Information Station Specialists website
 
    The Information Station    
  Two Editions from which to Choose

First licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in 1977 as a "travelers information station" (TIS), the Information Station from ISS is now the most installed 10-watt AM station in the United States with more than a thousand locations licensed to date! Its popularity stems from its versatility and affordability in a patented package that makes installation and operation simple. Today the Information Station serves a broader array of interests than originally envisioned in 1977. ISS has developed two models to meet customer needs Classic and MP3 Editions and is the sole provider in the United States.
TIS AM Radio Stations from Information Station Specialists

 

  • Complete product overview with planning, pricing & technical specs - PDF download.

  • See also, the ALERT AM Emergency Advisory Radio System - webpage.

 
Classic Edition

The "Classic Edition" Information Station works well for operators with a frequent need to update broadcast programs. It may be controlled by a conventional telephone line or right from the station’s location or from a computer workstation. The Classic Edition features 1,000 variable-length messages that may be recorded, monitored or erased independently. Choose which to broadcast and which to store for future use. The Classic Edition allows you to create message groupings playlists for quick and convenient retrieval. Standard recording time is 80 minutes and up to 300 hours of recordings for stations with the Workstation Audio Control option.
MP3 Edition

The economical "MP3 Edition" Information Station is designed for operators who require less frequent updates and who appreciate the advantages of managing their audio programming via computer. Create and edit MP3 audio files on a standard Windows-based PC and transfer them to your station for airplay/repetition via USB message transfer sticks. Program air time may be up to an hour. Create hundreds of messages in your PC-based library and broadcast as many of them as you wish. ISS can provide optional audio-editing software and an optional PC microphone and headset.
 
ISS
can help you get started with Professional Message Recording services.

Both stations come with ISS’ free recording service for the first 30 days. Tell us what to say, and ISS will create professional messages for you to approve and add to your station’s message library. If you want to continue the service, you may option to do so on an annual basis.
 
  • Learn more about ISS recording services and listen to sample recordings - webpage.

 
 
Who operates Information Stations?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses the Information Station to federal, state and local governmental entities (see the list below) for broadcasting travel, safety, weather, traffic directions/detours, touring, historical and event information. The primary audience? Motorists in a 3-5-mile radius area from the station's center point. Broadcasts are voice-only, noncommercial, and are controlled locally by telephone (analog audio transfers via phone for digital storage and replay — see more about equipment below). Operators commonly include...

bullet

Airports.

bullet

Attractions (concerts, ski areas, zoos in partnership with communities).

bullet

Convention centers.

bullet

Historic sites.

bullet

Industries (in partnership with communities).

bullet

Interpreters.

bullet

Municipalities (boroughs, cities, counties, towns, villages).

bullet

Parks & other outdoor recreation areas (national, state & local).

bullet

Scenic byways.

bullet

Tourism departments (visitor bureaus & chambers of commerce.

 
The National Park Service is among the first proponents of Information Stations and is the largest nationwide user of this technology for visitor information, orientation and interpretive applications. See a partial list of National Parks with Information Stations.

 

 

Travelers Information Stations from Information Station Specialists  
 
Frequency & Licensing Considerations

On a first-come-first-served basis, the FCC licenses stations to open AM-band frequencies between 530 and 1700 kHz and secondary to standard AM broadcast stations. ISS can help you find an available frequency and apply for a FCC license. Just complete and return the questionnaire (linked on the right) to get started.

 

 
 
Equipment Array

The Information Station comes complete from ISS, ready to install. Included are the transmitter, antenna, patented factory-assembled groundplane, digital message player, lightning arrestors, batteries, all cables, connectors, mounts, hardware and illustrated instructions. The housing is a weatherproof cabinet, designed for pole or wall mounting. Options include Flashing ALERT Signs to notify motorists of your signal at key locations along roadways within range of the station. The flashing signs are triggered via communities' own 2-way radio systems (linked on the right). See Technical Specifications (linked on the right).

 

 
 
Installation Styles

Pick the style of installation that fits your situation: The Information Station may be installed at a building with the equipment safely indoors and the antenna pole mounted in the adjacent yard (yard style - recommended). At remote locations, the entire station may be installed on a pole and provided with power and telephone service (isolated style). An available option is the Vertical Profile Antenna System, which offers minimal ground disturbance for yard- and isolated-style installations. This attractive antenna system and pole-in-one solution requires only one square foot of ground area, no external conduit or wiring to encourage vandalism. It offers low installation cost and is easy to move.

 

 
 
Services

As you would expect, ISS provides a full menu of technical services to help put and keep your Information Station on the air. This includes frequency and site selection, field surveys, FCC licensing, installation and training, which can be quoted as needed. Personal planning assistance is free. Email or call us at 616.772.2300. The Source Advisory Radio Communique offers online case studies, news and technical tips that will keep you abreast of issues that affect station operation. See case studies, news briefs and technical tips there.

 

 
 
Budget

Equipment and services (including licensing, installation and ground freight in the contiguous United States) typically total $11-17,000, depending on options chosen and installation variables. At no charge, we will help you brainstorm ideas for your particular application and provide a formal quote. Just email or call us with your request (616.772.2300).

Purchase includes, at no extra charge, initial preparation of a professional recording, based on your script, so your broadcast is ready to air, as soon as you turn on your station. And Illustrated instruction manuals come with every Information Station. 

ISS offers technical support for the life of the product 24/7 at no extra charge.

 

   
  Related Links  
  This page was last updated on May 07, 2008.  
about us   |  Articles   |   Contacts  |   Home   |   Products  |   Site Index

Copyright 1983-2008, Information Station Specialists, Inc.,  All Rights Reserved
3368 88th Avenue, PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051
Phone 616.772.2300, Fax 2966,
Email
• • •
US Patents: PowerPlane "Flex" Factory-Assembled Groundplane (#5,495,261), Vertical Profile Antenna System (#7,027,008)
Registered Trademarks: ALERT AM®, Information Station Specialists®, PowerPlane®, RoadRunnR®, StationMaster®
Pending Trademark: SignalcastIP