New installation pairs RingMaster™ broadband antenna technology with a compact manifold combiner design to strengthen FM and HD Radio performance
RAYMOND, Maine, March 3, 2026 — Dielectric has delivered a major FM infrastructure upgrade for Bonneville International with the installation of a new master antenna system outside Salt Lake City. The Dielectric RingMaster™ broadband FM and custom manifold combiner system supports 13 FM radio stations broadcasting from Farnsworth Peak, among the most historically significant broadcast sites in the western United States.
Bonneville International operates three of the stations on the system (KSL-FM, KSFI-FM, and KRSP-FM) and led the project to modernize the site’s master antenna infrastructure and strengthen RF performance. Bonneville’s engineering team identified that an aging master antenna system on the tower was reaching end-of-life and was not originally designed to modern HD Radio requirements.
“We were looking at a master antenna that was 40 years old,” said Aaron Farnham, Regional Director of Engineering, Bonneville International. “It was never designed for digital and we knew we were pushing the edge of what it could reliably handle. We decided it was time to replace it with something that could support every station on the system and improve overall efficiency.”
Bonneville evaluated multiple antenna manufacturers with goals that included enabling all stations to achieve improved coverage using smaller, more efficient transmitters, while also supporting HD Radio insertion levels that better match modern broadcast standards. Farnham said Dielectric distinguished itself through a consultative engineering approach that addressed both RF performance and the unique physical constraints of the site, with additional sales support through Dielectric’s partners at SCMS.
“The one that impressed us was Dielectric,” Farnham said. “Their follow-up questions demonstrated a clear effort to understand our objectives and the rationale behind our approach. Rather than issuing a generic quote, they positioned themselves as a true partner, focused on ensuring the RingMaster design was the right strategic fit.”
Dielectric’s RingMaster technology builds on the company’s DCR side-mounted ring antenna designs and introduces a new broadband concept that blends half-wave and full-wave spaced arrays. That diverse wavelength spacing helps FM broadcasters maintain full FM bandwidth performance with fewer radiating elements while offering broadcasters greater control over directional elevation patterns.
The Farnsworth Peak RingMaster antenna is side-mounted on the tower and the existing combined antenna system will remain in place as a backup. Dielectric also performed detailed tower surveys and modeling to account for surrounding antennas and tower structures that could influence final coverage patterns.
The project also included installation of a new Dielectric manifold combiner inside the RF building. The thoughtful design merges 13 FM signals in a compact footprint, enabling Bonneville and the other tenant broadcasters to support a large master system without requiring facility expansion. “The combiner style allowed us to fit 13 stations in a relatively small space,” Farnham said. “They stacked the combiners and designed everything to minimize how much space it took inside the building.”
Farnham adds that the performance improvements are already evident in both analog FM and HD Radio reception across the Salt Lake City market. “The HD Radio signals are exceptional,” he said. “In areas where analog traditionally drops out due to terrain, HD Radio now remains solid. Even operating at –14 dB, the digital signal holds reliably. Overall, broadcast audio quality has improved across the board.
SCMS worked closely with Bonneville and Dielectric throughout the procurement process and provided customer support flexibility that helped keep the project on schedule as a turnkey project. “They’re always a good partner,” Farnham said. “They helped guide the sales process and worked in partnership with Dielectric on what the right solution should be.” SCMS also worked with subcontractors Intelligent Design and Turris Services to help execute the project.
“RingMaster and our manifold combiner technology reflect the direction of today’s FM master antenna system design, helping broadcasters reduce complexity and tower loading while improving broadband performance, pattern control, and long-term operational efficiency,” said Keith Pelletier, President of Dielectric. “Bonneville International’s Farnsworth Peak installation is a cutting-edge example of how broadcasters can optimize multi-station FM and HD Radio delivery through a single master system, made possible through close collaboration between Dielectric and our trusted partners at SCMS.”
About SCMS
SCMS has been your Broadcast/AV Equipment Solutions provider since 1976. Customers come to SCMS from professional radio, audio/visual, television broadcast, educational and religious venues, for informed solutions and great broadcast gear. SCMS has the answers to your product needs for remote broadcasting, streaming audio, video and more. We have 14 sales reps and broadcast engineers across the US and Latin America with our corporate office located in NC. Our manufacturers list is over 500 strong. Visit https://www.scmsinc.com for more details.
About Dielectric
Based in Raymond, Maine, Dielectric LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Dielectric is a leading provider of innovative broadcast products. The company has been building and delivering antennas and RF systems optimized for every TV and FM radio broadcast need since 1942. Dielectric is an innovative, customer-centric organization with a long history of engineering excellence in designing and manufacturing high-quality broadcast solutions. As a trust partner of broadcasters worldwide, Dielectric maintains its legacy of advanced, precision RF solutions while building in features that prepare broadcasters for the future. More information can be accessed at www.dielectric.com.
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