WYFR Facility to Return to Shortwave as WRMI

Legendary shortwave station WYFR in Okeechobee, Florida, which ceased transmissions on June 30, 2013, will resume broadcasting in December as a result of an agreement between Family Stations, Inc, and Radio Miami International, Inc.

According to the agreement, Family Radio will sell the WYFR facility to Radio Miami International. Family Radio programming for the Caribbean and South America will return to shortwave via the Okeechobee site, and Radio Miami's programming currently aired on WRMI in Miami will switch over to the Okeechobee facility. The station will also carry programs for other international broadcasters, including Pan American Broadcasting's Radio Africa network. A target date of December 1, 2013 has been set for the resumption of broadcasts. The current WRMI transmission site in Miami will be closed, and the WRMI call letters will be transferred to Okeechobee.

"We are very grateful to Family Radio for entrusting us with this magnificent station," said Jeff White, WRMI General Manager. "WYFR is an important part of the heritage of shortwave broadcasting, and we are very happy that it will continue to serve shortwave listeners around the world." The station first went on the air from Okeechobee in 1977, although the origins of the station and its predecessors go back to 1927. WYFR/WRMI is the largest shortwave station in the United States in number of transmitters and antennas. The facility is comprised of 13 transmitters -- twelve 100-kilowatt and one 50-kilowatt -- and 23 antennas beamed to all of the Americas, Europe and Africa.

White, who is also Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB), said that "many people made this transition a reality, not the least of whom was our former Secretary-Treasurer and current board member, Dan Elyea, who had been the WYFR Station Manager from the time it was built in the late 1970's until his recent retirement. Dan presented us to Family Radio Vice President Tom Evans. Tom and the Family Radio Board have given us their confidence, and we will do our best to keep this station going for many years to come."

Shortwave America Episodes To Air On WRMI

The "Full Circle" pilot episode with Jerry Bryant and Randy Stonehill will air December 24th on WRMI at 1900UTC (2PM Eastern Time), and the Shortwave America Christmas Special featuring Bob Zanotti, Victor Goonetilleke, and Paulette MacQuarrie will air on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011 at 1900UTC (2PM Eastern Time)

Both of these shows can be heard on 9955Khz at the listed times. You can LISTEN HERE if propagation is bad on these two dates. If you end up missing the show, and want to hear it later, the pilot episode is already up a few articles down from this one. The Christmas show will be put up on December 25th right here for you.

Thanks to everyone involved for helping this past three years to be what they've been! Special thanks to Keith Perron and Paulette MacQuarrie at PCJ Media, Jeff White at WRMI, Jerry Bryant at Full Circle, and Randy Stonehill. Most of all, thank you to the loyal readers, fans, and listeners! Without any of you there would not be a show. Shortwave America is for all of you, and you should know that great things are in store in regards to programming.