Conveniently constructed along Historic Route 66, later Interstate 44, was an AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site handling telephone and television traffic near Rosati, Missouri, west of Cuba.
The site consisted of a 328-foot tower to support the site’s two original microwave hops and two later hops. In 1966, the site had connections to Brinktown (west-northwest) and Richwoods (east-northeast). By 1979, a southwest hop to Rolla and northeastern hop to Sullivan were added. At the base of the tower is the same solid concrete “semi-hardened” base station building found at most sites along the Kansas City-Halifax-Oakdale, Illinois, route.
Today, the tower’s original horn-reflector antennas were replaced by cell repeater antennas. An extension was installed at the top of the tower for a four-bay FM transmitter antenna for KRTE-FM, a local ESPN affiliate, and K207DG, a translator for Christian religious programming channel WJFM-FM. American Tower Corporation owns the site and leases space out to wireless communications companies, such as the radio stations and cell carriers. The base station has a new generator set outside in the tower area. There are several security cameras keeping watch at every corner of the building and tower area.
Update: It was confirmed that Rosati is in the process of becoming a Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN) repeater site. Its location along Interstate 44 (formerly the historic and famous Route 66) makes it prime real estate for such an application.
Photos: October 17, 2024
Looking at the Rosati tower from the southwest on Johnson Road and West Outer Road. Interstate 44 is visible on the right.A closer view of the Rosati Long Lines tower from nearly three-quarters of a mile southwest on Johnson Road and West Outer Road. It appears an extension was added on top of the original tower for FM transmitter antennas. FCC records indicate KRTE-FM, an ESPN affiliate, and K207DG (WJFM), a Christian religious programming channel, both broadcast from the former Long Lines tower.Rosati base station, which is the typical concrete “semi-hardened” facility found along the Kansas City-Halifax route featuring a “blast shield” on its southwestern wall.Rosati, MO, AT&T Long Lines tower, seen Oct. 17, 2024. Tower has cell antennas, along with FM transmitter antennas for KRTE-FM and W207DG, a translator for WJFM.Main entrance to the base station of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024. The facility is now owned by American Tower Corporation, which leases out tower space to users — such as the cell carriers and FM radio stations that use the Rosati tower. While covered, the AT&T “death star” globe logo sign is still present left of the door. The site is heavily surveilled, with several security cameras mounted at each corner.Looking at the front of the base station of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri, from the northeast on Oct. 17, 2024. The site is currently owned by American Tower Corporation.Southwestern wall of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024. The main power feed, generator exhaust and “blast shield” covering the generator air intake are seen.Rosati, MO, AT&T Long Lines tower, seen Oct. 17, 2024. American Tower Corporation currently owns the site, which hosts several cell antennas and FM transmitter antennas for two radio stations.A look at the other side of the “blast shield” covering the generator air intake at the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri. The generator air intake is above the concrete “blast shield,” which was designed to protect the intake from a nuclear blast. Inside the blast shield, apart from the intake vent, are two heaters used as dummy loads for testing the generator. This site uses a newer generator outside the building.A closer view inside the “blast shield,” where we can see the generator air intake grill and the two heaters used as dummy loads for testing the generator inside.Cell repeater equipment and the modern Generac backup generator mounted on the ground beside the base of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri. The tower has several cell antennas, along with FM transmitter antennas for two stations. American Tower Corporation currently owns the site.Southeastern wall of the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site base station near Rosati, Missouri, seen with the waveguide racks and tower base.A newer cable marker featuring a modern “Call 811” logo found adjacent to the driveway leading to the former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri.Former AT&T Long Lines microwave relay site near Rosati, Missouri, seen Oct. 17, 2024, from the northeast on Old Springfield Road in Crawford County, Missouri. The site, ASR 1005504, is currently owned by American Tower Corporation, and hosts multiple cell repeater antennas and FM transmitter antennas for two radio stations.
