WUVT-FM
Encyclopedia
WUVT-FM is a Freeform
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Blacksburg, Virginia
, serving Blacksburg
and Montgomery County, Virginia
. WUVT-FM is licensed to the Virginia Tech
and is operated by The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech
.
. It originally began operation as an AM station in 1948 after a student created an AM transmitter in his dorm room, though WUVT-FM itself began in 1969. Today, like other student media organizations on campus, WUVT is a division of the Educational Media Company of Virginia Tech.
WUVT is known for its eclectic music, covering a wide swath of past and present music styles. DJs are typically students (and former students), who select content based upon their personal preferences. While it rarely plays music heard on commercial stations, this is a double-edged sword, as many potential listeners may also tune out unusual and unfamiliar songs.
WUVT broadcasts from 350 Squires Student Center while the 1984 Broadcast Electronics FM-3.5A transmitter, affectionately dubbed "Harriet," is stored at the tower site atop Price Mountain. The station currently transmits their signal with a Harris Z5CD 5 kW solid state
transmitter donated by Clear Channel
.
Former WUVT Chief Engineer Kevin Sterne was injured in the April 16, 2007 killing spree by a Virginia Tech student
. After hearing about Kevin’s strong passion for the radio station and WUVT's technical difficulties during the tragedy and its aftermath, officials from Clear Channel
and the Society of Broadcast Engineers
assisted in returning WUVT full power on April 28. Clear Channel donated a Harris
Z5CD transmitter, transmitter building, and antenna sufficient to generate 10 KW. Orban, CBS Radio
, and Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) also offered equipment and technical assistance in getting WUVT back on the air.
s to 10,000 watt
s."
In June 2008, WUVT received authorization from the FCC to begin building a 6.5 kW transmission facility. This construction permit
was issued for a lower power due to a conflicting application with WEHC
. Both stations filed applications for power increases which would have overlapped, so both WUVT and WEHC have compromised and re-submitted their applications at a lower power.
Over summer 2009, WUVT was moving new and old equipment to the new site atop Price Mountain and had to remove their old transmitter from its location in Lee Hall. In the time between taking the old transmitter down and putting the new one up, WUVT broadcast at low power from Squires Student Center.
In September 2009, the station received permission to begin broadcasting at 6.5 kW ERP.
Freeform (radio format)
Freeform, or freeform radio, is a radio station programming format in which the disc jockey is given total control over what music to play, regardless of music genre or commercial interests. Freeform radio stands in contrast to most commercial radio stations, in which DJs have little or no...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, serving Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
and Montgomery County, Virginia
Montgomery County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families residing in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile...
. WUVT-FM is licensed to the Virginia Tech
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
and is operated by The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech
The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech
The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech is an independent governing body over student mass media organizations of the Virginia Tech campus. The EMCVT board of directors is made up of Virginia Tech faculty and staff, students, and members of the Blacksburg, Virginia community...
.
History
WUVT, in one form or another, has been located on the campus of Virginia Tech for over 60 years, making it one of the longest running radio stations in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It originally began operation as an AM station in 1948 after a student created an AM transmitter in his dorm room, though WUVT-FM itself began in 1969. Today, like other student media organizations on campus, WUVT is a division of the Educational Media Company of Virginia Tech.
WUVT is known for its eclectic music, covering a wide swath of past and present music styles. DJs are typically students (and former students), who select content based upon their personal preferences. While it rarely plays music heard on commercial stations, this is a double-edged sword, as many potential listeners may also tune out unusual and unfamiliar songs.
WUVT broadcasts from 350 Squires Student Center while the 1984 Broadcast Electronics FM-3.5A transmitter, affectionately dubbed "Harriet," is stored at the tower site atop Price Mountain. The station currently transmits their signal with a Harris Z5CD 5 kW solid state
Solid state (electronics)
Solid-state electronics are those circuits or devices built entirely from solid materials and in which the electrons, or other charge carriers, are confined entirely within the solid material...
transmitter donated by Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
.
Former WUVT Chief Engineer Kevin Sterne was injured in the April 16, 2007 killing spree by a Virginia Tech student
Virginia Tech massacre
The Virginia Tech massacre was a school shooting that took place on April 16, 2007, on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. In two separate attacks, approximately two hours apart, the perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people...
. After hearing about Kevin’s strong passion for the radio station and WUVT's technical difficulties during the tragedy and its aftermath, officials from Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
and the Society of Broadcast Engineers
Society of Broadcast Engineers
The Society of Broadcast Engineers or SBE is a professional organization for engineers in broadcast radio and television. The SBE also offers certification in various radio frequency and audio technology areas for its members.- History :...
assisted in returning WUVT full power on April 28. Clear Channel donated a Harris
Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation is a Florida-based international communications equipment company that produces wireless equipment, electronic systems, and both terrestrial and spaceborne antennas for use in the government, defense, and commercial sectors. It is also the largest private-sector employer in...
Z5CD transmitter, transmitter building, and antenna sufficient to generate 10 KW. Orban, CBS Radio
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, and Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) also offered equipment and technical assistance in getting WUVT back on the air.
Power Increase
Virginia Radio and TV website VARTV.com reported that WUVT "has requested to move its antenna off-campus to a new location a mile away from and increase the antenna height from 141 feet to 429 feet. WUVT wants to be licensed as a Class C3 (from Class A) and increase its power from 3,000 wattWatt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s to 10,000 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s."
In June 2008, WUVT received authorization from the FCC to begin building a 6.5 kW transmission facility. This construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
was issued for a lower power due to a conflicting application with WEHC
WEHC
WEHC is an Adult Album Alternative formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Emory, Virginia, serving the Emory/Glade Spring area. WEHC is owned and operated by Emory and Henry College.-Programming:...
. Both stations filed applications for power increases which would have overlapped, so both WUVT and WEHC have compromised and re-submitted their applications at a lower power.
Over summer 2009, WUVT was moving new and old equipment to the new site atop Price Mountain and had to remove their old transmitter from its location in Lee Hall. In the time between taking the old transmitter down and putting the new one up, WUVT broadcast at low power from Squires Student Center.
In September 2009, the station received permission to begin broadcasting at 6.5 kW ERP.
Technical Accomplishments
- June 1969 - FM transmission authorized on 90.7 MHz with 10 watts ERP
- 1970s - Upgraded license to 770 watts ERP, on the air with a donated RCA transmitter from GA
- Early 1980s - Upgraded license again, this time to 3,000 watts ERP, with new transmitter from Broadcast Electronics
- Late 1990s - Initiated Real Audio web simulcast
- Dec 2005 - First dynamic RDS subcarrier on in the New River Valley market
- Apr 2007 - Return to full licensed power
- September 2007 - WUVT files application with the FCC to increase power.
- June 2008 - WUVT receives a construction permitConstruction permitA construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
from the FCC to begin building a 6.5 kW transmission facility. - September 2009 - Transmission facility construction complete, Effective Radiated Power increased to 6.5kW