As KUPR has turned ten, so has its equipment and we are overdue for a new transmitter. This critical component, the heart of FM radio, typically has a lifespan of eight years and we have passed that point. Failure could take us off the air for weeks.
Our search for a replacement transmitter included evaluating hybrid digital technology and we just could not justify the cost (more than triple that of a new transmitter when you include licensing fees). Ultimately, we focused on these considerations that balance cost and benefits: (1) FCC certification; (2) continued ability to upgrade to 250 watts instead of 100 should that become legal; (3) Quality of the manufacturer and the equipment; (4) swappable components to reduce potential downtime; (5) high quality audio processing to enhance the analog signal. Checking all these boxes and more is the Nautel VX300 with Orban audio processing at $6,977, which brings the fundraising goal to $7,000. Nautel is a Canadian company specializing in the design, manufacture and support of high-power, solid-state products for radio broadcast and other applications. Nautel has manufacturing facilities in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Maine, USA.
We are reaching out to you, our listeners, to help us raise the funds for this essential upgrade. Your contribution, regardless of its size, is vital. With an anonymous supporter pledging to match donations of $100 or more, your support can go even further. In addition, individual donors of $100 or more receive a framed print of KUPR's fun bus, a collector's item. Together, we can ensure KUPR's continued presence on the airwaves and its improvement for another decade. Click here to become a partner in this journey. You can also donate by mailing a check marked "transmitter" to PO Box 888, Placitas, NM 87043.
Our search for a replacement transmitter included evaluating hybrid digital technology and we just could not justify the cost (more than triple that of a new transmitter when you include licensing fees). Ultimately, we focused on these considerations that balance cost and benefits: (1) FCC certification; (2) continued ability to upgrade to 250 watts instead of 100 should that become legal; (3) Quality of the manufacturer and the equipment; (4) swappable components to reduce potential downtime; (5) high quality audio processing to enhance the analog signal. Checking all these boxes and more is the Nautel VX300 with Orban audio processing at $6,977, which brings the fundraising goal to $7,000. Nautel is a Canadian company specializing in the design, manufacture and support of high-power, solid-state products for radio broadcast and other applications. Nautel has manufacturing facilities in Nova Scotia, Canada, and Maine, USA.
We are reaching out to you, our listeners, to help us raise the funds for this essential upgrade. Your contribution, regardless of its size, is vital. With an anonymous supporter pledging to match donations of $100 or more, your support can go even further. In addition, individual donors of $100 or more receive a framed print of KUPR's fun bus, a collector's item. Together, we can ensure KUPR's continued presence on the airwaves and its improvement for another decade. Click here to become a partner in this journey. You can also donate by mailing a check marked "transmitter" to PO Box 888, Placitas, NM 87043.
