Radio Equipment List
| Digital-compatible transmitters. NTIA anticipates funding digital-compatible transmitters to replace analog transmitters, if requested by applicants and justified as urgent replacement. Recipients may add HD Radio (IBOC) exciters to PTFP-funded digital-compatible transmitters or use grant funds awarded for an analog or digital-compatible radio transmitter towards the purchase of a transmitter with an IBOC exciter. Any additional cost of acquiring such an exciter or transmitter will be the responsibility of the grantee. Licensing fees, including licensing fees related to the use of HD Radio technology, are not eligible for PTFP funds. |
This section provides equipment guidelines for a complete local-production capable public radio station with NPR satellite interconnect.
Pricing is given for the following power levels of transmission equipment:
- Pricing for Class A transmission system
This system is based on the FCC docket 80-90 for a maximum ERP of 3 KW, HAAT being 328' or 100 meters maximum. The priced system includes a 3.5 KW transmitter, 350' tower and 350' of 1-5/8" Heliax transmission line, and a 2-bay circularly polarized antenna with a 5 KW maximum input power.
- Pricing for Class B and Class B1 transmission
system
This system is based on the FCC docket 80-90 for a maximum ERP of 50 KW, HAAT being 492' or 150 meters maximum. The priced system includes a 25 KW transmitter, 500' tower and 500' of 3" Heliax transmission line, and a 4-bay circularly polarized antenna.
- Pricing for Class C, Class C1, and Class C2
transmission system
This system is based on the FCC docket 80-90 for a maximum ERP of 100 KW, HAAT being the minimum for Class C of 984' or 300 meters. The priced system includes a 25 KW transmitter, 1,050' tower and 1,100' of 3" Heliax transmission line, and an 8-bay circularly polarized antenna.
Pricing is also given for:
| Low Power FM Transmission System and On-Air Control Room | |
| Radio Reading Service Control Room |
Pricing does not reflect the following:
- Costs of land, buildings, power installation to transmitter or studio building meter panel, generators, air conditioning, renovation, and other facilities expenditures that are generally ineligible under the PTFP.
- Costs of office and studio furniture (except for audio console cabinets), office machines, or other similar ineligible costs under the PTFP.
- Educational discounts from vendors and manufacturers. All pricing is based on basic capability and is shown at retail list price. (An educational discount of at least 10% to 15% should be expected.)
When existing tower space is available, reasonable costs for a stress study and for strengthening the tower are eligible for PTFP support. We have not provided estimated costs for these services because they vary so greatly.
The lists that follow include quantity and prices to provide BASIC production and transmission capability to the typical public radio station.
NTIA provides these lists for your general guidance regarding quantity and pricing of broadcast equipment typically supported by the program. Applicants do not have to buy everything listed.
Please provide information in Exhibit C about your station's special needs if your request exceeds the quantities or prices included in these guidelines.
| Radio Transmission Systems | ||||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | CLASS A | CLASS B/B1 | CLASS C/C1/C2 |
| Transmitter
size: Antenna: Tower and Line: |
3.5 KW 2 Bay 350' |
25 KW 4 Bay 500' |
25 KW 8 Bay 1,050' |
|
| 1 | Digital compatible transmitter w/SCA and stereo generators, spare tube, and spare parts kit | 39,000 | 71,519 | 71,519 |
| 1 | Circularly polarized antenna (no radomes or heaters) | 3,700 | 14,000 | 30,000 |
| 1 lot | Heliax transmission line and hangers | 4,200 | 12,000 | 25,000 |
| 1 | Transmission tower | 60,000 | 100,000 | 400,000 |
| 1 | Tower foundation cost | 15,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| 1 | Tower installation (including mounting antenna and line) | 25,000 | 45,000 | 180,000 |
| 1 | Stereo limiter and AGC Amplifier | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| 1 | Dummy load | 1,900 | 5,090 | 5,090 |
| 1 | Composite analog or digital STL system (transmitter and receiver). Price includes two 6' dishes and feedline of 200' with hot standby | 42,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 |
| 1 | STL tower (100' with STL antenna, line and monitoring receive antenna installed at studio site) | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| 1 | Transmitter remote control system | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| 1 | 6' equipment rack with side panels | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,400 |
| 1 | Frequency and modulation monitor system for stereo and SCA. SCA required for telemetry monitoring. | 5,400 | 5,400 | 5,400 |
| 1 | FCC type-accepted RF amplifier for monitoring equipment | 575 | 575 | 575 |
| 1 | Amplifier (audio) for off-air monitoring, including speakers (system fed from monitoring equipment) | 869 | 869 | 869 |
| 1 | EAS receiver and decoder/encoder | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| 1 | Transmission line dehydrator | 1,500 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| 1 | Equipment shelter | 17,500 | 17,500 | 17,500 |
| 1 lot | Transmitter AC power installation (assuming power at site location) | 5,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| 1 lot | Transmitter ventilation | 3,500 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| 1 lot | Transmitter installation cost | 5,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous installation materials | 3,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| Radio Test Equipment | |||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | STUDIO | XMTR |
| 1 | Audio test set | 5,500 | |
| 1 | Frequency counter | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| 1 | Oscilloscope | 3,500 | 3,500 |
| 1 | Multimeter | 350 | 350 |
| On-Air Control Room (Radio) | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Analog or digital audio console | $26,000 |
| 1 | Audio network router w/logic interface and control panels | 40,000 |
| 2 | Speakers | 1,000 |
| 1 | Monitor amplifier | 500 |
| 1 | Studio type record/play cassette recorder | 1,000 |
| 1 | Digital cart machine | 6,000 |
| 1 | Audio hard disc storage system | 20,000 |
| 2 | Microphones with booms | 1,200 |
| 2 | Broadcast quality CD players | 4,000 |
| 2 | Direct-drive turntables @ $750 | 1,500 |
| 2 | Stereo turntable preamps @ $395 | 790 |
| 2 | Turntable arms @ $120 | 240 |
| 2 | Stereo cartridges for turntables @ $50 | 100 |
| 1 | Custom cabinet for audio console and turntables | 6,000 |
| 4 | 6' equipment racks @ $545, plus one set of side panels @ $235 | 2,415 |
| 4 | Jack panels/wired, with jack cords | 4,800 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $150 | 300 |
| 6 | Distribution amplifiers @ $350 | 2,100 |
| 2 | DAT cassette or MD recorders @ $2,500 | 5,000 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous wire, ground strap, and installation materials | 5,000 |
| 1 lot | Labor for installation of On-Air control room | 10,000 |
| Production Control Room and Associated Studio (Radio) | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Analog or digital audio console | $36,000 |
| 1 | Non-linear editing system | 25,000 |
| 4 | Speakers | 2,000 |
| 2 | Monitor amplifiers | 1,000 |
| 2 | Audio limiters @ $600 | 1,200 |
| 1 | Parametric equalizer | 600 |
| 1 | Audio notch filter | 525 |
| 1 | Studio type record/play cassette recorder | 750 |
| 1 | Digital cart machine | 6,000 |
| 6 | Microphones with stands | 2,000 |
| 2 | Broadcast quality CD players | 4,000 |
| 2 | Direct-drive turntables @ $750 | 1,500 |
| 2 | Stereo turntable preamps @ $395 | 790 |
| 2 | Turntable arms @ $120 | 240 |
| 2 | Stereo cartridges for turntables @ $50 | 100 |
| 1 | Custom cabinet for audio console and turntables | 6,000 |
| 1 | 6' equipment rack with side panels | 1,500 |
| 4 | Jack panels w/cords | 4,800 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $150 | 300 |
| 2 | DAT cassette or MD recorders @ $2,500 | 5,000 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous wire, ground strap, and installation materials | 5,000 |
| 1 lot | Labor for installation of production control room | 10,000 |
| News Control Room (Radio) | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Audio console with monitor amplifier | $8,000 |
| 2 | Speakers | 500 |
| 1 | Studio type record/play cassette recorder | 1,000 |
| 2 | Portable audio cassette machines | 500 |
| 1 | Digital cart machine | 6,000 |
| 4 | Microphones | 600 |
| 4 | Microphone stands | 140 |
| 2 | Microphones for use with portables @ $65 | 130 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $100 | 200 |
NOTE: Given the limited funds available for grants, NTIA does not give a high priority to funding separate radio news control rooms. Since the CPB requires stations to have two control rooms to quality for Community Service Grants, news control rooms are usually the third--or even the fourth--control room in a station. NTIA appreciates the importance of news programing to public radio, but feels it must look to local stations to provide any extra facilities needed for news production with their own funds. An applicant may seek an exception, however, by demonstrating that its news production requirements go beyond what is customary at most stations.
| Remote Record Unit (Radio) | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Portable DAT recorder | $3,000 |
| 4 | Microphones with stands @ $500 | 2,000 |
| 1 | Audio console for portable use | 1,500 |
| 1 lot | Connectors, microphone cables, miscellaneous wire, cases, etc. | 1,000 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $100 | 200 |
| Satellite Receive-Only Interconnect (Radio) | |||
| QTY |
DESCRIPTION |
UNIT PRICE |
COST RANGE |
| 1 | Antenna, 3.8 meter, with high-wind braces | $3,500 | $3,500* |
| 1 | Ground Rod | 50 | 50 |
| 1 | Phase Locked Loop Low Noise Downconverter | 450 | 450 |
| 50-400' | Coaxial cable, L-Band, 75 ohms @ $0.25/ft | 12.50-100* | |
| 0-1 | L-Band Line Driver Amplifier (if loss exceeds 20 dB) | 129 | 0-129 |
| 1-2 | L-Band - 70 MHZ Downconverters | 1,795 | 1,795-3,590* |
| 1-2 | Splitters, 70 MHZ, 4-way | 120 | 120-240 |
| 1-3 | Coaxial cable and connectors, 70 MHZ, 75 ohms | 25 | 25-75 |
| 1-4 | Program channel demodulators (digital) | 2,410 | 2,410-9,640 |
| 1 | Downlink Services channel demodulator | 2,410 | 2,410 |
| 1 | Satellite Operating Support System (SOSS) computer and software | 3,500 | 3,500 |
| 0-1 | SOSS I.F. bus selector | 711 | 0-711 |
| 0-7 | SOSS General Purpose Interface Panel | 318 | 0-2,226 |
| 0-1 | SOSS DACS Advisory Panel | 342 | 0-342 |
| 1 | Printer, dot matrix, parallel | 175 | 175 |
| 1 | Frequency coordination study | 600-1,700 | |
| 1 lot | Shipping for antenna and high-wind braces by motor freight | 300-800 | |
| 1 lot | Build foundation, assemble/erect antenna, trenching, conduit, cabling, ground rod and fencing (typical cost, but highly site-dependent) | |
1,500-2,500 |
| TOTAL (range) $16,847-32,138 | |||
NOTE: The items above are allowed for public radio satellite downlinks, but all pieces may not be required. Stations should configure their systems to meet individual needs. Contact Jim McEachern, NPR Distribution, at (202) 414-2660 for assistance and for specifications on items marked with an asterisk (*).
| The following items are not required, but are supported by PTFP when needed in local situations. | ||
| 4 | DAT cassette recorders @ $2,500 each | 10,000 |
| 2 | Audio distribution amplifiers @ $250 each | 500 |
| 1 | Equipment rack with side panels | 1,400 |
| 1 | Rack ventilation fan with filters | 200 |
| 5 | Input selector switch panels @ $350 each | 1,750 |
| 1 lot | Audio monitoring system | 1,000 |
| Low Power FM Transmission System | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Low Power FM Exciter/Transmitter 10 Watts (FCC Type Accepted) | 4,000 |
| 1 | Low Power FM Amplifer 100 Watts (FCC Type Accepted) | 2,000 |
| 1 lot | Transmitting antenna w/stacking harness | 1,200 |
| 1 lot | Transmission line (100 ft w/hangers & terminations) | 1,000 |
| 1 | FM Modulation monitor | 1,500 |
| 1 | EAS Receiver | 500 |
| 1 | Equipment shelter (if needed) | 17,500 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous wire, ground strap, & installation materials | 500 |
| 1 lot | Labor for installation of transmission system | 2,000 |
| 1 | STL transmitter/receiver w/antennas [if needed] | 10,000 |
| Low Power FM On-Air Control Room | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Audio console w/monitor amplifier | 10,000 |
| 2 | Speakers @ $230 | 460 |
| 2 | Microphones w/booms @ $300 | 600 |
| 2 | Studio-type record/playback cassette recorders | 1,000 |
| 2 | Broadcast quality CD players | 1,500 |
| 1 | 6' equipment rack w/side panels | 780 |
| 2 | Jack panels w/cords | 2,400 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $100 | 200 |
| 2 | Distribution amplifiers @ $250 | 500 |
| 2 | MD recorders @ $800 | 1,600 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous wire, ground strap & installation materials | 2,000 |
| 1 lot | Labor for installation of control room | 2,500 |
NOTE: The level of equipment that PTFP can support is limited to equipment that can be presumed to have at least a 10-year life. By statute (47 USC 392(g)), the Federal government retains a priority reversionary interest in all equipment in a grant for ten years after the project is closed out. A typical LPFM package that meets this requirement is listed above. LPFM stations may be able to equip control rooms and studios on their own at a lower cost than the level PTFP requires to meet the statutory requirement.
| Radio Reading Service Control Room | ||
| QTY | DESCRIPTION | PRICE |
| 1 | Audio console with monitor amplifier | $15,000 |
| 2 | Speakers @ $230 | 460 |
| 1 | Studio type record/play cassette recorder | 1,000 |
| 1 | Digital cart machine | 6,000 |
| 2 | Microphones with booms @ $300 | 600 |
| 2 | Broadcast quality CD players | 4,000 |
| 1 | Direct-drive turntable | 750 |
| 1 | Stereo turntable preamp | 395 |
| 1 | Turntable arm | 120 |
| 1 | Stereo cartridge for turntable | 50 |
| 1 | Custom cabinet for audio console and turntable | 3,000 |
| 1 | 6' equipment rack with side panels | 780 |
| 2 | Jack panels with cords | 2,400 |
| 2 | Headphones @ $100 | 200 |
| 2 | Distribution amplifiers @ $250 | 500 |
| 2 | DAT cassette recorders @ $2,000 | 4,000 |
| 1 lot | Miscellaneous wire, ground strap, and installation materials | 2,000 |
| 1 lot | Labor for installation of reading service control room | 5,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications
Updated: 12 Jan 2011
