KRPS: Grant to modernize broadcast equipment
Dec. 21—PITTSBURG, Kan. — The public radio station at Pittsburg State University has received a $537,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
It will help the station, KRPS 89.9 FM, modernize equipment and improve services to listeners, said Fred Fletcher-Fierro, interim general manager.
The university said in statement that the funds will allow the station to update most facets of its broadcast equipment that operates 24/7, including the transmitter, antenna cable, audio boards and automation. The grant also will allow the station to broadcast four high-definition channels.
Fletcher-Fierro called the improvements that can be made with the grant a "huge step."
He said the station's existing transmitter is dated, operating on 1991 technology.
"To give you an idea, the transmitter replacement cost is $160,000 to $170,000," Fletcher-Fierro said. "They have made huge advances in transmitter technology."
He said the transmitter technology will allow the station to operate four HD channels on less energy than it currently uses to operate one FM channel.
"This means an improved sound quality on our main channel and will allow us to bring listeners a dedicated BBC World Service and a 100% classical channel," he said in a statement.
It also means text will appear on HD radios informing listeners of the name of the show they are listening to, the topic being discussed, and more.
"Another part of it is advanced emergency alerts that will go out over the air and appear on your dashboard as well," he said.
KRPS is the only 100,000-watt station in the area with a coverage area that spans 100 miles in all directions into the Four-State Area.
KRPS broadcasts and streams NPR and BBC News, in addition to locally produced news and content from the Kansas News Service and Missouri partner stations. The station also is a member of the NPR Network, streaming at krps.org, on Amazon Alexa, Google Nest and the NPR App. A dedicated KRPS app will launch early next year.
