Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 800, Volume 16, #20 for December 18, 2024

CDBS ENDS WITH THE YEAR
The FCC wants you to use the LMS database and, as this year ends, so does Public Access Search functions of the CDBS.

$29K FOR PUBLIC FILE VIOLATIONS
The FCC is getting more and more picky when the Online Public Information File is not kept up properly. The KHQ Inc. TV stations in Washington state (KHQ, KNDO, KNDU) reached a Consent Decree and Order to pay $29,000 for failure to upload files and misrepresenting that to the FCC.

A WAY TO MAKE THINGS EASIER
In the old days, any time something came up that was not envisioned by the equipment on hand, engineers often had to design and/or fabricate peripherals to take care of some simple needs.

In recent years, Henry Engineering has built and sold any number of things that have found their way into radio stations everywhere. Hank Landsberg, the man behind Henry Engineering, is our special guest this week to talk about a new product and how his lines can improve your life, by making things easier.

As usual … 2 PM Thursday EST / 11 AM on the West Coast. Stop by and spend a few minutes. We guarantee you will learn something. The link URL is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

THE END IS COMING
There is not much left of the 2024 calendar. So, this is time to get the end-of-year projects and documentation underway. With very little going on in the last two weeks of this month, that Q4 Issues & Programs upload – for example – will come pretty fast in 2025. Station logs, maintenance notes, EAS receiver programming, etc all are items worth a look over the next couple of weeks. What do you plan for 2025? This is a good time to be able to stop, think, and plan.

LANDLINES DISAPPEARING
Most broadcast folks know that the phone companies are trying hard to retire landlines, especially since many users have switched to cellphones or VoIP. Although the FCC has said carriers must ensure legacy service are accessible, this likely means many devices will need a means to operate, including fire/security/medical/emergency systems, etc. Many broadcasters have already noticed that when changes are made locally, touch tone remote control systems do not always work. That means planning ahead over the next few years might be necessary for some stations.

FM EOL DATES IN EUROPE
An announcement this week notes that Switzerland will close down FM transmitters in 2026 and by 2031 the German state of Schleswig-Holstein will also do so. The move to DAB+ is strong in Europe.

FOR SALE
A station that took a lightning hit needs a Nautel J1000 or Exciter module. It is a busy time of the year, but there are some good deals available on the Buy/Sell page. Looking for something? Looking to empty the back room shelves? Check these out!
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Some recent articles of interest:

• My Tower Can Hear! – Gary Minker
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch –  failing to keep OPIF up, lying = $29k
• Bell Labs: a Century of Innovation – Dave Felice
• Do Not Make These Dozen IT Mistakes – Barry Mishkind
• Is that email Really from Someone I Know? – James Hermanson
• The Loudest Do Not Always Win – Mike Langner
• Backup Includes Audio Processing – Robert Leembruggen
• Dana’s Daily Deals
• More newsy items here

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

As we approach the end of the year, remember that “office hours” and support will be a bit thinner than usual. If you know you need something, act now. If not, remember to be patient with the staff that is working during the holiday season.

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Lawo continues to roll out software updates with the availability of version 12.0.0 for its current mc2 mixing console systems
Version 12.0.0 adds native support for the HOME mc2 DSP App that runs on generic CPU platforms using cloud-native technologies. This release also increases the processing channel count of the mc2 36 MkII console to 384 channels.

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Broadcast Electronics announces that Alfonso O. Lopez has joined the company as Director of Sales for all company products and service in the Latin America and parts of the Caribbean. Lopez brings extensive experience in broadcast technology to the Elenos Group – including being widely recognized as the founder of 305 Broadcast, a leading distributor of broadcast products. 

Broadcast Electronics also is celebrating the 35th year of its AudioVAULT. As part of the celebration, BE is offering free upgrades to current users to AudioVAULT 11, as well as some very nice deals for previous users or new users. (How about $99 to return to AV?) More information is at BE, 217-224-9600 or via the website: www.bdcast.com or email: info@bdcast.com

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Digital Alert Systems announced that Ed Czarnecki, the company’s vice president of global and government affairs, has been elected to the board of directors for the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC). As a member of the board, Czarnecki will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of the organization.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 


Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

• 12 years ago (12/21/2012)”Gangnam Style” was the first YouTube video to amass one billion views.
• 33 years ago (12/21/91) “Bohemian Rhapsody” returns to #1 for five weeks after Freddy Mercury’s death.
• 35 years ago (12/17/89) The Simpsons debuted. It is now in its 36th season.
• 47 years ago (12/17/77) Elvis Costello is banned from Saturday Night Live for switching songs.
• 50 years ago (12/15/74) the members of Aerosmith watched “Young Frankenstein“ and it led to them to name their hit song. *
• 50 years ago (12/21/74) Harry Chapin hit #1 with “Cat’s in the Cradle.” 
• 54 years ago (12/21/70) Elvis met Richard Nixon at the White House.
• 63 years ago (12/18/61) “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” with a chorus in poorly translated Zulu, tops the Hot 100 for The Tokens.

… and 80 years ago (12/15/44) Band leader Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel. 

 
And here are some “regular news history” type items:

• 26 years ago (12/19/98) Bill Clinton was impeached. 
• 36 years ago (12/21/88) PanAm Flight 103 exploded over Scotland killing 259 in the plane and 11 on the ground.
• 49 years ago (12/19/74) the Altair 8800 Personal Computer was released.
• 110 years ago (12/18/1912) the fraudulent “Piltdown Man” fossil was “discovered.”

… and 119 years ago (12/17/1903) the Wright brothers made their first successful airplane flight.

May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

* The scene where Igor (Marty Feldman) tells Dr. Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) to “walk this way,” really caught their attention and, returning to the studio, they used it to title the track on which they were working.

MIDWEEK BONUS

How important is the Amazon to the world’s oxygen supply? You might be surprised.

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PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND
We sure hope you are finding the BDR and the Newsletter to be of value to you. If so, there are two things that you can do to ensure the BDR keeps pulsing along:
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TELL US WHAT’S WHAT
There are so many areas into which we would like to expand, but it is feedback from you that helps us decided where to go first. Are you interested in a certain piece of gear or technology? Let us know. Even better, would you be willing to do a user report and share your experience?

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We sure do appreciate you spending time with our Newsletter. And even more so when you recommend us to your colleagues and friends.

barry

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Now … some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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