The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource

... edited by Barry Mishkind - the Eclectic Engineer

This Week’s Newsletter

Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 775, Volume 15, #48 for June 26, 2024

Here are some things you might want to know about:

SUMMER KICKS OFF WITH A BANG!
What a year! Tornados, lightning strikes, heavy rain, flooding, and now 3/4 of the US is over 90 degrees – and in many places the power service is spotty. Wow! Reports of tower and transmitter failures are coming in from all over. With many stations struggling without a full time engineer, the manufacturers and vendors are busy trying to help stations recover. This is a time when companies really show true customer support. The BDR is happy to point you to those companies we can heartily recommend in difficult times.

By the way, just a tip to those of you in unusually hot areas: heat really stresses solid state components. Check your air handling systems – including air filters – to ensure the temperature does not get too high in the transmitter room. Worst case: temporarily cutting the power output down a bit can often reduce the heat load while not affecting coverage excessively.

TAKING TIME TO REPORT
When dealing with a disaster, the first priority is the safety of staff, then staying on the air, or getting back on the air. The FCC seems a bit unhappy that only 20-35% of stations stop dealing with the emergency to file a DIRS report on the FCC server – that is, if there is power and Internet to even to do that. While the FCC does make an effort to stations with STA as needed, the NAB is against the current FCC notion to make DIRS reports mandatory, saying the FCC might be just a bit too concerned with paperwork.

Q2 I&P
Speaking of paperwork, yep, it is time again for the quarterly Issues & Programs list to be posted to each station’s OPIF. This report has a deadline of July 10th. But here is what is different: the FCC has been making it known that they are ready to become more aggressive in finding – and fining – stations with incomplete files. With the long weekend next week, let this reminder spark you to get the filing done!

REWINDING RADIO PROGRAMS
Stations and individuals who are running streams on the Internet have seen various improvements in the services and audio quality. What else can be done? How about letting listeners “replay” a segment? And, while a lot of stations do use the Internet for STLs, are there ways to improve the links?

Eduardo Martinez and Tim Labelle from StreamGuys will be with us during this week’s Virtual Lunch Gathering. They will discuss the newest features of streaming, as well as answer any questions you might have on the topic itself.

THURSDAY: 2 PM Eastern and 11 AM on the West Coast. Join us and learn things! The link request is at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ 


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


 

ARE WE READY FOR A NEW FM CLASS THIS TIME?
The FCC is considering – and seeking comments about – a new FM station class, called A10. This class would have local stations able to run 10 kW at up to 100 meters over HAAT. Similar to the C4 proposal from a few years ago, the concept is to allow local stations to better cover their markets.

… AND GEO-CASTING, TOO
It was only a month or so ago when the FCC indicated they would accept applications for geo-targeting boosters. Already at least 21 stations have applied for permission to split programming to different areas. Meanwhile, the NAB continues to see this as a problem for smaller stations which effectively will get more competition from larger stations running the split audio in their area.

WHEN NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION
Ensuring that paperwork for the FCC is correct and up to date is very important. Recently, we have seen several LPFM applications denied due to typos or inaccurate information. Now, KASA (AM) in Phoenix lost its authorization after operating without an authorized permanent tower site for over four years. But the main reason for the deletion was more mundane than the siting issue. The station did have an STA for some time, but eventually, no one contacted the FCC to renew it. Thus, the The FCC said “transmissions from an unauthorized site are no better than silence.”
 
AM OR SAFETY?
Would you demand an AM radio in your new car if it meant some safety technology would have to be left out? A recent commentary suggests that car makers could be forced to include either AM radios or safety features. While the debate and legislation continue to build, neither the various pro- or anti-AM proponents seem to have a solution for the general RF pollution from so many Part 15 sources. Does anyone have a real, reasoned answer?

ATSC1 OR 3
If you are planning on buying a new TV, take note that there is a lot of lobbying right now to set a date soon to terminate ATSC1 TV broadcasts in favor of the NextGen (ATSC3) stations now on the air in many cities.

LETTERS?
Some time back, we had a Letters to the Editor section. A few readers have indicated they might like to see it back again. How do you feel? Let us know, please.

FOR SALE
There are a few boxes of music length ScotchCart II cartridges left – free to a good home. Do you have a Tektronix SG505 sitting on the shelf? How about a Broadcast Tools 16.4 switcher. Or an Arrakis 12000 module? And, someone is selling off gear acquired over a 50 year career. Take a look on the BDR ForSale page. See what other items are listed.

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

 

Some recent articles of interest:

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

 
MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

WorldCast reports having received certification confirming the compliance of Ecreso FM AiO Series 100W and 300W transmitters for use by broadcasters in the US with an LPFM license.

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Insoft’s HDV Mixer can run independently from the station’s automation system to create “Visual Radio.”

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With lightning season upcoming, Nott Ltd in Farmington, NM has several time-tested lightning dissipation tools that can help you survive the electrical storms.

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GatesAir introduces GatesAir Care, a three-level support plan that stations can provide special benefits and cost savings.


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

 


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

              • 42 years ago (6/24/82) Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder finished seven weeks at #1 with “Ebony and Ivory.“
              • 43 years ago (6/27/81) Kim Carnes returned to nine weeks at #1 with �Bette David Eyes,” interrupted for one week by Stars on 45.
              • 44 years ago (6/23/80) Lipps Inc. had their fourth week at #1 with “Funky Town.“
              • 48 years ago (6/23/76) the CN Tower in Toronto opened.
              • 56 years ago (6/25/69) The Hollies recorded “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” with Elton John on piano.
              • 114 years ago (6/24/1910) Public Law 262 initiated licensing of wireless radio operators on 7/1/1911.

              … and 133 years ago (6/23/1891) Nikola Tesla was granted Patent 454,622 for his “couple tuned circuit radio frequency oscillator.”

              How about some “regular news history” type items:

              • 3 years ago (6/24/21) 98 people died when the Surfside condo in Florida collapsed.
              • 11 years ago (6/23/13) Nick Wallenda makes Grand Canyon crossing on high wire.
              • 17 years ago (6/29/07) Apple released the first iPhone.
              • 29 years ago (6/29/95) the American space shuttle Atlantis docked with the Russian space station Mir to form the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth.
              • 68 years ago (6/25/56) The last Packard (classic American luxury car) was produced.
              • 74 years ago (6/27/50) President Truman ordered U.S. forces to Korea.
              • 76 years ago (6/26/48) The U.S. began the Berlin Airlift.
              • 195 years ago (6/27/1829) English scientist James Smithson established the Smithsonian Institution. Smithson decreed that the whole of his estate would go to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Smithson’s curious bequest to a country that he had never visited aroused significant attention on both sides of the Atlantic. The gift was $500,000 in 1829 funds. Now there are 19 museums in the complex.

              …. and 411 years ago (6/29/1613) the original Globe Theatre burned to the ground. It was rebuilt in the following year.


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

                           

                          MIDWEEK BONUS


                          How much compression are you running?
                          Sometimes, enough is more than enough.

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                          CAN YOU HELP US WITH A USER REVIEW OR OTHER TECH TIP?
                          Our readers range from well-seasoned engineers and IT folks to newbies who love to learn the tricks of the trade – and what are the best models to buy when gear is needed. Your help in identifying solutions is needed. Worried about writing? Don’t … we will help. Please let us know where your interests lie and what you might be able to do!

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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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