KGSW Channel 31 On Air
(posted 11/23/04)
by Alexis Franklin, senior journalism major
KGSW- Channel 31 is now officially on the air. The Keene-based television station began broadcasting regular programming from the campus of
General Manager, Randy Yates, says “It’s been a long road to get the station back up and running.” Early on in the summer, KGSW went off the air. A full-power TV station took over the frequency KGSW was using on channel 46. In order to start the process to get back on the air, a vacant frequency was needed. The station, through SWAU communication chair, Bob Mendenhall, hired an engineer to research what frequencies were open and to request permission from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to broadcast on the chosen frequency. The station was also required to get another FCC broadcasting license. Because it is a low-power (LP), non-profit station, the license, and the frequency were free of cost for KGSW to use. However, KGSW did have to purchase equipment to change the transmitter and the Studio to Transmitter Link (STL) over to the new frequency. Yates said that funding and acquiring the equipment were the major factors causing the delay. “We also needed to readjust the satellites’ positions to receive our full signal,” said Yates. KGSW was only receiving 67 percent of its signal beforeYates made a minor adjustment to the satellites. The recent rain caused another slight delay. Until they were finished, a test pattern of the station name was displayed with music. Yates said that even with only 67 percent of the signal, the picture and sound were coming in clear.
Now that it is back on the air, KGSW is broadcasting 24 hours a day. From about
“This station is a good training facility for the students,” said Yates. “That is the main purpose for operating it.”
Yates teaches several communication classes at Southwestern and also is the general manager at KJCR, the campus-based radio station.
During the evening drive from
When asked what the chances are of another full-power station taking over this channel, Yates said, “Not very likely, at least until the year 2007.”
He was referring to the High Definition Law that will be passed by the FCC. It requires all stations, including low-power, to become high definition. Until that time, no more frequencies will be given away. Yates says that KGSW is currently working on the process to get an HD license.