Broadcast area Eastern Connecticut ERP 430 watts Class A Frequency 90.1 FM MHz Format Variety Call sign meaning Eastern Connecticut State | First air date 1982 HAAT 116 meters Facility ID 18298 City of license Windham Area Eastern Connecticut | |
Owner Eastern Connecticut State University Affiliations Connecticut Public Radio, NPR | ||
Wecs 90 1 fm
WECS (90.1 FM) is a College radio station based in Windham, Connecticut, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University. The station broadcasts on 90.1 MHz with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 430 watts at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 116 meters.
Contents
WECS began in the 1970s as a turntable mounted in a 3x4' square of plywood which sat atop a work sink in a janitor's closet in an old dormitory. This was not a licensed station. It ran at approximately 10 watts and was a pirate broadcaster. At the time, Eastern Connecticut State University was not yet accredited as a university. In the late 1970s, a movement was afoot to get a legitimate radio station for the communications department. This was orchestrated by former WCBS announcer Prof. John Zatowski.
By 1982, test broadcasts had begun, and by 1984, WECS-FM was on air. In the succeeding decades, a number of long-time DJs have come and gone: Joe Standby, Bash, Robbo Retro, Alf ("The Alternative Xperience"), Mark E. Ramone, Beechnut, James 'DJ Ras J' McGurk, Gabriel Silverman and others. Marko, Hack, and Jeffrey Nash remain. Despite the stations relatively minor stature, a good number of its staff have moved on to work in the media industry.
At present, WECS is a National Public Radio affiliate and John Zatowski the general manager. In July 2008, WECS moved into its brand new state of the art air studio.