Coming up on its 30th anniversary, Western’s 94.9 CHRW launched some new hardware this week that will save them some green – both financially and environmentally.
Station manager Grant Stein says thanks to listeners, supporters, University Students’ Council and all undergraduate students, more than $20,000 was contributed to purchase a new solid-state transmitter.
“It doesn’t mean that CHRW will broadcast further than it did before, but what it really means is that CHRW will be using less electricity to broadcast,” says Stein, adding electricity use will drop close to 60 per cent. “That means we will have about $3,500 more to spend on additional services and equipment for about 230 volunteers who use the recording studio, the news studio and the on-air studio.”
Using less energy is a good thing, says Stein, meaning CHRW will be spending less to maintain its transmitter and more on equipment and services for volunteers and listeners
“In other words, this new transmitter should pay for itself in less than 5 years,” he says.
Stein adds the station has also installed a Davicom unit which will monitor the transmitter for problems and, if repairs are needed, and hopefully reduce station downtime.
“I have this feeling it is going to be an impressive year for CHRW,” says Stein, adding along with the new transmitter the station has hired two new full-time employees, has a new website and new members of the CHRW Board of Directors. “And I’m pretty sure there will a few additional good surprises along the way.”