Engineer Erik Costa begins dismantling the ductwork.
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Site engineer Mike Graham disconnecting the power.
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Carting the original 1984 transmitter away...
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Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Here is the amplifier cabinet being removed from the building by the forklift. This half of the transmitter weighs about 1300 lbs.
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
The engineering team preparing the High Voltage cabinet to be removed. This cabinet weighs over 1600 lbs. The corners of the cabinet are lifted and small pipes are placed underneath to roll the unit toward the door.
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Here comes the new transmitter. It needed to be uncrated outside to fit through the doorway. Glad it stopped raining!
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Credit WKU Public Radio
Ta-da!
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Once the transmitter was inside the doorway, it had to be pushed into place. The modules were removed and stacked out of the way in “bucket brigade” fashion. This greatly reduced the weight of the new transmitter, making it easier to push into place.
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Credit WKU Public Radio
Very carefully through the door
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Credit WKU Public Radio
Oops. After the new transmitter was placed in the building, the forklift got stuck. Severe storms passed through earlier in the morning, saturating the ground.
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Turning on all the modules and powering up the transmitter.
As of mid-afternoon Thursday, WDCL-FM, 89.7 in Somerset is back on the air following installation of a new transmitter. Thanks for your patience while this work was completed. And thanks to Chief Engineer Don Eastman, plus Erik Costa, John Coe, Roger Hall and Mike Graham for their hard work getting this major project completed ahead of schedule!
Join us Tuesday, January 29th at 8pm C.T. for this two-hour special. John Lunn, the creator of the music for the popular Downton Abbeytelevision series, talks about his life and work, composing for the show, and introduces some of his favorite music from the period.
Downton Abbey is currently airing on PBS. Our sister-station, WKYU-PBS, will begin Season Three this Friday at 8pm C.T., (with repeats on Saturday at 10pm. and Sunday at 4pm.).
After many years of distinguished service to WKU Public Radio, News Director Dan Modlin is retiring--his last day with us is Friday, January 4th (well, sort of...see below).
Dan is a native of Indiana who grew up in a broadcasting family. A graduate of Ball State University, he worked for several years in the news network business in the Midwest, specializing in agricultural and political coverage, before coming to WKU Public Radio.
WKU Public Radio is here thanks to listeners who become members.
There's still time to support WKU Public Radio and be entered into a drawing for a Kindle Fire HD (see contest rules and details here). The deadline is December 31st.
This is a great time of year to make a tax-deductible year-end gift to support the programs you enjoy on WKU Public Radio. You don't have to pledge to enter the drawings, but of course we hope you'll use this opportunity to become a new member, renew your membership, or make a bonus gift.
Consider becoming a sustaining member and be automatically entered for all future contest drawings. Your ongoing monthly gift (at whatever amount you choose) goes a long way to keeping the programming strong at WKU Public Radio.
Join online anytime by clicking the Donate Now button at the top of the page. To enter without supporting the station, send an email with your name, address, and email to wkyufm@wku.edu.
