WNVR (1030 kHz, "Polskie Radio Chicago") is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Vernon Hills, Illinois, and serving the Chicago metropolitan area. WNVR is one of eight stations owned by Polnet Communications. It simulcasts a Polish language radio format with sister station WRDZ (1300 AM). The studios and offices are located at 3656 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. By day, WNVR is powered at 10,000 watts. Because 1030 AM is a clear channel frequency reserved for Class A station WBZ in Boston, WNVR must avoid interference. During critical hours, the power is reduced to 3,200 watts and at night it runs only 120 watts. It uses a directional antenna with a four-tower array. The transmitter site is off Illinois Route 176, west of Crystal Lake, Illinois. Programming is also heard on 70-watt FM translator W296DA at 107.1 MHz in Vernon Hills.

History

WNVR began broadcasting March 1, 1988, airing an all-news format. The station's call sign stood for "News Voice Radio", its slogan at the time. WNVR was originally owned by Midwest Radio Associates, and ran 500 watts during daytime hours only, with its transmitter located in Mundelein, Illinois. By 1989, the station had adopted a business news format, with programming from the Business Radio Network. In 1993, WNVR was sold to Polnet Communications for $495,000, and the station adopted a Polish language format. In 2000, nighttime operations were added, running 5 watts. Daytime power was increased that year to 5,000 watts (3,200 watts critical hours), using a directional array, with the station's daytime transmitter moving to its present location, west of Crystal Lake. In 2003, the station's nighttime power was increased to 120 watts, using a directional array at its present location. In 2009, the station's daytime power was increased to 10,000 watts.

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