Stay Alert brings together public safety information, the arts, social services, and local businesses.
Mt Constitution Tower site
We use FM radio, streaming & social media services to distribute vital information and creative content to our island communities.
When disaster strikes terrestrial FM will be there
Terrestrial FM radio stations have robust emergency infrastructure. Backup towers, transmitters & power generators to make sure the signal is "always on" the air.
StayAlert Origins
Allen Hartle,
Executive Director of StayAlert, is a broadcast engineer and serial entrepreneur who began his 14-year career at Seattle's KZOK-FM. He went on to advance the radio industry with FM RDS sub-carrier technology for over 30 years, serving thousands of radio stations and millions of listeners worldwide.
Bio Website: allenhartle.com
The FM RDS sub-carrier products began as outdoor electronic signs that display Artist & Title
RDS evolved into Artist & Title displays you see in car dashboards today
Integrated in three generations of iPod Nano MP3 players
Inside Microsoft Zune as well
For 2025
In 2012 the StayAlert team collaborated with FEMA & NPR Labs to create an Alert system serving 26 Gulf State radio markets.
This StayAlert project served the hard of hearing and deaf community
This national project demonstrated an emergency alerting system for the deaf and hard-of-hearing population in the U.S. using broadcast radio as the transmission medium.
This affordable radio receiver interfaces RDS radio data to real world functions such as bright beacon flashing, and bed shakers.
An optional screen can be attached for visual information.
Green is the StayAlert Op Center & the 102.3 FM Signal
Yellow is StayAlert HQ
& backup transmitter
Red is KWPZ FM (63,000 watts)
StayAlert data services operate on KIXP 102.3 FM in Eastsound, and 106.5 FM on Mt Constitution
63,000 watt StayAlert partner broadcasting our Alerts via a custom
RDS ODA (data) reaching Bellingham, Vancouver B.C. & the Lummi Nation
102.3 KIXP Alerts via Car Radios
StayAlert Data Services
Using the power of FM radio to deliver text Alerts to public places, homes, phones and car radios.
Video Displays Computers Mobile Car Radio
Audio & Text
Phones
Installed in Public Places
Utility LED signs
StayAlert receiver hardware for public displays & in remote locations
Portable, compact & affordable devices.
Table Top Receiver
(In development)
-
HDMI Port (For TV's & Monitors)
-
USB Ports (FMTuner)
-
Ethernet (Network)
USB FM Tuner for Laptops or PC's​
Works with Indoor or Outdoor Antennas
Connecting Our Community
StayAlert is committed to supporting local authorities during emergencies. One of our primary objectives is to provide them with direct access to our broadcast audio during such events.
Our first participant is Orcas Fire & Rescue
Direct access to KIXP-air audio
Daily, weekly, and monthly on-air programming
Frequent PSA schedules
Future plans include additional transmitters on Orcas
Two for San Juan Island
The StayAlert Organization is located at The Orcas Media Center
Contact us
The Orcas Media Center is located on the corner of "A" Street & North Beach Road in Eastsound, Wa. on Orcas Island.
The OMC serves as the home for KIXP FM's radio studios and transmission equipment. Additionally, it functions as the Operational Center for StayAlert services.
Current capabilities now include:
-
FM Broadcast 102.3 KIXP FM
-
Streaming Media services: KIXP.org & Orcasradio.org
-
FCC mandated EAS equipment including weekly tests.
-
Community round table studio
-
Backup power
-
Rock Island fiber Internet
-
Starlink satellite data service
-
Buck Mt remote studio
-
Eagle Ridge (Mt Constitution) backup operations