This Week in Radio Tech Episode 801 takes us to Ely, Minnesota, where WELY AM and FM — long known as “End of the Road Radio” — is getting a new birth. Civic Media is now the licensee, and Chief Engineer Erick Burnstad walks us through the real-world work of rebuilding a small-town radio station with new studios, a new transmitter, and a new FM antenna system. WELY’s story includes deep local history, a period of silence, and now a renewed commitment to community radio in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters region. Erick shares what the project has taught him about planning, tower work, transmitter replacement, automation conversion, and keeping local service alive while the rebuild continues. It’s a great conversation about the kind of engineering that blends RF, logistics, patience, and genuine hometown purpose. Join us for TWiRT Episode 801 and hear how WELY is coming back to life.
Show notes:
- WELY – Hometown Radio for Ely, Minnesota
- Where Have All the Broadcasters Gone? – by Charles B. Persons – narrated by Kirk Harnack – YouTube playlist
- “End of the Road Radio” Enjoys a New Birth – Radio World article
Guest
Erick Burnstad – Chief Engineer at Civic Media
Host
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting
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