Media and Fire Buff

Boston Media

• IFB - "Interruptable Fold Back". An audio device that is in the ear of the reporter/anchor/camera person, that usually contains program audio mixed, minus their microphone, that can be interrupted by production staff at the studio or in the control vehicle. It is used so talent can get cues and information about their live remote shot.
• Newscasts schedules can vary greatly. To see when local newscasts are airing, go to TitanTV.com.

Table of contents -

WGBH Channel 2 (PBS)

• WGBH 2 Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• WGBX 44 Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• WGBY 57 Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Web Site: https://www.wgbh.org
• Studios located on Guest St in Allston (Boston)
• Sister station of WGBX 44 in Boston, WGBY 57 in Springfield and several radio signals in Boston and on Cape Cod.

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation
469.3375	S	D122	Engineering	2023.03.21 W1KNE

WBZ-TV Channel 4 (CBS)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Web Site: https://boston.cbslocal.com/
• Studios located on Soldier's Field Road in Boston
• Sister station of TV 38 WSBK-TV.

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation
450.0375	R	C03	SL:1 TG:103 - WBZ F-1 Desk	2025.01.22 ecps92
450.3500	S	146.2	IFB (Out of service. CWID Only)	2021.08.04 W1KNE
450.5375	R	C03	SL:1 TG:103 - CBS 4 ENG	2025.01.23 ecps92
450.5375	R	146.2	CBS 4 ENG Receive (Helicopter)	2024.02.19 W1KNE
450.0375	S	146.2	Direct 1	2019.02.11 N1BHH
455.5375	S	146.2	Direct 3 / Helicopter	2019.04.15 ecps92
455.1875	S	146.2	Cueing

WCVB-TV Channel 5 (ABC)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.wcvb.com/
• Studios located at TV Place in Needham

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
455.0875	S	167.9	Ch. 01 - Radio IFB Backup/ENG	2024.02.05 W1KNE
450.4125	R	103.5	Ch. 04 - Helicopter Comms	2024.01.30 W1KNE
450.2875	R	110.9	Ch. 05 - News Ops	2024.02.05 W1KNE
455.5125	S	167.9	Ch. 03 - Radio IFB	2024.02.05 W1KNE

WHDH Channel 7 (IND)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.whdh.com/
• Studios located at Goverment Center in Boston
• Sister station of CW56 WLVI.

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.6125	R	136.5	F1 - News Operations	2024.02.05 W1KNE
450.0875	R	136.5	Engineering	2024.02.05 W1KNE
450.2500		77.0	Former 56 News (WLVI-TV) OPS - Unknown use now.
450.5125	R	136.5	F3 - Helicopter Comms	2024.02.05 W1KNE

WFXT Channel 25 (FOX)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.boston25news.com/
• Studios located in Dedham
• WFXT no longer uses a helicopter.

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.1375	R	D023	WFXT 25 Helicopter Ops F1/F3 (Simplex)	2019.02.11 N1BHH
450.1625	R	D143	WFXT 25 News Operations F2/F4 (Simplex)	2019.02.11 N1BHH
464.5000	S	203.5	WFXT 25 Security F13	2024.02.02 W1KNE
464.5500	S	203.5	WFXT 25 Security F14	2019.01.06 W1KNE
469.5000	S	203.5	WFXT 25 Engineering F15	2017.08.18
469.5500	S	203.5	WFXT 25 Studio Use F16	2017.08.18

WBTS-CD Channel 15 (NBC)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information - WBTS-CD 15.1 (via WGBX's transmission signal in Needham)
• Website: https://www.nbcboston.com/
• Identifies as "NBC 10", referring to cable positioning
• Studios located at Needham Crossing Industrial Park, Needham.
• Also runs New England Cable News (NECN), Telemundo Boston, and NBC Sports Boston out of the new facility.

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
451.9375	S	131.8	NBC BOS IFB	2025.01.03 W1KNE
456.9375	S	131.8	Helicopter Comms	2024.02.19 W1KNE

WBZ AM 1030 / FM 107.9 HD2

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information (WBZ 1030)
• Primary Broadcast Facility Information (WXKS-FM 107.9)
• Website: https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/
• Studios on Cabot Rd in Medford.
• Transmitter in Hull
• Simulcast on WXKS-FM 107.9 HD2.
• Total Traffic is co-owned by iHeartMedia, but are located in the old WXKS facility next to the Wellington Station T Stop.

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.6500	R	67.0	WBZ-AM 1030 Traffic	2025.02.12 ecps92

Total Traffic Network

• Owned by iHeartMedia.
• Formerly Metro Traffic/SmartRoutes/Shadow Traffic
• Studios in the old WXKS-FM/AM studios in Medford at Wellington Station.

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.1125	R	141.3	Total Traffic Helicopter Coordination	2025.02.12 ecps92

Springfield Media

WWLP Channel 22 (NBC)

• WWLP Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• WFXQ-CD (Satellite) Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.wwlp.com/
• Primary studios located in Chicopee
• Also operates "CW Springfield" on 22.2

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.3125	R	127.3	WWLP Operations	2019.02.11 W1KNE
450.8500	S	127.3	WWLP Engineering
450.9500	S	127.3	WWLP Engineering

WGGB-TV Channel 40 (ABC)

• WGGB Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• WSHM-LD Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.westernmassnews.com/
• Primary studios located in Springfield
• Also operates "Fox Springfield" on 40.1
• Sister station to WSHM-LD 3.5 (CBS)

Radio Information

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmation
450.4375	R	110.9	News Operations

Manchester (NH) Media

WMUR-TV Channel 9 (ABC)

• Primary Broadcast Facility Information
• Website: https://www.wmur.com/
• Primary studios located in Manchester
• National location for election coverage
• Sister station to WCVB-TV Boston, MA

• No Radios. Equipment and radios removed 2021

Boston Area Fire Buff Networks

Before Yellow Tape (BYT)

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Location	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
472.1125	R	N606	BYT Ch.01 (Primary Mode)	Boston	2024.11.13 ecps92
472.1125	R	136.5	Dual Mode thru Fall 2024 - BYT Ch.01	Boston	2024.11.13 ecps92

Boston Citywide (Citywide)

• WebPage

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Location	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
472.9625	R	123.0	Citywide-1	Boston	2023.08.01 pdurf

Metro Radio System (MRS)

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Location	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
463.8500	R	151.4	MRS Ch.1	Quincy	2024.06.23 W1KNE

Middlesex Radio

• Website

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Location	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
464.2000	R	N100	Woburn Ch.1	Woburn	2019.04.01 ecps92
464.2000	R	100.0	Woburn Ch.1	Woburn	2015.03.07 ecps92

Outside of Boston Metro

• For Buff Networks in Rhode Island, formerly listed here, see Media and Fire Buffs in RI.
• For Buff Networks in Connecticut, formerly listed here, see Media and Fire Buffs in CT.
• For Buff Networks in Maine, formerly listed here, see Media and Fire Buffs in ME.

Cape Cod City Wide

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
461.1000	R	Unknown	CapeWide F-1

Merrimack Valley Radio

Frequency	Type	Tone	Notes/Comments	Transmitter City	Confirmation/Reconfirmations
462.0250	R	82.5	MVR Ch.3	Peterboro (NH)	2024.07.15 n1zyy
462.5500	R	206.5	MVR Ch.4	Lowell	2022.12.04 MASSBUSMARK
463.5000	R	186.2	MVR Ch.?	Pelham	2023.05.08 MASSBUSMARK