The equipment is the ability to transmit FM video on 6 or 18 GHz. Both stations were on the same building, so all they needed to do is be close enough to get F

The equipment is the ability to transmit FM video on 6 or 18 GHz. Both stations were on the same building, so all they needed to do is be close enough to get FM capture. I am guessing someone found an STL transmitter in a dumpster. TV stations were not careful about discarding old equipment. The thing about those FM STLs is, the receiver AFC circuit would lock on the strongest carrier within 40 MHz. The culprits didn’t need to know the exact frequency nor be on it, they just needed to be within 80 MHz (40 MHz each side of desired carrier frequency) and be the strongest signal and the receiver would move to them. What they did need to know is audio subcarrier, and the distorted audio hints that they were off by one channel. I used to repair this gear. It isn’t common equipment, but it also isn’t a truckload. It was quite luggable by the early 70’s, and the reason I suspect it was the result of dumpster diving is, 1987 was a year deep into the transition to NTSC with MTS audio. TV stations needed new STLs to support it. A station upgraded and pitched their oldest mono STL transmitters.