Barry Mishkind

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 861, Volume 17, #28 for February 11, 2026

THE FRN FRNZY
Late last month the FCC, long known for its “one size fits all” approach to regulation, issued a Public Notice that the failure to keep all FRN information –  including that for individual board members – up to date could draw a $1000/day fine. Predictably, the FCC servers promptly crashed under the load.

Bottom line: Broadcasters need have no specific worry from the January Public Notice, but do need to key LMS information up to date. More detail and links to the Public Notices are here.

WORLD RADIO DAY
Friday is the 2026 World Radio Day, organized by UNESCO. The theme is “Radio and Artificial Intelligence,” a discussion of AI and its impact on broadcasting and societal ethics. Stations and individuals can participate in World Radio Day by registering at UNESCO.

PROGRAM TRANSMISSION ISSUES
The upcoming mandated auction of C-Band frequencies is starting to take shape. A large number of stations rely on programming delivered via satellite. If the FCC auctions over 80% of the frequencies used by broadcasters, will there be enough left to be useful? Some groups are trying to switch to IP transmission. Will this work? Mark Johnson, of LinkUp Communications is our guest this week to discuss and answer any questions you may have. 

Join us tomorrow (Thursday) and enjoy the information. Jeff will always answer any transmitter questions. Can you stump him? 

Join us Thursday at 2 PM Eastern /11 AM Pacific, and let us learn things. The link request is, as usual, at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ Yes, you can see us on YouTube live – but joining us on zoom makes it easier to ask questions and discuss issues.


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

 

DUAL WARNINGS, BUT MORE HACKS
It was just days after the FCC issued (1/30) an “ Urgent Cyber-Security Alert to Broadcasters” regarding hackers and the incursions suffered by stations. Bad guys managed to break into the RDS feeds of at least three stations, feeding obscenities to the dashboard screens of listeners. Then GatesAir issued a statement, again stressing the need for station gear not to be connected directly to the Internet.

ROUTERS AND FIREWALLS, OH MY
It is not just broadcasters. AI-enhanced attacks are hitting more and more sites, such that the Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency send out word that all federal agencies are required to replace devices, such as routers and firewalls, that are now at “end of support” to reduce the risks from outdated devices that no longer receive security updates.

FREE SEMINARS
Did you know we have over 200 video seminars on topics ranging from new equipment to maintenance issues? And they are all FREE. You do not have to sign up for a year’s subscription or pay a lot for one or two of them. They are all there for broadcasters to benefit from them. Is there a useful topic you do not see? Let us know and perhaps we can schedule a presentation on so everyone can benefit.

INSIDE THE FENCE
As the winter rains recede, and temperatures rise, it is also probable that the area inside your tower fence will bloom big-time. May we suggest this is the time to plan an herbicide treatment before you cannot get to the tower base? Or, perhaps you would like to take a look at what could happen. 

WANTED
If you have any old multiplexor/combiner parts, someone is looking for them. And, there is a good selection of items for sale. Take a look … a solution for a problem may be here.


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

 

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

Here are some of the more recent items of interest:

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

                       
                       MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

                      SATShow2026 is going to be in Washington DC, March 23-26

                      = = =

                      Broadcast Electronics                       has special deal on rebuilt FXi250 Watt exciters and transmitters during February. The price is $1999, including shipping within the USA. More information for Western US: Dustin dvance@bdcast.com or Eastern US: Joe jmyers@bdcast.com

                      = = =

                      NAB SPRING SHOW
                      As previously announced, this year the NAB will generally consolidate the radio and TV manufacturers in the refurbished Central Hall,  calling it TV and Radio HQ.

                      The dates are April 19-22. (The PREC meeting is scheduled just before NAB). Looking at the current exhibitor map for the Show, most of the radio and TV folks you will be looking for will be at the West end (the upper level) of the Central Hall.

                      We are starting to get more information on the booth numbers and Floor Pass codes for the NAB Spring Show. While the NAB’s Floor Pass offer has expired, it is still possible to get one via the exhibitors (at NABShow.com). If you are planning to go to Las Vegas in April, you can start to make your walking list with these folks:

                      • Broadcast Depot                            Exhibits Passcode: NS2994
                      • Comrex:                                             Booth #C2243    Exhibits Passcode: NS4695
                      • Digital Alert Systems                     Booth #C3452 
                      • Lawo                                                       Booth #C2108
                      • Wheattone                                          Booth #C1051    Exhibits Passcode: NS8557

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

                       

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

                              By the way – Early February is when the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards are generally broadcast.

                              • 24 years ago (2/14/02) Sirius satellite radio service began in four states.
                              • 46 years ago (2/11/80) WKRP in Cincinnati runs episode about the 12/3/79 disaster when 11 were killed at a Who Concert.
                              • 51 years ago (1975) Solid State Transmitters were Type-Accepted. The first one? *
                              • 54 years ago(2/12/72) Al Green hit #1 with “Let’s Stay Together.“
                              • 66 years ago (2/11/60) Payola was officially condemned by the President and the FCC proposed law to make it a crime. Now that was a real quid pro quo.
                              • 66 years ago (2/11/60) Jack Parr walked off “The Tonight Show” with four minutes left after censors cut a joke from the previous show.
                              • 86 years ago (2/12/40) the caped crusader, Superman, was first heard on WOR(AM) in New York. Yes, “Up in the sky! Look! It’ a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Superman!”

                              … and 112 years ago (2/13/1914) ASCAP was founded.

                              Here are a few other “newsy” items of interest:

                              • 21 years ago (2/14/05) YouTube was registered to share videos.
                              • 25 years ago (2/15/01) the first draft of the human genome was published.
                              • 30 years ago (2/10/96) World chess champion Garry Kasparov lost a game to a computer.
                              • 36 years ago (2/11/90) Nelson Mandela was released from prison.
                              • 37 years ago (2/14/89) Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa to assassinate Salman Rushdie – who is still alive.
                              • 51 years ago (2/11/75) Margaret Thatcher defeated Edward Heath as leader of the UK Conservative Party. She became Prime Minister in 1979.
                              • 62 years ago (2/11/64) the Mint saw the ceremonial first strike of the Kennedy Half-Dollar.
                              • 80 years ago (2/14/46) the ENIAC computer was first demonstrated. With 17468 tubes and 150 kW power consumption, it cost the equivalent of $6 million today – and was still was less capable than the earliest PC.
                              • 82 years ago (2/10/44) Income Tax withholding was introduced.
                              • 95 years ago (2/14/31) The original “Dracula” film was released. The star? **
                              • 103 years ago (2/16/1923) Archeologist Carter opened the tomb of King Tut.
                              • 128 years ago (2/15/1898) The USS Maine explodes in Havana Harbor. ***

                               … and 148 years ago (2/16/1878) Silver dollars were first made legal.


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

                                                   


                                                  * The first Type Accepted Solid State Broadcast transmitter was the SS-1000A from Cetec-Sparta, designed by Richard Johnson. Westinghouse also worked on a solid state design that it ended up selling to RCA.

                                                  ** Bela Lugosi was the first Dracula.

                                                  *** The explosion started the Spanish-American War, but naval investigators later determined it was an accidental fire.


                                                  MIDWEEK BONUS

                                                  A Flying Cover
                                                  Given the nasty weather of late in some areas, perhaps you would have liked to have an umbrella that you did not have to hold. And, yep, there is one. It follows you and keeps you pretty dry.

                                                  Shining on
                                                  LED lights have generally outlasted the incandescent ones, but there is a King … and it is not likely to be exceeded any time soon!

                                                   
                                                  From where did your state’s name come? You might know … or maybe not. A list is here.

                                                  = = =

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

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                                                          1. Invite a colleague or a friend to sign up for the Newsletter. Since it is only one-time-a-week, you will not be accused of flooding their in-boxes!
                                                          2. Anytime you deal with one of our sponsors, letting them know the BDR is important to you will make them happy – and ready to keep on supporting the BDR.

                                                  PLEASE 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?

                                                  barry