Work on WVPR 89.5

WVPR, 89.5 is currently operating at reduced power on its back-up transmitter. Engineers are working to address two problems:

First, the transmission line that goes from the transmitter up the tower to the antenna needs to be under pressure to operate, and we have discovered air leaking out of the line. Just like finding the cause of a flat tire, engineers must climb the tower and manually search for the source of the leak before it can be repaired.

Second, the combiner that serves WVPR and Nassau Broadcasting, the broadcaster that shares our tower, needs to be replaced. VPR engineers were able to make a temporary fix to it last month, but it did not last as long as we hoped.

On Friday, weather-permitting, an engineer will be on Mount Ascutney to try to perform a temporary fix to the combiner. We hope this is successful, but it will still be a temporary fix until we can install the new combiner, which has been ordered and should arrive in the next week to 10 days.

Prescott Tower will also be at the mountain, climbing the tower to examine the transmission line and find the pressure leak.

During the work, WVPR will be off the air to ensure the safety of our engineering crew. We may also need to take VPR Classical’s WNCH 88.1 signal off the air at that time, and our 89.5 HD channels will be off the air as well.

We know being without VPR can be frustrating, and we apologize for the interruption. We will keep you updated on what’s happening as soon as we know more. In the meantime, I hope you’ll listen to VPR online if you are able.

Thank you very much for your patience and support.