Shortwave Station WRMI History and Guided Tour: Orlando HamCation Road Trip to Okeechobee, FL USA!

During Orlando HamCation this year, I was invited to tour an amazing shortwave radio station in Okeechobee Florida - just a short drive south of Orlando into the vast open tropical farmland on the outskirts of the Everglades. It was an unusually hot February day filled with adventure. I was given a full tour of the shortwave facility and the vast antenna farm that fills a square mile of land surrounding the station with station engineers Bob Biermann, Don Frish, and Pat Travers. General Manager, Jeff White discusses the history of the station and gives his insight regarding the future of shortwave radio. Office Manager, Thais White provided warm hospitality and made sure my visit was both educational and memorable!

Watch the entire documentary style video or jump to your favorite parts below:

02:00 Station History: The Beginning
03:09 Walter S. Lemmon and the "Radiotype" in WWII
04:43 Walter S. Lemmon on "Beyond Victory" broadcast, 1943
07:40 Station History: WRUL & WNYW (1971 broadcast)
09:15 Station History: WYFR & Harold Camping
14:16 WRMI Begins Broadcasting
15:36 Station Tour: Transmitters # 1-5
20:09 Station Tour: Control Room
23:47 Station Tour: Transmitters #6-14
26:11 Jeff White's Thoughts on the Future of Shortwave
30:45 Recording Studio - Producing an episode of WAVESCAN
34:02 Antenna Tour
40:02 If you look closely you can spot two antennas that were damaged in a recent hurricane! Comment when you spot them!

Learn more about WRMI, Radio Miami International, and listen live online at:
www.wrmi.net

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