Where is WQED-FM?
December 3, 2020Listeners to WQED-FM (89.3) have noticed either a very low power signal or nothing at all over the last week or so. Jim Cunningham, morning show host and producer at the station checked in when PBRTV suspected that a power module on the transmitter blew. “That’s the theory!” Cunningham responded Saturday night. Seems the transmitter itself is just fine!
Tonight, Mr. Cunningham followed up saying, “As of Thursday at 5pm the Classical WQED-FM 89.3 transmission line has been removed from the tower and is in 20 foot pieces on the ground. Tomorrow it will be cleaned piece by piece and returned to the tower. The damaged section has been replaced and with luck when it is plugged in again the station will return to full power.”
The tower crew came in from Maryland in a windy 38 degrees Fahrenheit and found a burned section of line at 350 feet up.
Cunningham reminds listeners that the 3300 watt Johnstown signal of WQEJ (89.7) can be reached east of Point Breeze while others have reported hearing it in Gibsonia. He also mentioned the free WQED app and asking Alexa to bring up the audio on your home speaker.
Not a great time to have technical issues for sure. In San Diego we’re just now wrapping up a 3-day fundraising campaign on KPBS.com, and it may be that way for other PBS stations. With WQED’s on-air signal down it will make that fundraising need increase. Hope that gets fixed quick!