Public Radio East’s primary frequency, 89.3 WTEB, is currently broadcasting at lower power, which may result in static or difficulty receiving a clear signal for some listeners.
November 18, 2025 Update:
The 89.3 WTEB antenna replacement project is now underway at Public Radio East.
On Tuesday, the tower climbing crew started disassembling the broken antenna in sections and lowering each one safely to the ground. An inspection will follow to determine the cause of the damage. Installation of the new antenna could begin as soon as Wednesday. At this time, we don’t anticipate needing to go off the air.
We'll continue to provide updates as the project progresses.
November 2025 Update:
The antenna is finally back at Public Radio East!! We returned it to the manufacturer in California last month to repair damage that occurred when it was first shipped to us. On November 4, we carefully unloaded the antenna and completed a visual inspection, it looks good to go!
The next step is installation. This requires the tower crew to removed the old antenna and install the new antenna.
We are currently running on a backup antenna. This means we are not able to broadcast our HD channels, but PRE’s other networks are available.
Thank you for your continued patience as we work through the challenges of replacing this critical infrastructure!
October 2025 Update:
The antenna manufacturer has confirmed that the repair process is complete. The antenna will be shipped back to PRE this month.
Once received, we will proceed with installation and restore 89.3 to full power. Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate this repair process.
September 2025 Update:
The antenna for WTEB is still in progress. When we uncrated the antenna parts, we found that several of the line sections were damaged. These are essentially the copper pipe sections that link the 8 bays of the antenna. Each section is around 10 feet long.
We shipped the damaged sections back to the manufacturer for repair. As soon as they get back to us, we will put them up. Thank you for your understanding.
July 2025 Update:
We are still waiting for the weather to cooperate so we can install our new antenna for WTEB. To ensure the safety of our tower climbing crew, we need four days in a row with no rain and no wind. The antenna is working as well as can be expected in its current state. We appreciate your patience.
May 2025 Update:
The first phase of the antenna replacement project is complete. On May 6, 2025, crews installed a backup transmitter and antenna for 89.3 WTEB. This new equipment will ensure that PRE can stay on the air while installation of the permanent antenna is underway. It is possible that brief programming interruptions may occur as replacement work takes place, and we’ll make every effort to communicate in advance about these outages. While there’s no set date yet for installing the new 75-foot-tall antenna, we’re one step closer to restoring 89.3 to full power.
November 2024 Update:
In November 2024, we discovered significant damage to the antenna broadcasting 89.3 WTEB, and replacement is necessary. For now, our engineers have adjusted the HD transmitter to a lower power level to prevent further damage, resulting in a weaker signal. While most of the PRE coverage area can still access 89.3, listeners on the outer edges of our range may experience static (see 89.3 WTEB-FM coverage map below).
Coverage area map of 89.3 WTEB-FM. Communities who live on the edge of the circle may hear static or have difficulty getting a clear signal on 89.3.
On May 6, 2025, crews installed a backup antenna on the WTEB tower. This will allow PRE to keep programming interruptions to a minimum while the main antenna replacement takes place.
A tower climbing crew was called in to inspect the WTEB antenna in New Bern, NC.
During the antenna inspection, our 89.3 transmitter was temporarily turned off for safety reasons.
PRE General Manager Ben Donnelly listens in as the engineers discuss the antenna issue.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and support as we work to restore 89.3 to full power.
