Hams Help Community Radio Station Get Back on Air
/Because of amateur radio, community radio station KNYO, is going to start the coming year very differently from the way it did this year. Eleven months ago, the low-power FM station in Fort Bragg, California lost its antenna after the collapse of the 70-foot pine tree which was being used as its tower. The FCC authorised a temporary fix that authorised the antenna to be installed on a mast one-third that height, putting the all-volunteer station back on the air.
Then an October thunderstorm struck and the signal went silent again. That's when hams from the Mendocino County Amateur Radio Communication Service, NC6MC, stepped in. After station volunteers could not determine what had gone wrong, the club's president Derek Hoyle, KE6EBZ, sent a team over to help investigate.
The hams discovered that lightning had struck the antenna during the storm. The lightning arrestor was damaged and several connectors had been knocked out. Repairs quickly got underway.
“The KNYO Ft. Bragg antenna saga serves as a testament to the power of community and the generosity of individuals who come together in times of need.”
Hopefully, 2024 will begin with smoother operation - and better weather - for station KNYO. If not, amateur radio is standing by.
