North Carolina AM Station Faces Flood-Related Shutdown: Operations Submerged
WCHL(AM) Struggles to Rebuild After Tropical Depression Chantal Floods Transmitter Site
Tropical Depression Chantal's heavy rainfall caused significant flooding that severely damaged WCHL(AM)'s transmitter site near Booker Creek on East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The floodwaters rose more than four feet in the basement where crucial AM broadcasting equipment was housed, resulting in substantial damage.
Despite the flood, WCHL's AM broadcast was not interrupted as the station continued streaming and coverage via its studio, office, and FM tower, which were not impacted by the flood. The station's FM translator also continues its normal operations, unaffected by the flooding.
WCHL's General Manager Aubrey Williams has stated that the station has already begun working toward repairs to restore the 1360 AM signal. The team is actively engaged in recovery efforts, though specific timelines or detailed rebuilding strategies have not been publicly disclosed. The station expressed gratitude for community support during this process, indicating a commitment to fully restoring their AM operations.
The flooding caused significant damage to WCHL's equipment, estimated to be around $150,000. To help with the rebuilding efforts, WCHL launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of $25,000. As of the last update, the GoFundMe campaign has raised approximately $3,500.
Jim Davis, a radio engineer, played a crucial role in restoring WCHL's operations. With assistance from Steve Guth, Gary Saber, and Robby Delius, Davis was able to restore the station's AM signal using a modified LPB RC-6A four-watt transmitter, which he purchased from eBay. The day antenna system, with some drying out, provided a decent match to the modified transmitter.
The station's AM transmitter site has been in a field along Lower Booker Creek Trail in Chapel Hill since the early 70s. A man-made berm was installed after a flood in 2000 to protect the transmitter site. WCHL has filed an STA with the FCC to continue operating with the backup transmitter while deciding on long-term rebuilding plans for the AM transmitter.
WCHL serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the greater Orange County area. The station continues to broadcast at a lower power than usual while it works towards a full recovery.
- The floodwaters from Tropical Depression Chantal reached more than four feet in WCHL(AM)'s basement, causing substantial damage to the crucial AM broadcasting equipment.
- Despite the damage, WCHL's AM broadcast was not interrupted, as the station continued to stream and cover events via its studio, office, and FM tower.
- WCHL's FM translator also continues its normal operations, unaffected by the flooding.
- WCHL's General Manager, Aubrey Williams, has stated that the team is actively engaged in recovery efforts to restore the 1360 AM signal.
- To help with the rebuilding efforts, WCHL launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of $25,000, with approximately $3,500 raised as of the last update.
- Jim Davis, a radio engineer, played a crucial role in restoring WCHL's operations using a modified LPB RC-6A four-watt transmitter purchased from eBay and the day antenna system.
- WCHL's AM transmitter site has been in a field along Lower Booker Creek Trail in Chapel Hill since the early 70s, and a man-made berm was installed after a flood in 2000 to protect the transmitter site.
- WCHL serves Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and the greater Orange County area, currently broadcasting at a lower power than usual while working towards a full recovery, broadcasting news, sports, climate-change discussions, and sports-betting updates, contributing to the business, finance, science, and environmental-science industries.
