WDGC-FM

Infobox Radio Station


name = WDGC
airdate = 1968
frequency = 88.3 FM (MHz)
area = Downers Grove, Illinois
format = Variety

slogan = "The biggest variety of music with no commercials. And that's a promise."
owner = Downers Grove Community High School District 99
website = WDGC Homepage [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/WDGC%20INDEX.htm]
callsign_meaning = Downers Grove Community|

WDGC is a high school radio station located in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The station runs commercial-free 24-hours a day and is shared between the Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South school studios, with the transmitter residing at the North building. It primarily consists of regular scheduled student programming. The station also features newscasts, school news, live local band performances, live sporting events and community interest programming. When student DJs are not on the air, a computer program that plays songs on shuffle, station identifications, and public service announcements can be turned on until the next scheduled DJ takes over. [ [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/WDGC%20INDEX.htm New Page 1 ] ]

History

WDGC was founded by Fred Moore in 1965, with its first station having been a janitor's closet and the first transmitter having been built in a shoebox. It was created from a drama club experiment and funded by parental donations. [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/history.htm history ] ]

In 1966, it was on the airwaves, but just barely. It was then known as WDGN (most likely for its Downers Grove North roots) and ran on only one watt of power. The WDGN transmission used the PA system to broadcast. The signal was so weak it could only be heard on 600 AM and if a listener placed their radio by a PA speaker. After numerous phone calls to Washington D.C. and two rejected applications to contact the FCC, WDGC was granted a construction permit which in turn allowed the station to be broadcast to Downers Grove and other surrounding communities.

In 1968, the station was finally approved and was broadcast with 10 watts of power on 88.3 FM.

It is believed in 1969, Woodstock was the result of WDGC

In 1972, the station bought a used transmitter and re-tuned it, bringing the station to 250 watts of power. Four years later it made the final jump to stereo.

In 1981, the station was granted a room to be turned into a classroom/studio at Downers Grove North where it still presently remains.

In 1997, the old transmitter was replaced with a new 250 watt transmitter.

In 1998, the station purchased digital Pacific Research and Engineering Airwave consoles for both studios. The cart machines at the North studio were replaced with Sony minidisc systems and a non-linear computer based audio editing program. North teacher John Waite and DGN student Stuart Allard played a major part in building the station's minidisk library.

In 2007, the studio at Downers Grove South was renovated, creating a less cluttered environment in the main studio and adding on two sub-studios for the adjacent classroom to practice in. [ [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/southtour2.htm tour ] ]

Over the course of WDGC's forty-plus year history, six people have been general manager/faculty advisor of the North studios: Fred Moore (1965-1993), Laura Frasier (1993-1995), Roger Badesch (1995-1996), Pam Carter (1996-1998), Jennifer Tylk (1998-1999), and John Waite (1999-present), all of whom were at one time or another English teachers at the school. David Zarembka, a North High graduate, has served as the station's Engineer since 1993. Two people have served as general manager/faculty advisor of the South studios: Roger Brickwell (1971-2000) and Stacey Williams (2000-present).

Plans for the Future

The station replaced its JAMPRO directional antenna located at the North station in 2004. Someday, the station hopes to go online or provide podcasts.

tudent DJ Requirements

Policies at the two campuses seem to differ in this regard. While North students are required to Pass Radio I in order to become a DJ, South seems to have opened the process to other students as well. North High is considering a similar move. The hope is that more students will feel empowered to take to the airwaves and have their voices heard. Implementation of this plan will require students to take a series of after-school workshops in which they learn the basics of being a DJ. [ [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/curriculum.htm curriculum ] ]

Communities Served

Besides primarily reaching the community of Downers Grove, WDGC has been picked up in the Illinois towns of:
*Woodridge
*Westmont
*Oak Brook
*Darien
*Lisle
*Naperville
*Lombard
*Hinsdale
*Villa Park
*Oakbrook Terrace
*Glen Ellyn
*Wheaton
*Bolingbrook

[ [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/demographics.htm demographics ] ]

ee also

Downers Grove North
Downers Grove South
List of radio stations in Illinois

External links

* [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/wdgc/history.htm WDGC]
* [http://www.csd99.org/wdgc/WDGCSchedule.htm WDGC Spring 2007 Student DJ Schedule]
* [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/north/ Downers Grove North]
* [http://www.csd99.k12.il.us/south/ Downers Grove South]
*FMQ|WDGC [Coverage Map] [* [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WDGC&service=FM&status=L&hours=U] ]

References