College Radio on Demand is now meeting their listeners' demands.
Listeners throughout Delaware County can tune in to Ball State University's student radio station WCRD, 91.3 FM.
For years, WCRD has broadcast from a transmitter site at Muncie Southside High School-more than four miles away from the station.
The result has been a small coverage area and a weak, unreliable signal at the few locations that can hear the station.
All that changed Oct. 16, when WCRD began broadcasting with its new antenna atop the Ball State heating plant.
Barry Umansky, professor of telecommunications and WCRD faculty adviser, said the change has more effect than many students can imagine.
"See, we now have the most sophisticated radio station in North America," he said. "We have the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art production equipment of any radio station in the country. There are radio stations, radio networks, big market stations that would kill to get the equipment we have."
The new antenna also means more coverage. Previously, Umansky said, the station was difficult to hear in the dorms, anywhere north of McGalliard Road or in metallic buildings. But now WCRD can be heard, clearly, anywhere from Anderson to Gaston.
WCRD general manager, Heather Trojack, said increase in potential listeners has affected how the station operates.
"DJs are beginning to work to expand the issues they talk about on-air. We are also able to reach out to more advertisers now that more people can hear our station," she said.
Nancy Carlson, assistant professor of telecommunications, served as chair of the department during the antenna purchase. She said the new antenna will make WCRD a more integral part of the Ball State experience.
"Even though a lot of people know there's a college radio station, not a lot of people could actually listen to it because they were outside of the coverage area," she said. "Now, any of them can hear it and it will become the voice of the Ball State students on campus."
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