 Beacon, NY - WHUD, the Hudson Valley’s most listened to radio station and primary emergency broadcast source, will complete a $500,000 project to install a new, state-of-the-art, solid-state transmitter that will dramatically increase the reliability and clarity of WHUD’s signal beginning on Dec. 7.
“This half-million dollar investment is a sign of WHUD’s commitment to serving the Hudson Valley today and for years to come,” said Jason Finkelberg, WHUD’s General Manager. “The new transmitter will provide nearly 100 percent reliability, while also providing a stronger, clearer signal to listeners at the outer fringes of our broadcast range. It’s a quantum leap forward compared to our old transmitter.”
WHUD (100.7 FM), which has its studios and offices in Beacon, N.Y., and a hilltop transmitter near the Westchester-Putnam line in Putnam Valley, N.Y., has a coverage area stretching 90 miles from Pennsylvania to eastern Long Island. The station’s core markets include Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Dutchess counties. The new transmitter’s steadier signal will make it easier for modern, digital-tuning radios in fringe areas to lock onto WHUD’s 28,000 watt signal.
More importantly, the new, solid-state transmitter means WHUD will operate at full power with nearly 100 percent reliability and no downtime. This is particularly important because WHUD is the Hudson Valley’s primary Emergency Broadcast System station, serving as the source used by all of the region’s other stations. When the Emergency Broadcast System is activated, WHUD’s signal is rebroadcast through all of the other stations in the Hudson Valley, making it critically important for WHUD to remain on the air at all times. If WHUD goes off the air, all of the region’s stations will lose access to the Emergency Broadcast Network.
“WHUD provides a critical link in the Hudson Valley’s Emergency Broadcast System, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” said Finkelberg. “This area is vulnerable to blizzards and hurricanes and also has the Indian Point nuclear plant, so we take our emergency broadcast obligations seriously. People rely on WHUD for news and information during emergencies and we are committed to serving our neighbors.”
WHUD’s new transmitter will provide unrivalled reliability because it is powered by a system of 40 solid-state power modules, each providing 1,000 watts of broadcast output. Only 28 of these easy-to-replace modules are needed at any time, and if one fails the system instantly shifts to another unit. This redundancy means it is almost impossible for WHUD to have so many modules fail that broadcasting will be affected. Traditional transmitters using vacuum tubes, which still are the norm in the industry, simply cannot match the reliability of solid-state equipment.
WHUD’s new transmitter was manufactured by Nautel Ltd., one of the world’s leading suppliers of solid state broadcasting equipment. Nautel transmitters are used at thousands of stations in 170 nations.
Further enhancing WHUD’s reliability, the transmitter also has an on-site diesel backup generator that provides electricity within three seconds of a power failure, ensuring continuous operation through even the worst of storms. The generator has enough fuel to run for at least four days, and if fuel runs low during an emergency, contingency plans call for the National Guard or Army to make deliveries to ensure that the public continues to receive timely information.
“We could have spent just $50,000 to replace our old transmitter, which was near the end of its useful life,” said Finkelberg. “But we wanted to plan for the future and decided to get the best equipment money can buy. This shows the long-term commitment WHUD has to serving the Hudson Valley and its businesses and residents.”
WHUD (100.7 FM) has offices and studios in Beacon, N.Y., and transmits from Putnam Valley, N.Y. The station is owned and operated by Pamal Broadcasting, which is based in Albany, N.Y. Pamal owns 27 stations covering upstate eastern New York, central Vermont, the Florida Panhandle and central Florida. Pamal's market share is very competitive in each market. Pamal is rated #1 in Pensacola, Rutland, Westchester, and Poughkeepsie in both ratings and revenue. Pamal is listed in the Top 30 broadcasting companies in America, according to BIA. Pamal is a member of the NAB, RAB, NYSBA, VBA, FAB, NYMRAD, and various local chambers of commerce. Pamal’s CEO, Chairman and sole shareholder is Jim Morrell.
 |
