WUGA Fundraiser 2023
Dear Loyal Listener,
At WUGA, we know how much NPR’s timely, in-depth coverage matters to you. The values that NPR News lives by – accuracy, fairness, telling the story beyond the headlines – are values we put into our local news coverage every day.
The backbone of that coverage is our infrastructure. We work very hard to keep the hardware and software that keeps the radio station on the air up-to-date and follow broadcasting industry standards. As part of this upkeep, we have been monitoring the backup generator at our transmitter site in Oglethorpe County. Well, friends, after 25 years of use, it's time to replace that generator.
We've been saving funding for a few years in preparation for some major infrastructure updates and we need your help to cover the last little bit needed for this generator. We had planned for $30,000 for this project, but as you know, things are getting more expensive every day. The initial estimate for the generator and installation is $54,000.
Our Chief Engineer, Neil Werfel, explains:
"There is a mesh dish antenna on the tower at our station site at the Georgia Center and the tower in Oglethorpe County that point toward each other in a direct line of sight. That’s our studio-to-transmitter link. We send our audio from the studio in Athens to the transmitter in Winterville over a microwave link.
"The transmitter then broadcasts our 91.7 mHz FM signal from the antenna on top of the tower to our listeners' radios. We have frequent power failures at the transmitter site. When the power goes out, the generator starts and keeps us on the air. If listeners hear static for a few seconds now and then, it’s possibly because there’s been a power failure and the generator is starting. After it starts, we’re back on the air."
You might be thinking, "But $54,000 is a lot of money - does a generator actually cost that much?" These units are expensive, but we're also planning to replace the Automatic Transfer Switch (which turns the generator on when the power fails) and upgrade the power disconnect which works like the main breaker box in your house. If there's a power surge, this turns the power off rather than burning up the wiring and equipment inside the tower equipment room. This quote also includes a plumber because the gas line needs to be managed during the installation.
Listeners like you help keep WUGA on the air and to sweeten the deal, anyone who donates $150 or more will receive a WUGA t-shirt! Please note in the Special Instructions/Comments whether you want a size Large or X-Large when you place your donation online. Or make a note about sizing within your mailing if you would rather mail a check.
Every dollar counts and your help will go a long way in ensuring WUGA remains on the air for years to come!
Thank you for being a friend!