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May 2019 Special Issue for HAMs & Emergency Managers |
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The Source |
Long-Awaited AM Radio Antenna to Debut at Hamvention
2019 |
High Power
+ High Efficiency |
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HPR.0990 AM Antenna Components |
XENIA,
OH: Emergency Managers have wanted a simple way to
establish a temporary radio station in a disaster with
the capability of wide-area coverage. AM broadcast
engineers have needed an efficient means of
reestablishing their broadcast stations' signals quickly
on a temporary basis. Operators of 10-watt Information
Stations (TIS)
have wanted a high efficiency antenna they can employ
for enhanced signal coverage with a FCC waiver. Amateur
radio enthusiasts have asked for special antennas for
new applications.
The
solution had to be something that was inexpensive and
efficient; installable quickly by a single worker. And
it had to be light enough to be portable and affordably
shippable.
Information Station Specialists believes it has
developed just that solution in the HPR.0990 High Performance Antenna. The company will be demonstrating the
product at the Dayton Hamvention event next week, held
at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in
Xenia, Ohio, on May 17-19. The on-air demo will double
as a service to event-goers and is called “Hamvention
1620 AM.” Attendees who tune in will hear details about
parking, the event schedule, daily weather information
and interviews with event organizers and amateur radio
enthusiasts. The antenna will be deployed outside
Building 6 on a towable trailer with a portable
groundplane. Company president Bill Baker will be on
hand for the “ribbon-cutting.” |
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Quick Erecting the HPR.0990 Using a Pivot
Base and Winch from a Towable Trailer |
Baker
points out that “conventional Travelers' Information
Station whip antennas can only handle 20 watts. More
efficient models that can do higher wattage are pricey,
heavy and very expensive to install. Portable antenna
kits require engineer-level talent to set them up. This
simple solution steps around those issues with aplomb.” |
HPR.0990 High
Performance Radio Antenna . . .
Efficient
High Capacity
Light Weight
Simple
Low Cost
Compact |
Information Station Specialists touts the antenna’s
light weight – which is only 15 to 35 pounds depending
on the frequency. It is a center-loaded vertical design
that may be installed at a height of only 20 feet off
the ground above a small groundplane or Unirod.
Different versions of the HPR.0990 design allow it to
work on any AM frequency in the 470 to 1800 kHz range.
Field tests by the company prove the antenna capable of
handling hundreds of watts and, with an emergency STA
from the FCC, it can produce a coverage pattern 20 miles
in radius.
Three Types of
Beneficiaries:
- Emergency Managers & Associated Amateur
Radio
Operators who have sought an improved means of
getting information to the public, especially during
incidents when power, communications or internet
services are compromised:
- They now have the ability to replace a conventional
Information Station (TIS) antenna with the HPR.0990
Antenna to achieve increased range and signal
strength. (*)
- In addition, they now can have a higher powered
transmitter on hand to substitute for their 10-watt
TIS transmitters (under an FCC emergency STA) during
a disaster.
See RadioSAFE system.
- Commercial Broadcasters who need a
means of keeping an AM station on-air temporarily at low
power following a calamity or for any number of
temporary applications.
- Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
looking for a solution for special applications that
can be installed in confined spaces. The HPR.0990
can work as low as 630 meters.
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(*) The HPR.0990 fits in the same size 1.5” antenna
mounts as conventional TIS antenna; but, due to its
increased length, the company recommends additional
mounting considerations. A TIS station will require a waiver of the
FCC signal limitations, if, with a full 10 watts of
transmitter power, the signal exceeds 2.0 mV/m at
0.93 mile. |
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© 1983-2022 • Information Station Specialists,
Inc. • All Rights Reserved
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone
616.772.2300, Fax 616.772.2966,
Email
• • •
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Information Radio Stations is a generic term
synonymous with Travelers Information Stations (TIS), Highway
Advisory Radio Stations (HAR) / Highway Information Systems &
Low Power Radio Stations (LPR). Operation of the stations is
governed by FCC Part 90.242 Rules. A FCC license is required.
Information Radio Stations may be fixed or portable.
Subcomponents may include transmitter, antenna and ground
system, digital voice player, wattmeter, cabinet with
conventional or Corbin locks, lightning arrestors for RF, power
and telephone lines, coaxial cable. Most stations employ black
maximized antennas to discourage ice accumulation and security
measures to prevent unauthorized program access. Options include
synchronization, battery backup, solar power, remote programming
by local, network or telco, multi-station audio distribution via
RF or LAN / WAN or wireless network. |