SYRACUSE -- After several days of operating at reduced power, it appears Clear Channel CHR Hot 107.9 (WWHT) has resumed broadcasting at its full allotted power of 50,000 watts. Since our May 10 story about a lack of reception in areas farther from Syracuse, we've heard through the grapevine there was an equipment malfunction at the transmitter site.
Here at CNYRadio.com HQ in Syracuse, we never noticed any difference in the signal, but readers in Oswego, and even some suburbs closer to Syracuse, reported having trouble getting the station. Although CNYRadio.com received no response from officials at Clear Channel Syracuse when we asked about the status of WWHT's signal, one reader who emailed WWHT program director "AJ" was told, "the technical guys are working on some amazing upgrades to the signal."
Since that story ran, our observer reported earlier last week, that the station could be heard again in Oswego. Your editor was able to verify that over the weekend, monitoring the signal to the east, well into Oneida County.
Although we still haven't heard from Clear Channel officials we contacted, we've since heard through the grapevine that the WWHT transmitter apparently experienced some kind of surge on May 6, which took the station's five-bay antenna out of service. One reader said a temporary two-bay antenna could be seen in plain view from the road which leads to the transmitter site south of Syracuse.
While we haven't had a chance to wander down to the transmitter site for our own look, it appears that a replacement and/or repairs were implemented early last week and things are back to normal.
Our thanks to the CNYRadio.com readers who sent the messages that helped us get this story going. Anytime you’ve got news to share from inside your local station — or even if you don’t work in broadcasting, but you observed something “notable” that we haven’t covered here yet — we’re always appreciative for your news tips at cnyradio@cnyradio.com. Or, you can use the Contact Form. Don't want the boss to know you wrote us? Just say the word and we'll leave your name out of it... and if you use the Contact Form, you don't even need to tell us who you are... you can send a message even if you don't include your name or email.