Dielectric is helping Maine-based radio station, WSEW-FM, settle onto its new tower site just across the border in New Hampshire with more signal strength from a new antenna. The FM will start to use its new transmission system from Barrington, NH in the early days of 2021, with a new Dielectric DCR-H FM antenna installed and ready to radiate.
WSEW moved from its longtime tower site in Sanford, Maine to improve signal strength for higher populous areas in New Hampshire. WSEW also updated its RF system.
“While the location change brings us closer to higher-density populations, we needed a completely new antenna system design with a difficult to achieve directional pattern,” said Ron Malone, President of Word Radio, who operates and administrates WSEW and four other Non-Commercial FM stations in Maine and New Hampshire. “Dielectric delivered the circular polarization we needed to reach our audience with greater signal quality and stability than our current antenna. We also now have a well-engineered antenna built to withstand challenging climate for the decades ahead.”
WSEW’s market penetration was previously limited with the use of a log-periodic antenna system solution using linear, slant polarization. In addition to the advantages of circular polarization, the side-mounted, six-bay antenna will have a prime position on the 400-foot tower to maximize coverage, with its center of radiation at 287 feet AGL.
The changes mean listeners will no longer or experience occasional signal drops,” said Malone. “Our position on the upper third of the tower, along with the circular polarization, will greatly improve the listener experience for legacy and new listeners.”
Malone said Dielectric was great to work with. “They used a collaborative software program to develop the directional radiation pattern using scaled tower models, radiator sizes, dimensions and test frequency while factoring orientation of the antenna for our tower position and geographic spread.”
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