GLENHAM - Listeners of WHUD-FM radio may well find the signal is stronger today.
On Friday, the station, licen-sed to Peekskill and with offices and studios in this hamlet bet-ween Beacon and Fishkill, went live with a new transmitter that uses solid-state technology.
For listeners, it means a better-quality signal and a longer reach in outlying areas, said Jason Finkelberg, general manager. It also means more reliability, nearly 100 percent, he said.
"We have a very solid signal already, but to the north of Poughkeepsie is probably the place where you'll find it stronger," Finkelberg said.
WHUD, 100.7, is one of the strongest Hudson Valley stations, rated at 50,000 watts by the Federal Communications Commission. The actual transmitter puts out 28,000 watts.
Antenna is added
The antenna is on a hilltop in the Town of Putnam Valley, more than 1,000 feet above sea level. Finkelberg said the combination of power and height is what counts. The new, $500,000 transmitter makes more efficient use of the same power, he said.
"It's a very dense signal," he said. Listeners in cars or buildings and those in valleys are likely to get better reception.
The Nautel Ltd. transmitter consists of 40 modules that can put out 1,000 watts each. Only 28 are needed, which means the others are on instant standby.
More reliability helps, too, with WHUD's role as the Hudson Valley's primary emergency alert system station, Finkelberg said. In an alert, other stations rebroadcast emergency data from WHUD.
The new transmitter is also high-definition capable. There are no plans to do HD broadcasting, Finkelberg said.
