Story Hill Electronic Site.
One of three major electronic sites in the Bozeman area,
Story Hill has been the home of three full-power FM stations, one
television translator, and one FM translator. Other users
of the site have included Cellular One, the Montana Department of
Highways, a radio common carrier, and an amateur radio repeater.
Since 1993, Montanavision, Inc. has played an important role in the
development and maintenance of the Story Hill Electronic Site.
The site was decommissioned in March, 2003.
This view from the west shows the two main towers on the site.
The tall tower on the right supports antennas for KZLO-FM and
KOBB-FM. Each uses an eight-bay ERI circularly-polarized
"roto-tiller" style antenna. The shorter tower on the left
used to support an aircraft beacon for the Montana Aeronautics
Commission. Until November 1, 2002, it supported antennas for KGLT-FM, K42BZ-TV,
and Cellular One. KGLT-FM used the four-bay Shively antenna
with radomes on the left side of the tower. K42BZ-TV
used a Scala four-bay antenna, which was mounted on the near leg,
near the top. Cellular One had three vertical antennas, mounted
on the railing of the crow's nest. The pole on the left brings
the electrical service from North Western Energy to the site.
The pole on the right supports the transmitting antennas for
the KEMC-FM translator on 106.7 MHz. This photo was taken in December, 2000.
The shorter "beacon" tower was dismantled in December, 2002.
Story Hill is also known as Beacon Hill. This photo was
taken from the south in March, 1998, before the KGLT-FM
antenna was replaced. The KGLT-FM 91.9 antenna is the four-element
array on the left side of the left-most tower. The four white
blocks are the antenna for K42BZ-TV, the television translator
on channel 42. The three long white vertical antennas on the
crow's nest are for Cellular One. The guyed tower on the right
supports antennas for KOBB-FM 93.7 and KZLO-FM 99.9.
The small wooden pole in front of the building supports the
antennas for a translator for KEMC-FM on 106.7.
As Murphy's Law dictates, one of the beacon lamps and
one of the obstruction lamps burned out during the course
of the winter. Jim took advantage of a sunny, mild
afternoon in January to relamp the 230 foot tower.
From the top of the tower, the two 8-bay FM antennas line
the northwest face of the tower.
Closeup of one of the FM radiators just above the
obstruction lights.
Looking down on the old beacon tower.
The crow's nest on the old beacon tower, showing the Cellular
One antennas.
View of Bozeman, due west of Story Hill.
On a sunny winter afternoon, a herd of elk grazes
watchfully on the south-facing slopes to the east
of Story Hill. January, 2001.
In March, 2003, both KZLO and KOBB-FM moved to temporary facilities
at the Johnson Road site for Reier Broadcasting. It is planned to eventually move them to
a new facility on Green Mountain. KGLT moved their transmitter
and antenna back to the MSU Bozeman campus on November 1, 2002. KGLT
now shares a building and tower near Logan with one of the Clear Channel FM's.
K42BZ, the translator for the Butte NBC affiliate, was moved to Green Mountain
on October 21, 2002. Cellular One removed their equipment from the
Story Hill site on October 31, 2002.
KOBB-FM serves Big Sky on translator
K288ES on 105.5 MHz.
KOBB-FM serves Livingston on translator
K240CO on 95.9 MHz.
KOZB (FM) serves Livington with translator
K265AS on 100.9 MHz.
Story Hill Electronic Site.
Green Mountain Electronic Site.
This page updated 14-Mar-2016.
