WGTX-FM
| Broadcast area | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.3 MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Cape Cod's X |
| Programming | |
| Format | Classic Hits |
| Subchannels |
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | August 1999 |
Former call signs |
|
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 68214 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 2,150 watts |
| HAAT | 81 meters (266 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 42°01′20″N 70°04′26″W / 42.0223°N 70.0739°W |
| Translators | 106.5 W293DW (West Barnstable, via WGTX (AM)) |
| Repeater | 1240 WGTX (AM) (West Yarmouth) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | |
WGTX-FM (102.3 FM, "Cape Cod's X") is a commercial radio station licensed to Truro, Massachusetts, and serving Cape Cod including Hyannis. It simulcasts a classic hits radio format with sister station WGTX (1240 AM and 106.5 FM). They are owned by Gary Hanna, through licensee GCJH Inc. The studios and offices are on Bay State Court off Main Street (Massachusetts Route 6A) in Brewster.[2]
WGTX-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 2,150 watts. The transmitter is on U.S. Route 6 at Parker Drive in Truro.[3] The station uses HD Radio technology to broadcast digital subchannels with classic rock and adult standards/oldies formats.
History
Construction permit
The station received its construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1988. As an unbuilt station, its call sign was WTUR and later WCDJ in 1993. But the original owners, Truro Wireless, Inc., ran into opposition from the Truro local government. Community leaders objected to a radio tower being built within the town limits. Until such an antenna were erected, the station could not go on the air at full power.
In lieu of a tower, WCDJ would occasionally broadcast just long enough, via a small transmitter, at 340 watts, to keep the FCC license valid. The first of these limited broadcasts occurred in August 1999.[4]
Low power operation
Evan after its official sign on, the station's coverage area was limited. It operated at a low power on a short antenna into the new century.[5]
In August 2006, Truro Wireless, controlled by Karl Nurse, agreed to sell the station's license to Thomas Troland's Dunes 102FM, LLC, in a $550,000 deal.[6] The FCC granted the license transfer on March 29, 2007.[7] The new owners got the call sign changed to WGTX, and began full broadcast service as "Dunes 102: Cape Cod's Oldies Radio" on August 5, 2007.[8] Troland sold his 51-percent stake in the station to Ron Robin and Edmund Teo, who were already minority partners, for $450,000 in 2010.[9] In 2012, WGTX rebranded as "Cape Cod's 102.3, The Dunes", in light of the format-wide re-branding of oldies stations.
Classic Hits
Gary Hanna's GCJH Inc. acquired WGTX for $180,000 effective April 7, 2021. Upon taking control on March 30, the station began stunting with a playlist of diverse songs. In early April, WGTX relaunched as "X102.3" with a classic hits format. The launch had been planned for April 1, but was delayed to that weekend by technical problems.[10] Concurrently, the station began broadcasting in HD Radio, with additional subchannels featuring classic rock ("The Whale") and acoustic music ("Acoustic Cafe").
On February 14, 2024, the station began to simulcast on WBAS (1240 AM and 106.5 FM) under a local marketing agreement (LMA). This was done with the planned $130,000 purchase of the station from Bob Bittner Broadcasting. The deal also saw WBAS's previous "Memories Station" adult standards programming move to WGTX's HD3 channel under a $1-a-year lease.[11] The call sign for 102.3 was modified to WGTX-FM on February 15.[12]
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WGTX-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ CapeCodsX.com/contact-us
- ^ FCCdata.org/WGTX-FM
- ^ Fybush, Scott (August 27, 1999). "Maine Station Owner Dies in Plane Crash". North East RadioWatch. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-277. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2025.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (September 18, 2006). "Ed Ansin Gets His Duopoly". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ "Application Search Details". Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Simon, Clea (August 9, 2007). "For old Cape frequency, a new sound and name". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Fybush, Scott (May 10, 2010). "Pittsburgh's WDUQ Gets 60-Day Reprieve". NorthEast Radio Watch. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ Venta, Lance (April 5, 2021). "WGTX Relaunches As X102.3". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ Venta, Lance (February 5, 2024). "WGTX To Expand On Cape Cod With WBAS Purchase". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ Hanna, Gary (February 8, 2024). "Form 380 - Change Request". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
External links
- Facility details for Facility ID 68214 (WGTX) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WGTX in Nielsen Audio's FM station database