A Q&A with Broadcast Systems Manager Duncan Fowler
Earlier this year, Blue Ridge Public Radio completed a major upgrade to BPR Classic's broadcast service, moving the 90.5 FM signal from its former transmission site in Mars Hill to a more powerful transmitter on High Top Mountain.
The change restored and expanded access to BPR Classic for an estimated 180,000 to 200,000 listeners across the greater Asheville area. The new transmitter delivers a stronger, clearer, and more reliable signal to a larger population while reducing interference caused by Western North Carolina's mountainous terrain.
The project, funded by listener support, was more than three and a half years in the making. It followed BPR News and BPR Classic's October 2022 frequency exchange, known internally as "The Big Switch," which expanded the reach of BPR News. Since then, BPR engineers have worked to strengthen BPR Classic's coverage and restore service to listeners across the region.
The project required years of planning and work. We caught up with BPR Broadcast Systems Manager Duncan Fowler to learn what it took to make the move possible.
Q: The move from Mars Hill to High Top sounds complicated. What did it involve?
A: We didn't move the physical antenna from one tower to another. We moved the 90.5 frequency to an entirely new transmission site. Because the new site operates at a different power level and antenna height, we couldn't simply reuse the old equipment.
The FCC requires our antenna to transmit in a very specific pattern so we don't interfere with other stations. Instead of broadcasting equally in every direction, the signal has to be shaped to reduce power in certain areas. For 90.5, the pattern is mostly circular except for a flattened section to the southwest.
We also upgraded the transmitter and exciter. The transmitter creates and amplifies the broadcast signal, while the exciter provides the initial signal for the transmitter to amplify. Think of the exciter as a microphone preamp and the transmitter as the main concert speakers.
Q: How many people worked together to make this project happen?
A: It's hard to put an exact number on it because so many groups were involved over several years.
A broadcast engineer worked with our FCC attorneys to secure approval for the new location, signal pattern, and power level.
Surveyors precisely measured the tower and its orientation so the antenna could be designed and mounted correctly. Because this is a directional antenna, even small differences in positioning matter. The antenna manufacturer used that information to create custom mounting hardware and accurately model how the antenna would interact with the tower structure.
Designing, manufacturing, and tuning the antenna took months. Once it was ready, a tower crew installed it at the correct height and orientation, with surveyors verifying its position to fractions of a degree.
Meanwhile, engineers, including me, installed the transmitter and connected all of the supporting equipment needed to bring the new signal on the air.
Q: How much did the project cost?
A: Costs can vary significantly depending on antenna requirements, power level, tower space, and the size and complexity of the equipment.
For this project, the antenna cost more than $35,000, while the new transmitter and exciter cost roughly $20,000. Tower crew costs were about $8,000 for what was actually a very efficient installation.
Those figures don't include the years of planning, engineering, legal work, and consulting required before any equipment was installed.
