Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
Idaho State University’s KISU radio station recently underwent a week-long construction project to replace the satellite dish used to acquire its programming.
For over 15 years, KISU has provided Southeastern Idaho with programming using the same dish that was installed at the time of the station’s conception in June 1999.
The programming gamut provided by the station includes local and world news, ISU sports broadcasts and music programming as well.
“The satellite dish is provided by The Public Radio Satellite Service (PRSS). KISU pays an annual fee to them for providing that service and as part of that fee they provide [KISU] with download converters and new satellite dishes if it’s time for replacement,” said KISU General Manager Jerry Miller.
“The new dish is one with better technology,” continued Miller. “The old dish was beginning to become brittle. The advantages of National Public Radio (NPR), who is the company that oversees PRSS, is that they have a program going throughout the country replacing dishes at no cost to stations.”
While the new satellite dish itself is being provided at no cost to the station, the location in which the satellite dish was to be mounted no longer met the necessary codes for installation, which required some financial investment from the university.
The mast that supported the satellite dish needed to be replaced which required a new foundation be poured in order to accommodate the replacement.
In addition to the foundation needing attention, there was also a tree that was removed so that the transmitter could be aimed at the new satellite positions.
“The construction is being handled by Construction Services Inc. which is one of ISU’s service contractors,” said Facilities Services Director of Engineering, Planning and Environment Cheryl Hanson.
After installation of the new satellite dish, all of the fencing and posts that were removed will be replaced so that the site will look nearly the same as it did before construction.
“The cost for the construction totaled $14,800,” said Hanson. “This price includes the demolition, construction of the new foundation and replacement of the satellite dish and fencing.”
Being able to take advantage of the opportunity for a new dish provided at no additional fee to the university saves KISU from paying for both the dish as well as installation at some point in the future.
All of the programming that is provided by PRSS to public radio listeners is received by the satellite dish, meaning during the construction the programming was being acquired via web streaming services.
“KISU has to manually go in and change the stream that we are receiving depending on what program that should be on the air at the time,” said Miller.“We have to make about ten different changes every day depending on when the new dish is installed.”
KISU has transmitters located in Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Rexburg, Idaho.
“The station in Rexburg broadcasts all the way to Island Park and all over the Upper Snake River Valley,” said Miller. “The one in Idaho Falls fills in the gap in-between our main transmitter in Pocatello up to the one in Rexburg. You could drive from Malad Pass and drive all the way to the Ashland Hill going up into Island Park and you can listen to KISU by simply readjusting the dial.”
Students interested in becoming involved with the station can email moc.liamgnull@19mfusik or call (208) 282-3691.
Full Disclosure Notice: Jerry Miller, General Manager of KISU FM, also acts as the adviser to “The Bengal” in his duties as Director of Student Media.
