http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/may/07/radio-friends-help-wdvx-back-on-the-air/
WDVX is back on the air, thanks to some radio friends. Broadcast of the publicly supported radio station was interrupted Sunday when lightning damaged the station's transmitter on Cross Mountain in Campbell County. When local ham radio enthusiasts saw a story on the station's plight in the News Sentinel, the group began looking for ways to help. One of the ham enthusiasts was Kevin Duplantis, an engineer with South Central Radio Group, which operates four other Knoxville FM stations - WJXB (97.5), WIMZ (103.5), WQJK (95.7) and WNFZ (94.3). "He called (Wednesday) morning and said 'I can get you back on the air," said Linda Billman, WDVX general manager. Duplantis got approval from South Central Vice President Terry Gillingham to use South Central equipment to broadcast WDVX's Internet stream (www.wdvx.com) from the group's tower on Sharps Ridge. Billman said the signal is only at 25 watts, rather than the station's normal 200 watts, but now the station can at least be heard in Knoxville. Billman said the station, which broadcasts eclectic Americana and roots music at 89.9 and 102.9 FM, already had requested a grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration for a new transmitter, a new stainless steel tower and an antenna that would eliminate interference from other radio and TV signals, and insulated cables, which would help protect the transmitter from lightning strikes. She said the cost of the transmitter itself would be approximately $12,000. The grant, however, is not set to be considered until October. Greg Williams [email protected] [email protected] _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
