After debuting 98.5 W253DA Portland ME as the new FM home for News/Talk 560 WGAN last week, Saga Communications has taken the new signal off the air due to issues with the translator antenna and combiner.
The new translator’s combiner system and antenna were causing matching issues that will require resolution from their manufacturers. W253DA shared an antenna with Saga’s “Rewind 100.9” WYNZ South Portland and three additional translators.
WGAN continues to be heard on 105.5 W288CU Portland, which was set to debut a new format.
DUE TO MATCHING ISSUES ENCOUNTERED BETWEEN THE FOUR (4) BAY, PSI FMT-4A (NDA) OPPOSED V DIPOLE ANTENNA AND SHIVELY LABS MODEL 2940-N-1-4 BALANCED COMBINER AND SHIVELY LABS MODEL 2930-4/03/4 FOUR STATION VLP BRANCHED COMBINER (QUAD-PLEXER) SYSTEM, W253DA (FACILITY ID: 201994) WAS TAKEN SILENT ON AUGUST 28, 2019.
PROPAGATION SYSTEMS INC. (PSI) AND SHIVELY LABS ARE PRESENTLY BEING CONTACTED TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SILENT OPERATION OF W253DA IS ANTICIPATED TO EXCEED TEN DAYS. A RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS NOTIFICATION WILL BE FILED ONCE FULL LICENSED OPERATION IS RESTORED.
Original Report 8/23: Saga Communications News/Talk 560 WGAN Portland ME has signed on 98.5 W253DA as its new FM signal.
W253DA will replace 105.5 W288CU Portland as the FM home for WGAN’s programming. While both translators operate from the same tower and antenna, the new W253DA operates with 250 watts to W288CU’s 200 watts. Saga received the new translator in the 2017 translator filing window.
A new format will shortly launch on W288CU fed via an HD subchannel of 93.1 WMGX.
