Alertness on Orcas Island Boosted by KIXP Services
In the picturesque San Juan Islands archipelago, near the Canadian border, a new low-power FM radio station named KIXP has recently gone on the air in Eastsound, Wash. This community radio station is more than just a source of entertainment; it's a project driven by a mission to serve public safety and enhance emergency alerting.
KIXP's Roots
At the heart of this project is StayAlert.org, a Washington state non-profit founded by Allen Hartle and his wife, Liberte Pedicini. StayAlert's core mission is dedicated to serving public safety by developing emergency alerting technology based upon the RDS and RDS2 data standards.
The idea of using RDS for emergency alerts can be traced back to 1993, when John Casey, the publisher of KIXP's website, first suggested this innovative approach for billboard projects.
The Power of Collaboration
The establishment of KIXP would not have been possible without the support and guidance of several key figures. Lifelong friend and mentor Martin Hadfield played a significant role in the project. Engineering consultant Bert Goldman recommended the studio's rooftop antenna provider, Propagation Systems. Seattle radio legend Bruce Murdock donated the studio's Pacific Recorders AMX-22 legacy console.
A Community-Oriented Approach
KIXP is more than just a radio station; it's a hub for the San Juan Islands community, which boasts an unusually large number of creative people who've chosen to live there. The station is connected with the local history museum, The Orcas Center performing arts organization, fire and rescue, and any non-profit that requests promotion.
Broadcasting Emergency Alerts
Besides airing community programming, StayAlert uses KIXP in a unique way. The LPFM station (102.3 MHz) employs standard RDS to display alerts on car dashboards, while a neighboring Class C full-power FM station uses StayAlert’s RDS2 open data application to deliver alerts to public kiosks and personal data receivers at remote island locations lacking traditional infrastructure.
Expansion Plans
With its innovative approach to emergency alerting, KIXP has plans for potential expansion to other island communities. The Cascadia Subduction zone, a major fault line off the Pacific Northwest coast, is capable of producing powerful earthquakes and tsunamis, and StayAlert is seen as a potential "tsunami alert system" for the states of Washington and Oregon and British Columbia.
Technical Details
The Ecreso AiO series transmitter used at KIXP was provided by Worldcast Systems, while Inovonics provided the RDS encoders. The radio automation system used at KIXP is Nextkast radio automation. The RDS- and RDS2-compatible software and hardware was created by Joop Beunders, a collaborator of Allen Hartle.
A Hub for Local History
KIXP will also feature local history and the many people that play a major role in the community's past, present, and future. This focus on local history and community makes KIXP more than just a radio station; it's a valuable resource for the San Juan Islands community.
Subscribing to KIXP
Interested listeners can subscribe to KIXP's website, which is now open for subscriptions. By doing so, they can stay informed about the latest community news, events, and emergency alerts.
In summary, KIXP is more than just a radio station; it's a community hub dedicated to serving public safety, enhancing emergency alerting, and providing a platform for local history and community news. With its innovative use of RDS and RDS2 technologies, KIXP is set to make a significant impact in the San Juan Islands community and beyond.
[1] Source: StayAlert.org and KIXP.org
- KIXP employs standard RDS to display alerts on car dashboards, using technology developed by StayAlert.org, a Washington state non-profit.
- The radio automation system used at KIXP is Nextkast radio automation, while Inovonics provided the RDS encoders for the station.
- Besides airing community programming, StayAlert uses KIXP to deliver alerts to public kiosks and personal data receivers at remote island locations using RDS2 open data application.
- The Ecreso AiO series transmitter used at KIXP was provided by Worldcast Systems, and the RDS- and RDS2-compatible software and hardware was created by Joop Beunders, a collaborator of Allen Hartle.
- Martin Hadfield, a lifelong friend and mentor, played a significant role in the establishment of KIXP, while Seattle radio legend Bruce Murdock donated the studio's Pacific Recorders AMX-22 legacy console.
