2008 Woodie Awards
KRTU's renovations launch fresh start
Trinity's radio station FM 91.7 receives upgrades, continues to technologically grow
Blake Hilburn
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Trinity Life
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KRTU is a non-commercial radio station that has served the San Antonio community since 1976. KRTU started off with only 10 watts of power, enough to almost reach the adjoining buildings. Rapid gro-wth, however, allowed several transmitter upgrades, and by 2002 the station had 8,900 watts behind their transmitter and tower. KRTU's effective range now spans all of San Antonio and even adjoining towns, such as Boerne, Greune and Leon Springs.
KRTU is in the process of renovating its primary on-air studio, as well as two production studios, and upgrading a third studio to support professional multi-track recording. The process will require new furniture in all locations, along with painting, lighting, wiring, ceiling, carpeting and flooring upgrades. New equipment will be added to each of the studios, including digital routing systems to replace the previous analogue sound boards and patch panels.
This is the first significant upgrade that KRTU has received to its structure and equipment since 1985, and the renovations will keep Trinity up-to-date with competing stations for at least the next 10 years.
The system Telos Axia is one of only a handful of such systems currently available. Along with this, there will be a cutting-edge HD digital transmitter added to the existing analogue broadcast, placing the station into the elite field of colleges using HD technology.
Though the bulk of these renovations are now in place, they will not be operational for another several weeks, and the finishing touches will not be in place until next year.
Funding for this grant was obtained through a large technology grant given to the University by AT&T. John T. Montford, AT&T senior vice president - Western region legislative and regulatory affairs, announced the $5 million grant from the AT&T Foundation to support Trinity's technological resources. The gift is in support of the $200 million capital campaign.
Assistant Professor Jennifer Henderson, acting chair of the Department of Communication, showed much gratitude towards AT&T for their contribution to KRTU and the rest of the Communication Department. She said that this was one of the first steps in providing students with the skills and experience necessary to operate next generation programming.
Radio show host Charles Christian, senior, said that though the expansions have just been installed, great things are in the near future for KRTU.
"Of course, we have started using the equipment yet, but I expect it will be greatly appreciated," Christian said. "It's going to be a big improvement. The RCS system we were using is a bit shoddy. The system fails a lot, so these renovations can only be an improvement."
Ryan Weber, KRTU station manager, agreed with Christian about the improvements to the studios.
"The renovations and up-grades made possible by this grant from AT&T will place KRTU among the most technologically advanced college radio stations in the country, and on-par with the latest advances of the radio industry," Weber said.
KRTU is in the process of renovating its primary on-air studio, as well as two production studios, and upgrading a third studio to support professional multi-track recording. The process will require new furniture in all locations, along with painting, lighting, wiring, ceiling, carpeting and flooring upgrades. New equipment will be added to each of the studios, including digital routing systems to replace the previous analogue sound boards and patch panels.
This is the first significant upgrade that KRTU has received to its structure and equipment since 1985, and the renovations will keep Trinity up-to-date with competing stations for at least the next 10 years.
The system Telos Axia is one of only a handful of such systems currently available. Along with this, there will be a cutting-edge HD digital transmitter added to the existing analogue broadcast, placing the station into the elite field of colleges using HD technology.
Though the bulk of these renovations are now in place, they will not be operational for another several weeks, and the finishing touches will not be in place until next year.
Funding for this grant was obtained through a large technology grant given to the University by AT&T. John T. Montford, AT&T senior vice president - Western region legislative and regulatory affairs, announced the $5 million grant from the AT&T Foundation to support Trinity's technological resources. The gift is in support of the $200 million capital campaign.
Assistant Professor Jennifer Henderson, acting chair of the Department of Communication, showed much gratitude towards AT&T for their contribution to KRTU and the rest of the Communication Department. She said that this was one of the first steps in providing students with the skills and experience necessary to operate next generation programming.
Radio show host Charles Christian, senior, said that though the expansions have just been installed, great things are in the near future for KRTU.
"Of course, we have started using the equipment yet, but I expect it will be greatly appreciated," Christian said. "It's going to be a big improvement. The RCS system we were using is a bit shoddy. The system fails a lot, so these renovations can only be an improvement."
Ryan Weber, KRTU station manager, agreed with Christian about the improvements to the studios.
"The renovations and up-grades made possible by this grant from AT&T will place KRTU among the most technologically advanced college radio stations in the country, and on-par with the latest advances of the radio industry," Weber said.
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