Hello future, current, and former ‘Toppers!  Everyone here at WTOP hopes that you will enjoy our series of blog posts over the upcoming weeks. We will be giving you updates throughout the semester on our HD upgrade. Buckle up folks, it’s gonna be a fun ride!

Getting right into it- as many of you know over the summer we started our transition to high definition. So what exactly does this mean?  Well, it means we are getting an infrastructure and equipment upgrade. This allows us to go from standard definition to high definition. We will be getting new HD cameras, a new Ross Xpression graphics system, Ross Carbonite 2ME switcher, along with new playout and automation servers.  Eventually we will add a sliding door area in the control room in order to create a separate audio area for our A1.
Aside from that, we will also have wireless microphones and wireless IFB’s.  All of this will mix with our new WSI meteorology graphics that were purchased last year.

General Manager, Justin Dobrow says this upgrade will benefit students that come through WTOP’s doors for years to come.  “It [the upgrade] adds industry standard high definition equipment that really will improve our production quality and proficiency. That will follow ‘Toppers for years to come as they go on their journey”.

Dobrow also couldn’t help but comment on the remarkable situation that he encountered during the upgrade process.  “One unique aspect of the HD upgrade is that a former GM (Peter Kurys, ‘98) who works for our integrator (the people who are designing and building our upgrade) was a previous GM of WTOP!”, he exclaimed.

One barrier that comes with the upgrade is that members have to learn all of the new equipment being installed.  Installers will be running a training course to teach management how to use all of the new technology before everyone else get to start using it.  None the less, it will be a transition for everyone; one that Dobrow does not see a problem with.  “I believe the transition will take some getting used to, I don’t think we will struggle learning the new equipment. In our industry we need to be able to adapt to changing technology, and this gives us a chance to really hone in on those skills”, said Dobrow.  
On September 12, 2016 we held our general interest meeting. The crowd got a chance to hear a little bit about how the HD upgrade was going to affect the production schedule.  Public Relations Manager, Arielle Schunk says she doesn’t think the delay in production will affect involvement in the slightest.  “After such a huge turnout at the general interest meeting on September 12th, I can already see how great of a semester it’s going to be even though we are starting productions a little late”. The turnout for the General Interest meeting was one of the biggest yet, filling the auditorium with over 220 toppers.

We would like to thank the Oswego Alumni Association, the Student Association of Oswego and all of the generous alumni who have helped to fund our transition to HD! In addition, we want to thank the support we’ve gotten from all of the faculty and administration during this whole process.  

We all can’t wait to get to work!