Interlochen Public Radio recently purchased a new FM antenna for its WLMN 89.7 station in Manistee.
The antenna was built by SPX Communication Technology, formerly Dielectric, of Raymond, Maine. It's the second such antenna, called the Dielectric DCR-H4 FM antenna, that Interlochen Public Radio has ordered from the company.
"We purchased our first Dielectric antenna for WICA 91.5 in Traverse City in 2000, and have been completely satisfied with its performance. So when it came time to purchase an antenna for WLMN, selecting another DCR-H4 was an easy choice," says Jack Conners, IPR chief engineer.
The antenna was built to optimize the best performance in class A and B FM stations such as WLMN, and can be further fine-tuned on location, which Conners says has been successful, especially because the broadcast area considers other nearby radio stations.
"For WLMN, which has a first-adjacent station to the north, the directional pattern is very tight," Conners says.
The antenna also can be kept ice-free with electrical de-icers, an important consideration in this northern climate.
WLMN 89.7 went on the air in August 2010, and serves an area of about 40,000 people.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Jack Conners, Interlochen Public Radio
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