Information Station Specialists is the best known source of travelers information stations, highway advisory radio, advisory signs and services needed to reach motorists with public service information. Learn more about Information Station Specialists.
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America's best-known source for Information Radio Systems and related products and services. 
  Product Features Comparison  
  Charts below compare product features for (1) Information Radio Systems (2) Signs and (3) Antennas.  
 
       (1) Information Radio Stations
     







features		 FIXED ONLY PORTABLE or FIXED

Information Station
VoiceStar icon
RadioSTAT icon

Information Station * ALERT AM * RadioSAFE * VoiceStar * RadioSTAT * InfOspot
USB IP USB IP
antenna
Building-Oriented Operation √ √ √ √   √ √ √
Isolated Operation √ √ √   √ √ √ √
coverage area
1/4-1/2 Mile +               √
3 to 5-Mile Radius per Station √ √ √ option √ √ √  
3 to 20+ Mile Radius per Station     option option        
Multi-Location Simulcast     option          
power
AC 120 Volts √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Solar custom custom custom   √ custom custom custom
Rechargeable Battery Backup     option   √      
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) option option √ option     option custom
audio **
Local Mic Recording √   √ √       √
Live Mic Broadcasting √   √ √   √   √
Remote Program Management by Network with Local Front-Panel Redundancy   √ √ option option √ √ custom
Local Program Management by USB/Flash Drive   √ √ option option √ √ custom
Remote Program Management by Telephone with Local Mic Reduncancy     √ √       option
Automatic National Weather Service All Hazard Alerts for Counties Targeted     √ option       custom
Redundant Control by 2-Way Radio √   √ √ √     custom
Streamed Broadcasts to the Internet option option option option   option when fixed location option custom
Automatic Broadcasts of Compliant Emergency Notification System Alerts option option option option     option custom
Audio Processor option option √ √   option when fixed location option custom
(*)  Can include combined features of USB and the IP capabilities. Can include combined features of USB and the IP capabilities.
(**) See "Audio-Control-Methods Comparison Chart."
 
 
       (2) Signage
 



features FASTrack Portable Quick-Erect Sign Flashing ALERT Sign FAS.6000 Flashing Beacons & Controller VoiceStar Changeable Message Sign & Information Radio Station Stealth Black-Out LED Sign
Sign Support √     √   
Custom Messages √     √ √
Portable √     √  
Wireless Control   √ √ √ √ 
See "Signage Descriptions."
 
 
        (3) AM Radio Antennas for FCC-Licensed Stations     
 
features ANXX
AM RADIO ANTENNA		 AN2X
AM RADIO ANTENNA		 HPR.0990
HIGH PERFORMANCE AM RADIO ANTENNA		 SS.3000
HIGH PERFORMANCE AM RADIO ANTENNA
Standard Efficiency Whip Design Enhanced Efficiency Whip Design Maximum Efficiency Whip Design Maximum Efficiency Freestanding
 Carrier Wattage (1700 kHz) at 100% Modulation Up to 100W * Up to 100W * Up to 270W * Up to 1000W
Efficiency 28 (530 kHz) to 73 (1700 kHz) with 10’ Groundplane 32 (530 kHz) to 92 (1700 kHz) with 25’ Groundplane 54 (530 kHz) to 171 (1700 kHz) with 50’ Groundplane 62 (530 kHz) to 190 (1700 kHz) (minimums) with 50’ Groundplane
Frequencies 530 to 1710 kHz 530 to 1710 kHz 530 to 1710 kHz 530 to 1710 kHz
Installation Format Top of Pole/Tower or Roof Mast Top of Pole/Tower or Roof Mast Top of Pole/Tower Freestanding
Required Groundplane Groundplane Matching Transformer or Antenna Tuning Unit & Groundplane Antenna Tuning Unit & Groundplane
Mounting Style ** freestanding pole/tower or roof mast freestanding pole/topwer or roof mast freestanding pole/tower self supporting
Nominal Length *** 10' 20' 32' 49'
Approximate Weight 15 lbs 25 lbs 30 lbs 400 lbs
See "Radio Antenna Siting."
See also the "Vertical Profile Antenna Support & Grounding System."
(*) Carrier wattage reduction required at lower AM frequencies and with modulation formats that exceed 100% positive..
(**) Poles, mast systems, towers, insulators, mounts and groundplanes are optional and can be included..
(***) Provided for comparison; actual installed length varies with the operating frequency and tuning..
 
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Customer Support Policy For Health Applications Glossary of Radio Terms FCC Frequencies & Licenses
Founding & Firsts For Highways News from The Source Installation, Testing, Training
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  For Other Common Applications Our Stations across the USA Purchase Options  
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For AM Radio Broadcasters Why Customers Say They Buy Streaming
  For Amateur (HAM) Operators      

©  1983-2023  • Information Station Specialists, Inc. •  All Rights Reserved
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Email Form
TRADEMARKS:  2X Signal Booster, ALERT AM Emergency Advisory Radio System, AMReady Broadcast Components, ANXX AM Radio Antenna, AP.55 Digital Message Player, ENcast Emergency Notification Broadcast System, EventCAST Portable Information Radio Service, FAS.6000 Flashing Beacons & Controller, FASTrack Quick-Erect Sign, FlashCAST Internet Broadcast Service, Flashing ALERT Sign System, FlexPlane Preassembled Groundplane, Free-Radiate On-Premise Radio Broadcast System, HearMoreInfo Internet Broadcasts, HPR.0990 High Performance Antenna, i A.M. Radio Transmitter, Information Station Specialists, InfoRadio Format, Information Station Classic, Information Station IP, Information Station USB, InfOSpot AM Radio Transmitter Station, IP.8 Digital Message Player, IP.76 Digital Message Player, ITS.6000 Highway Advisory Radio Network, LIGHTNING LED Changeable Message Sign, Lowdown 630-Meter Band Amateur Radio Antenna, MGR.021 Digital Audio Management System, MXB.22 THEMATCHBOX Impedance Matching Transformer, NX8R Digital Message Player, PPFL PPFS PowerPlane Preassembled Groundplane, RadioSAFE Wide Area Emergency Broadcast System, RadioSTAT Portable Emergency Advisory Radio Station, RE 2.5 Range Extender Outdoor Antenna and Tuner, RESPONDER 1 Portable Highway Advisory Radio System, RoadRunnR Portable Highway Advisory Radio System, SSD.20 Severe Storm Detector, SMR Signal Measurement Radio Receiver, Stealth Sign, StreamCAST Internet Audio Delivery Service, SS.3000 Free-Standing AM Radio Antenna System with Tower, SX.200 Wattmeter, Talking House AM Radio Transmitter, TH.5 InfOspot Transmitter, TMS.020 Digital Audio Management System, TR.6000 Transmitter, TMS.020 Digital Audio Management System, TR.6000 Transmitter Model 15.73, VP.9000 Vertical Profile Antenna Support and Grounding System.

Information Radio Station is a generic term synonymous with Travelers Information Station (TIS), Highway Advisory Radio (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.