[Hidden-tech] How to get news in a power outage - REPLY FROM WFCR/NEPR

[Don Lesser]

And update the web pages. Given the number of smart phones that were a major
source of communications, it should be easier to do. Since the websites
never went down, I assume wherever they are hosted was OK and getting some
info on the site shouldn't have been that difficult. On Sunday, no TV or
radio station or MassLive/GazetteNet had anything of use. Most had Friday's
news pages up.

Don Lesser
Pioneer Training, Inc.
139B Damon Road, Ste 8
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 387-1040
(413) 586-0545 (fax)
dlesser at ptraining.com
www.ptraining.com


-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Tom
Novelli
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 9:10 AM
To: Marcia Yudkin
Cc: hbarrington at nepr.net; Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] How to get news in a power outage - REPLY FROM
WFCR/NEPR

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Marcia/Helen, thanks for bringing this up.  I have a few comments (see
below).

> Now that we own WNNZ, we hope to purchase a generator for it (which is
also thousands of dollars, a major capital expense), to become our primary
broadcast source when WFCR is off. It, too, was the victim until this
Wednesday afternoon, of a commercial power failure in Westfield. We're again
trying to see if we can get some grants or do some quick fundraising to get
generators for both stations (though, once obtained, the weather may impede
installing them until spring, but we'll see).

Hmm.. the WNNZ transmitter is very close to a major power line on route 5-10
in Deerfield.  Too bad it can only be used from Westfield, apparently.
Would it be possible to broadcast from some place closer in emergencies,
maybe even from a vehicle at the transmitter site?
The ham radio community could fill the void in information-gathering.

Also, WAMC-Albany was up and running throughout the storm but wasn't really
covering the situation here in the valley (not at the times I checked... and
our kitchen radio has been tuned to 90.3 since Sunday).
 WFCR staff could coordinate with WAMC (and other overlapping
stations) next time.  Also, it wouldn't hurt for listeners to call up
whatever station they can hear to let them know they're needed.

> Please note my new email address: hbarrington at nepr.net

Hmm... there's no reason why @wfcr.org emails can't work indefinitely.
 One of us geeks would be happy to set that up if you (WFCR) need help!
You're still my favorite radio station. :)

-- Tom Novelli    tnovelli.net
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