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News Feature
by Rich Hewitt Community radio station WERU plans to replace its aging transmitter atop Blue Hill and hopes to have the new unit in place by this fall. The transmitter, which is about 24 years old, has been showing signs of its age in recent years, according to WERU General Manager Matt Murphy. “It’s ancient,’’ Murphy said recently. “It’s old by industry standards. It’s the same kind of thing that happens to an old car.’’ Crews have replaced parts in the transmitter over the years and the parts are wearing out pretty regularly, he said. On average, the transmitter has been down about a dozen times in each of the past three years. As time goes on, he said, the chances increase for a major problem that could knock the station off the air for an extended period of time. “This is a very complicated electrical device,’’ he said. “There’s been a lot of wear and tear on that equipment.’’ Every time one part wears out, it puts additional stress on the rest of the components, he said. Murphy said the station’s board had planned to replace the transmitter several years ago. But, when the economy took a downturn, the board was advised that it was not a good time to try to raise the $135,000 needed for the new transmitter. Last year, however, the board began quietly talking with foundations and major donors and has raised more than half of that amount so far. Although Murphy said he has discussed the transmitter issue and the fund-raising on the air, WERU has not made a public push to raise the money. The public phase of the capital campaign likely will begin this spring, he said. At that time, there will be more information available on the air and the station will schedule public meetings to discuss the project with listeners. The station has already identified the model of transmitter it plans to install and, in the event of a major problem, could borrow the needed funds and go to work immediately to install the new unit. Obviously, Murphy said, the board would like to avoid having to do that. The project will require transporting a lot of new equipment up the mountain, so any work will have to wait until after mud season when the trail has dried out again. Ideally, he said, they’d like to be working on it in July and definitely they will have it in by September at the latest. |
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