Why we are off air
August 3, 2:00 PM Update:
All Alabama Public Radio transmitters are operational. The satellite uplink issues have been resolved. The engineers completed the work at WQPR (88.7) today.
Details:
Our uplink dish--which feeds programming to all the APR transmitters--is located on the University of Alabama's campus in an area undergoing significant construction. As part of the construction project, the current satellite "farm" will be relocated to a different site--one being developed to host all the University's broadcast transmission and reception needs. Scheduled for completion in Spring 2018, the improved site--well protected from environmental encumbrances-- will be outfitted with new, more dependable equipment and technology.
Unfortunately, the construction project has created a problem sooner than we had anticipated. The cranes and structural steel on site have created uplink interference affecting WAPR, WHIL and WQPR. APR and NPR engineers are collaborating on an emergency work around that will enable a different uplink path. APR has received the equipment from NPR. The APR engineers are traveling to each location to install the equipment.
In addition, the transmitter at WAPR is operating at reduced power, approximately 60% of capacity. During the maintenance work last week, the engineering team discovered that part of the subsystem of the transmitter that generates the voltage to the antennae needed replacing. The team worked to get the subsystem back to stability at 60% power. We are in the process ordering replacement parts and will install them as soon as possible.
Our apologies to you and all of our valued listeners for this disruption in our service. We do our best to provide a first rate programming service--and clearly being dependable is job one. While we’re doing our best to restore service you can stream us online at www.apr.org or through mobile apps such as:
Again, we are so sorry to be disappointing our listeners with this interruption to our service. You all deserve better and we are doing our best to be back on the air as soon as possible.
Let us know if you have any questions by sending an email.
Thank you for listening to Alabama Public Radio.
