The Dec. 22 issue of Radio World features our Buyer’s Guide for antennas, RF support and power products. Buyer’s Guide features application stories like this one.
Information Station Specialists says its newly available HPR.0990 Antenna is a temporary, auxiliary or emergency solution for AM broadcasters that need an affordable means of remaining on the air when a situation demands it. That might be because of loss of primary site, tower rebuild/failure, maintenance of translator authorization or a tower site move.
Pictured is the antenna in temporary use by KNBI(AM) in Monterey, Calif.
The station, which is branded as KMBY, was silenced due to reduced revenues during COVID and was donated to a nonprofit that then was unable to renegotiate the tower lease. So a temporary antenna solution was required. ISS says the 1240 signal is back on air from a commercial building’s roof in Monterey.
The HPR.0990 can transmit with up to 270 watts (carrier) with no ATU requirement due to its 50-ohm resonant design. A generous loading coil and capacitive top hat allow the antenna to be shorter (32 feet) and more efficient than antennas of similar design.
Its efficiency rating is up to 170 mV/m/km/1 kW. A 25-foot radius ground plane provides the required counterpoise. The antenna is tunable across a frequency range.
Local engineer and installer Mark Carbonaro said the antenna is relatively lightweight at 30 pounds and has durable, stainless steel assembly parts, important in a marine environment. The anodized finish is designed for harsh conditions. The sustained wind rating exceeds 100 mph. KNBI’s antenna survived 65-mph gusts from recent coastal windstorms.
The antenna is in stock at common frequencies for fast shipment. ISS said Carbonaro offers to answer questions about the antenna at [email protected].
Info: theRADIOsource.com, 616-772-2300 ext. 102, or email [email protected].
