WFTU-AM
640
Orlando
Original
Call Letters: WFTU
Originally
Licensed: 1968
Power: 3
watts
Original
Format: Variety
Owner(s): Florida
Technical University
History Of Call Letters and Formats: WFTU-1968-
History
of WFTU-AM
Thanks to Todd Hyder
for this information on WFTU-AM.
WFTU-AM operated
on 640 KHz using "carrier current." No
FCC license required for the on-air folks. It's effective range was
limited to the dormitories/campus and the signal began to fade out once one
drove across Alafaya Trail. In the evenings, interference from a
powerhouse station in Cuba could play havoc and would often override the anemic
2-3 watt signal of WFTU. In 1973, the station
was located in the same building as the university's library. The
"director" of the station was Dr. Tom Morgan, and the chief
engineer who kept everything patched together was Art Carlson. Michael
W. Lowe was the music director and made sure everyone showed up for the
shifts to which they were assigned. From time to time, Vince McGough
(who had a full time air shift at WDBO) helped out providing some on-air
instruction to the bumbling & nervous student staff, as well as lending a
hand when one of the machines went on the fritz (it was all donated hand-me-down
gear). Vince also helped students prepare for their 3rd class FCC license.
This "ticket" was a must-have if one was to get hired on at a
local broadcast station.
Names
in WFTU-AM History
Rick Stacy-signed
on the 10,000 watt station for the Campus Radio/TV Program where he served as
the Program Director and Manager for two years.
Michael
W. Lowe-Biography-Music
Director
Todd Hyder-1973-76
Dr. Tom
Morgan-Station Director
Art Carlson-Chief Engineer
Vince
McGough
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