WA2XMN

{{short description|Experimental FM radio station in Alpine, New Jersey}}

{{Infobox radio station

| name = WA2XMN

| logo =

| city = Alpine, New Jersey

| country = US

| area = New York metropolitan area

| branding =

| frequency = {{Frequency|42.8|MHz}}

| translator =

| repeater =

| airdate = June 11, 2005{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/armstrong-commemorative-broadcast |title=70th Anniversary of FM Radio |last=Fybush |first=Scott |date=June 11, 2005 |website=archive.org |publisher=Scott Fybush |access-date=2018-01-01}}

| last_airdate =

| format = Public Radio/Eclectic Music

| language =

| power =

| erp = 250 watts

| haat =

| class =

| facility_id =

| coordinates = {{coord|40|57|39.00|N| 73|55|23.00|W|region:US_type:city}} (NAD27)

| callsign_meaning = Referring to W2XMN, Edwin Armstrong's original station call-sign

| former_callsigns = WB9XXE (2005)[https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=29397 WA2XMN's initial license filing, dated March 3, 2005; retrieved December 6, 2018.]

| former_frequencies =

| affiliations =

| operator =

| owner =

| licensee =

| sister_stations =

| webcast =

| website = {{URL|http://www.wa2xmn.ar88.net}}

}}

WA2XMN is an experimental FM radio station which broadcasts sporadically from the Armstrong Tower in Alpine, New Jersey. The station commemorates the pioneering broadcasts of the world's first FM radio station, W2XMN, built by Edwin Howard Armstrong, which began experimental broadcasts from this tower in June 1938 followed by full power broadcasting beginning on July 18, 1939.{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Tom |date=1991 |title=Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio |location=New York, NY |publisher=HarperCollins |page=[https://archive.org/details/empireofairmenwh00lewi/page/274 274] |isbn=0060182156 |url=https://archive.org/details/empireofairmenwh00lewi |url-access=registration }} Armstrong's station signed off as KE2XCC on March 6, 1954.{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=Tom |date=1991 |title=Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio |location=New York, NY |publisher=HarperCollins |page=[https://archive.org/details/empireofairmenwh00lewi/page/331 331] |isbn=0060182156 |url=https://archive.org/details/empireofairmenwh00lewi |url-access=registration }}

WA2XMN broadcasts at 42.8 MHz, one of the frequencies used by Armstrong's station on the original 42-50 MHz FM broadcast band. Transmitting from near the top of the 425-foot tall Armstrong Tower,{{cite web |url=https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20150615/ |title=NERW 6/15/2015: Boston’s Talk Mess Shakes Out |last=Fybush |first=Scott |date=June 15, 2015 |website=fybush.com |publisher=Scott Fybush |access-date=2018-01-01}} which sits on top of the 500-foot-tall Palisades (for a total height of over 900 feet above mean sea level), WA2XMN has a listening range of roughly 60–100 miles. The building at the base of the tower still has the W2XMN call sign engraved above the entrance.{{cite web |url=http://www.nparc.org/2006/Armstrong/armstrongtower.htm |title=Armstrong Tower Field Trip |publisher=New Providence Amateur Radio Club |year=2010 |access-date=2018-01-01}}

The station signed on using a restored Phasitron transmitter{{cite web |url=http://www.w9gr.com/phasitron.html |title=The PHASITRON Web Page |last=Hershberger |first=Dave |date=December 2004 |website=w9gr.com |access-date=2018-01-01}} built by Steve Hemphill,{{cite web |url=http://www.wa2fnq.com/armstrg/armstrg1.htm |title=Armstrong 70th Anniversary Commemeration of FM Radio Saturday June 11, 2005 (Page 1)|date=June 11, 2005 |website=wa2fnq.com |access-date=2018-01-01}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wa2fnq.com/armstrg/armstrg2.htm |title=Armstrong 70th Anniversary Commemeration of FM Radio Saturday June 11, 2005 (Page 2)|date=June 11, 2005 |website=wa2fnq.com |access-date=2018-01-01}}{{cite web |url=https://blogs.cul.columbia.edu/armstrongpapers/tag/steve-hemphill/ |title=Major Armstrong: Scientist, Technologist, Philosopher |last=Hemphill |first=Steve |website=columbia.edu |access-date=2018-01-02}} with technical assistance from WFDU 89.1, which has broadcast from the tower since its first sign on in 1971. The WA2XMN broadcasts have been simulcast on WFDU's FM signal and internet stream,{{cite web |url=https://www.fybush.com/nerw-20130610/ |title=NERW 6/10/2013: At Long Last, WKAJ! |last=Fybush |first=Scott |date=June 10, 2013 |website=fybush.com |publisher=Scott Fybush |access-date=2018-01-01}}{{cite web |url=http://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/0002/alpine-tower-to-be-site-of-commemorative-fm-broadcast/308683 |title=Alpine Tower to Be Site of Commemorative FM Broadcast |author= |date=April 13, 2005 |website=radioworld.com |publisher=Radio World |access-date=2018-01-02}} allowing listeners who lack a VHF receiver that can tune to 42.8 MHz to listen to the broadcasts.