WMFO getting $20,000 antenna transfusion

Tufts' radio station WMFO is working to replace its deteriorating antenna in the next several weeks, allowing it to resume transmitting at full power.

The old antenna's poor condition limits WMFO to only 50 percent of its original power, which nearly caused the station to be shut down last year.

Altogether it will cost $23,500 to replace the antenna, with most of the cost stemming from the price of the antenna and subsequent testing.

The new antenna "will vastly improve the quality and strength of our broadcasts within their existing range. It has been a long process, but will be worth it in the end," said senior Emily Ryan, general manager of the radio station. "If all goes well with the new antenna we hope to apply for a power increase in the coming months, which would double our power output."

The result of a power output increase would be a stronger transmission signal, and better quality sound. Ryan said there will probably not be any large changes in the broadcast range.

This past summer, Tufts began the process of replacing the antenna, which required a petition that was approved by Executive Administrative Dean Wayne Bouchard and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman.

Bouchard said that the University budget has leeway for building and equipment deficiencies. "Our goal is to address problems before they become bigger problems and are disruptive to the important programs on campus," Bouchard explained. "We didn't want to wait until the antenna failed completely to replace it."

Bouchard credited Ryan for doing extensive research and presenting the information "in a way that made it hard for the administration not to approve the expenditure."

The new antenna had to be similar enough to the old one in order to be compatible with WMFO's existing equipment. Tufts found the antenna in Germany, where it was then tested and shipped to Boston.

Before it is installed on the rooftop of Ballou Hall, a local company will take down the old antenna and replace the old wires. WMFO has already been granted approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the new antenna.

The antenna is connected to the WMFO studios in Curtis Hall via Tufts' underground fiberoptic cables.

Originally the antenna was meant to be installed last week, but the guy wires that arrived to hold it up were not made of the right material, fiberglass, and the installation needs to wait for several weeks.

Students at WMFO are excited about the possibilities of the new tower. "Boston is so packed with so many small radio stations -- you can go fifty feet and get ten new stations, so it's great that we'll be able to ultimately reach more people with a greater broadcast range," said junior Alexander Chassin, assistant general manager and training director for WMFO.

"I am excited to see the station doing this well," Ryan said. "I feel that the station is headed in the right direction and with continued effort will really become a strong force on campus and in the community."