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A New Transmitter for WLJK-FM, Aiken

WLJK's new transmitter sits in the equipment rack to the left of the old transmitter, which will now serve as a back-up.
Michael Gill/SCETV
WLJK's new transmitter sits in the equipment rack to the left of the old transmitter, which will now serve as a back-up.

The transmitter for South Carolina Public Radio's Aiken station, WLJK-FM, 89.1, had been in service for nearly 30 years, and it was time for an upgrade. Engineers from SCETV did that upgrade earlier this week, installing a new transmitter, moving and re-wiring key associated equipment, and upgrading electrical distribution for the transmitter (including back-up by an emergency generator).

SCETV's Manager of Transmitter Operations Michael Gill and his team, Don Fouche, Terry Lambert, and Alex Elmi, managed to do all this July 26th and 27th, with minimal impact on our Aiken/Augusta listeners. "We put in about 24 hours each over the two days and put her on the air at 1705, 5:05 p.m., 06/27/2017," said Gill. A look at the new transmitter next to the now-backup old transmitter shows the striking difference between the sizes of the two. Says Gill, "How technology has changed since 1989!"

Alfred Turner is a familiar voice to many listeners, having hosted past programs such as The Morning Concert, Standard Time and various specials. He was also South Carolina Public Radio’s webmaster for many years, and producer for Walter Edgar's Journal and South Carolina from A to Z.