY can you drop everything and get my station built before winter?"

Winter work in general costs more than fair weather work.  Equipment preparations, clothing requirements, speed of work, length of work day, weather delays ALL cause winter weather work to be more expensive than summer work.  Not to mention the impact on safety.  Restricted vision, dexterity and movement are serious concerns when working on and around heavy equipment.

As anyone involved in building broadcast stations is aware, more government agencies have their fingers stuck in the radio business more than maybe even the Nuclear Power industry (I could be mistaken on this).  Three years can barely be enough time by the time all of the acronym's are satisfied.

HOWEVER, most of the rush-before-winter projects that we do are for one of 2 reasons:

  1. Procrastination

    I'll get that done tomorrow! Or the next day! Maybe...  If I get to it...  Oh... Hey! Its October... Again.

    More time and money is wasted on site construction because of procrastination than any other preventable cause.  RUSH costs money.  Getting materials in a hurry costs more, travel costs more, guaranteeing delivery of other materials and services cost more, etc, etc.

  2. Saving Money

    I have provided proposals to stations that have point-blank told me that I was too expensive.  They hunted around and found someone that said that they could do the work for a small percentage of my proposal (see my treatment of the exceeding cheap quote).  And then they never show up.  On one memorable project, it cost the client almost 50% more than my original proposal from a year earlier.  Materials and mobilization were up due to availability and market factors.  Shipping was astronomical due to speed, weight and location factors.  Mobilization was driven up by lack of advance purchase time.  Rush costs money.  Extra labor was required to finish by the CP expiration.

    I have also had a RUSH client tell me that they would have called AGSC to start with but had been convinced by someone that they could do the job cheaper than anyone around.  They were absolutely correct.  The work was never done, henceforth, it cost the station NOTHING!  Until we/they had to pay expedited shipping charges and shuffle properly planned projects around.  RUSH costs money.

Regulatory delays comprise a fairly small portion of our compressed time line work. 

When we (Or anyone. Even you.) order materials and make travel plans on a compressed time line, the costs will be higher.  Every facet of the project will usually be impacted when adhering to a compressed time line.  The more compressed, the more expensive.  Rush costs money.

 

 

We Specialize in Compressed Time Line Projects 

We have the resources, equipment and knowledge to make a project "happen" just in time.  By saying that we specialize in compressed projects doesn't mean that we encourage or like them.  Just that we can "git 'er done" if needed. 

Some tips to help make your project go a little smoother.

  1. Choose your venders and contractors (tower, ground system, building, utilities, equipment, etc) early.  You should already be talking to venders and contractors before the initial application is filed.  Contractors and equipment should be lined up AS SOON as the CP arrives.  Even if the proposed the construction date is months away.

  2. Choose your venders and contractors wisely.  A great deal isn't necessarily a good value.

  3. Ask for references.  We have a reference page HERE so you can check us out

  4. Regularly follow up on equipment delivery, construction dates and contractor status.

  5. Know EXACTLY what permits and permissions will be required BEFORE you file your application.  Moving to another site may save a large sum of money if permits or remediation can be avoided.

  6. Contractors should be in touch with each other for coordination.  However, SOMEONE (you, your engineer, GC, or even myself as a site coordinator) MUST be in overall control of the time line AND scheduling.

  7. Return contracts, proposals and payments according to the vender/contractor requirements.  Failure to return a contract or payment in a timely manner may result in unplanned delays.

  8. Go to the doctor.  Get something for your stomach and something for your head.  The larger the project the more/better something you may need.  For the humor challenged, this is only half joking.  Especially if you didn't contract AM Ground Systems Company.

 

 

 

 

AM Ground Systems Co.