WMNR
Broadcast area
Frequency88.1 MHz
BrandingFine Arts Radio
Programming
FormatClassical
Ownership
OwnerTown of Monroe, Connecticut
History
First air date
1973 (1973)[1]
Call sign meaning
MoNRoe
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID43531
ClassB1
ERP5,000 watts
HAAT123 meters (404 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°19′8″N 73°15′13″W / 41.31889°N 73.25361°W / 41.31889; -73.25361 (WMNR)
Translator(s)See § Translators
Repeater(s)See § Repeaters
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.wmnr.org

WMNR (88.1 FM, "Fine Arts Radio") is a radio station licensed to Monroe, Connecticut. The station is municipally owned by the Town of Monroe and broadcasts mainly classical music.

History

The station was founded in 1971 by John and Carol Babina. The Monroe Board of Education agreed to hold the FCC license for WMNR and provided facilities for the station at Masuk High School.[1] The equipment was paid for with donations from individual and businesses, and the station turned into a community project. The station began broadcasting regularly in 1974 with a variety of programming, including rock, big band, and classical.[3]

In 1980, it was thought that WMNR could fulfill a need for public radio in Fairfield county. A non-profit organization, Monroe Public Radio, Inc., began operating the station at this time. In early 1982, it became an NPR affiliate, and was able to secure a one-time federal grant for new equipment to increase power. However, before any of this could be done, Monroe Public Radio, Inc. ran out of funds and the station's operation returned to the founders, John and Carol Babina. In mid-1982, WMNR began broadcasting classical music and was run by a staff of volunteers.[3]

As the years progressed, three other stations in Connecticut were added to simulcast WMNR. WRXC (90.1 FM) in Shelton was assigned its call letters on March 20, 1986[4] and began broadcasting in 1988. The following year, WGSK (90.1 FM) in South Kent received its call sign on December 14, 1987,[5] licensed to South Kent School and was transferred to Monroe on November 13, 1990. WGRS (91.5 FM) in Guilford was assigned its call sign on May 31, 1993[6] and began broadcasting that same year.

By 2003, they had outgrown their allotted space at the high school and moved into rented office space. In 2009, the licenses for WMNR were transferred from the Monroe Board of Education to the Town of Monroe.[3][7]

Other stations

Repeaters

Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license State Facility ID Class ERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
Transmitter coordinates
WGRS91.5GuilfordConnecticut43527 A2,80030.1 m (99 ft)41°17′19″N 72°39′32″W / 41.28861°N 72.65889°W / 41.28861; -72.65889 (WGRS)
WRXC90.1SheltonConnecticut43530 A45147 m (482 ft)41°21′43″N 73°06′48″W / 41.36194°N 73.11333°W / 41.36194; -73.11333 (WRXC)
WGSK90.1South KentConnecticut61119 A7739 m (128 ft)41°40′54″N 73°29′13″W / 41.68167°N 73.48694°W / 41.68167; -73.48694 (WGSK)

Translators

Several translators are authorized to rebroadcast these stations, including five in the state of New York.

Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license State Facility ID Rebroadcasts
W220AC91.9FairfieldConnecticut43526 WMNR
W220CF91.9HuntingtonConnecticut90445 WRXC
W220CE91.9MiddlefieldConnecticut90254 WGRS
W252AS98.3New HavenConnecticut43528 WGRS
W233AG94.5New LondonConnecticut79107 WGRS
W233AJ94.5Old SaybrookConnecticut83375 WGRS
W287AZ105.3SouthportConnecticut156169 WGRS
W218AV91.5WarrenConnecticut77590 WMNR
W220CH91.9West HartfordConnecticut90480 WGRS
W262AS100.3Bridgehampton[lower-alpha 1]New York156152 WMNR
W289AX105.7East Hampton[lower-alpha 1]New York156159 WGRS
W209CJ89.7Mount Kisco[lower-alpha 2]New York90511 WMNR
W233AI94.5Sag Harbor[lower-alpha 1]New York83374 WGRS
W264AJ100.7Southampton[lower-alpha 1]New York78762 WGRS

Notes:

References

  1. 1 2 "Alternative radio still has a place on the dial". New Haven Register. June 16, 2002. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WMNR". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. 1 2 3 "WMNR's 30th History". WMNR website. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  4. "WRXC Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  5. "WGSK Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  6. "WGRS Call Sign History". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  7. "Consummation". CDBS Public Access Database. FCC Media Bureau. March 31, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
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