on feb. 6, cox media group announced that a second radio station, whpt-fm in sarasota, fla., will transition to a transmitter that incorporates liquid cooling technology from gatesair, an ohio company producing resources for over-the-air broadcasting and public safety communications.

gatesair has liquid cooling solutions for fm radio transmitters. (wikimedia commons)

the whpt solution went on line in november 2016 in an effort by cox media group to lower its carbon footprint by using more cost- and resource-effective technology for cooling its high-powrered fm transmitters. earlier in 2016, gatesair had also deployed its flexiva flx liquid-cooled, solid-state transmitter at wsun-fm in tampa, fla.

“we see a strong potential for roi when it comes to liquid-cooled technology in fm radio,” said roz clark, senior director of engineering, radio, cox media group, in a press release. “the capital investment, operational investment and electrical costs associated with moving heat around are reduced, as liquid can cool transistors far more effectively than air. we will pay a little more up front if there a realistic payback period that also reduces our carbon footprint.”

the flx line was developed in part because of the success that gatesair had in producing cooling technology for television transmissions. the solid-state, liquid cooling solution draws the heat away from the rf plant and by lowering the heat can improve the power output of the transmitter.

to learn more about liquid cooling in fm transmitters and the gatesair flx series, watch the webinar below: