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Pippin Promoted To Lerman Senter Member Role

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:45

He worked for broadcast stations for several years before becoming a communications attorney. Now, he’s been elevated to the role of Member at Washington, D.C. law firm Lerman Senter.

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Categories: Industry News

Salt & Light Deploys BE Transmitters in Idaho

Radio World - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:37

From our Who’s Buying What page: Salt & Light Radio has deployed Broadcast Electronics AM1A and AM10A transmitters for two AM radio stations in greater Boise, Idaho.

Salt & Light operates noncommercial listener-supported Catholic Radio services on about 10 AM and FM signals across Idaho, with programming in English and Spanish. 

The new AM transmitters support KGEM, which operates with 10 kW on 1140 kHz and carries the English-language network, while KCID operates with 1 kW on 1490 kHz and delivers the Spanish programming. Thomas Lowther is the organization’s director of engineering. 

Send information for Who’s Buying What stories to radioworld@futurenet.com.

[See Our Who’s Buying What Page]

The post Salt & Light Deploys BE Transmitters in Idaho appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

MAX-imum Effort To Grow Through Spot Cable

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:30

As 2023 came to a close, two big brands were hot on spots when it came to attracting more business through the use of Spot Cable.

One is a OTT platform, ironically attracting a generation of cord-cutters and cord-nevers. The other is linked to one Dan Gilbert.

 

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Categories: Industry News

Twin Tiers Radio Station Owner Unexpectedly Dies

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 14:16

The owner of a collection of radio stations serving the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania has died, with his widow becoming the executor of his estate — and the controlling interest holder in his broadcast properties.

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Categories: Industry News

The U.S. Population, As 2024 Begins

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 13:30

As the nation rings in the new year, the U.S. Census Bureau has projected what the U.S. population was as the clock struck Midnight in New York on January 1, 2024.

It represents an increase of roughly 0.53% from one year earlier.

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Categories: Industry News

Long-Time Broadcast Journalist Frank Beacham Has Died

Radio World - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 12:45

Frank Beacham, a journalist who wrote about audio, video and film technology in publications including Radio World and TV Tech, passed away on Dec. 12 after complications from a medical procedure. He was 75.

Beacham covered much of the technology that shaped broadcasting and film over the past half century. Radio World readers knew him for articles about gear such as portable recorders, microphones and tabletop radios, but his interests spanned several industries.

In 2001 Beacham helped document the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and broadcasters’ efforts to restore over-the-air broadcasting in New York. He was among the first users of Sony’s revolutionary Betacam camera (on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”). He also worked with Orson Welles just before Welles passed away in 1985 and was a producer on the 1999 film “Cradle Will Rock.”

Here is the announcement from Beacham’s family posted on Facebook on Dec. 25:

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Frank on December 12th. He was embraced by family and lifelong friends in his final moments.

On this day, December 25, a day synonymous with love, we reflect on the love Frank shared with many. His expressions of love were woven into the words and stories he so beautifully crafted.

We deeply appreciate the heartfelt words of sympathy and support shared privately by many. Frank’s Facebook page will be monitored periodically in remembrance of the love and memories he left behind.

The Beacham Family
Frank Beacham
New York, New York

Born on April 1, 1948, to Frank Shirley and Peggy (Brown) Beacham, Beacham spent his formative years in Honea Path, S.C., and graduated from Honea Path High School in 1966. Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the University of South Carolina, earning a degree in journalism. Beacham is survived by his brother, Dan Beacham (Mary) of Honea Path, SC, niece Rebecca Fulk (Keith) of Honea Path, SC, and nephew Frank B. Beacham (Stephanie) of Clemson, S.C.

A lifelong journalist, Beacham embarked on his career at WHPB radio in Belton, S.C., marking the beginning of a remarkable journey. He went on to work with Senator Richard Byrd of West Virginia and contributed to WIS TV, the Miami Herald, and the Washington Post. Beacham’s journalistic prowess extended to covering pivotal events for NBC, including the 1968 Democratic convention riots, the 1980 Winter Olympics, and several Super Bowls.

His written narratives delved into significant historical events, such as the Southern Textile Labor Strikes in the 1930s, the Orangeburg Massacre and the story of Charlie’s Place. Additionally, Beacham took great pride in his work as a playwright and movie producer, solidifying his legacy as a true storyteller.

A memorial service to celebrate Beacham’s remarkable life will be held at a later date, allowing friends and family to come together and honor his memory.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

The post Long-Time Broadcast Journalist Frank Beacham Has Died appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Ball Drops On Oregon Broadcaster After Earlier License Yank

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 12:15

Six months ago, RBR+TVBR shared details of how a FM radio station allowed to relocate to the Portland, Ore., market failed to do so after an attempt to sell it for $1.5 million fizzled. Then came a Petition to Deny its license renewal, on the grounds that the station was broadcasting from an unauthorized site. This, and other FCC rule violations, led to the deletion of the KYTE-FM call letters and cancellation of the station’s license.

Now, the licensee of that now-deceased facility has ushered in 2024 by ceasing all operations.

As first reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, Yaquina Bay Communications on Monday closed its doors for good. It marks the end of a difficult six-month period for the licensee, which owned and operated KNPT-AM and KNCU-FM “U92” in Newport, KBCH-AM and KCRF-FM in Lincoln City, and KWDP-AM in Waldport, Ore.

But, the troubles for Yaquina Bay date back to the end of 2017, when Media Services Group was hired by company head David Miller to help with the sale of KYTE, which possessed a Construction Permit allowing it to move to a tower atop Bald Mountain. This would have made KYTE a Portland-market station, rather than having the Independence, Ore.-licensed FM primarily serve Eugene and Springfield, Ore.

Generator issues prohibited a move to Bald Mountain for KYTE. As such, it requested to use the KCRF tower temporarily. The FCC said yes. But, Yaquina Bay ended up keeping KYTE’s transmitter there for some three years after time ran out to make the move to Bald Mountain. Despite Miller’s arguments, including financial constraints, the Audio Division of the Media Bureau, led by Al Shuldiner, killed KYTE.

Following this decision, Yaquina Bay’s operations went into a tailspin. In August, a foreclosure came for the business after Oregon Coast Bank initiated a lawsuit seeking recovery of outstanding loan balances in the amount of roughly $532,000, initially drawn in 2009 and in 2016.

With the fate of Yaquina Bay’s stations in the hands of a county sheriff, a liquidation sale was held by the sheriff’s office on December 5, 2023. The sole bidder? Oregon Coast Bank, which grabbed the station’s office and studios and two broadcast towers. Miller worked with the creditor to keep the stations on the air through December 31. And, the bank did — until Monday.

Today, eight full-time and part-time employees are seeking reemployment insurance, as local media reported they learned of their job losses through an e-mail sent by Miller.

Meanwhile, in an August 2023 interview Miller shared with YachatsNews that he wished to  retire and spend time with his family — even as his radio group began to wither.

 

Categories: Industry News

JDD Radio, LLC – WFLM The Flame

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 11:50

New FM radio station in Palm Beach, Florida market is looking for an upbeat and engaging personality for midday.

********Demo/aircheck of on-air work, social media handles, and commercial samples must be included with your resume.***************

Duties include:
Prepares for an air shift using creativity and imagination.
Write assigned Facebook posts along with other social media platforms.
Daily commercial production.
Conduct live remotes and appearances and assist in special promotions and programming activities when needed.
Serves as a creative voice.

Requirements:
Charismatic with good pronunciation; mostly pleasant.
Work well in a team environment, collaborative.
Strong production skills.
Proficient with radio systems and audio editing software.
Experience with social media platforms and have a strategy for making them effective.

Qualified Candidates, please email resume and demos to info@jddradio.com. Additional Information: JDD Radio, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Categories: Industry News

With CES 2024 Coming, Broadcast Media’s Interest Grows

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 11:15

On Monday (1/8), the Winter 2024 RBR+TVBR magazine arrives as a digitally-distributed, full-color Special Report to all Members with full access to the Radio + Television Business Report. Print copies of the report will also be distributed at a special CES “Cocktails and Conversation” by-invitation gathering next week in Las Vegas.

Still on the fence about CES 2024 and its importance to broadcast media? Perhaps Daniel Anstandig, CEO and co-founder of Futuri Media, offers plenty of good reasons why attending the mega conference and expo is a way to perhaps future-proof AM, FM, VHF and UHF.

Asked what his biggest takeaway is for those questioning the importance of CES 2024 and its relevance to the broadcast media industry, Anstandig tells RBR+TVBR, “CES is a global stage for the latest in tech innovation. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the volume of new tech.”

This year, there will be plenty about 5G, the “Internet of Things,” both Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, and of course, Artificial Intelligence. Anstandig advises, “You’re wise to go into CES with a consumer-first mindset. If you’re in broadcast media, think first about how what you’re seeing can deepen the relationship with your existing audience, or can help you create relationships with new audience. Also, think about the ways in which your brand might take advantage of that. Expand your thinking beyond a narrow definition of AM/FM/Streams.”

That’s because, Andstandig says, today the listening audience doesn’t think in terms of “radio” and “TV” as much as they think in terms of “audio” and “video.” As such, “There’s no reason your radio brand can’t have a major video component, and there’s no reason your TV brand shouldn’t take advantage of opportunities in audio.”

Is there one thing that “wows” Andstandig with respect to what one can learn from CES, and perhaps what he can share?

“I draw inspiration from prototypes unveiled at CES,” he says. “Lots of products showcased won’t be available to purchase for years, if ever, but they can inspire other thoughts that lead to your own innovations. CES is a great place to see emerging trends in how consumers are accessing and engaging with media. You’ll see the rise of streaming services, growing importance of mobile platforms, and companies that are in a wide range of marketplaces around the world.”

In particular, Anstandig thinks about the color-changing concept cars BMW has rolled out at the show. “In 2022, they had a version that could support white, black, or grey, and in 2023, they had 32 colors available,” he says. “The color-changing features aren’t yet available to the public, but what does the fact that BMW is investing here tell me about the consumer appetite for customization? Are there ways in which I might apply that to what I do? At Futuri, we’ve been increasing the customization options on our station mobile apps.If you dream it, you can do it — even if there’s not a linear path to get there. CES helps spark those dream ideas, and ways to incorporate bits of the dream into what you do day-to-day.”

With AI a hot-button topic for radio and for TV, what is Anstandig’s prediction on where the industry will be in one year with respect to some of the things CES may be sharing with attendees?

“In 2025, we may be at the point where AI isn’t even its own discussion,” he says. “It’ll just be part of nearly every product that’s showcased. Remember when it used to be a big deal for a device to be WiFi-enabled, and now you just expect to be able to control your humidifier with your phone? I see the same evolution happening with AI.”

With a Premium Membership to the Radio + Television Business Report, you’re guaranteed to receive a copy of our exciting and jam-packed Winter 2024 magazine — our first fully aligned with CES 2024 in Las Vegas.  What can you expect to see in our Winter 2024 magazine?  Technology is perhaps forever changing how consumers enjoy audio and video content. For Fred and Paul Jacobs, showing Radio and TV how to embrace technology is a new key for long-term growth.   You’ll also find the following stories! CES 2024: BIGGER THAN EVER FOR BROADCASTERS BROADCAST MEDIA’S TOP TECH LEADERS OF 2024 AI AND THE LAW: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
With generative artificial intelligence, or “GenAI,” now a part of everyday conversation after just one year, what are the legal risks involved with embracing AI for your on-air and back-office needs? Wiley attorneys share the facts and key things you need to know. NEXTGEN TV In 2024: A Year Of Key Goals
What’s the real story as it pertains to the ATSC 3.0-powered digital broadcast TV standard, which is debuting in Chicago by the time you read this? We get an exclusive and frank update from Pearl TV’s Anne Schelle. Lock in your Premium Membership today!
Categories: Industry News

Cumulus To Bring DFW AM An FM Simulcast Partner

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 10:59

Cumulus Media has followed the lead of radio station owners such as Audacy Inc. by agreeing to add a full-powered FM simulcast partner to an AM radio station in one of the nation’s biggest markets.

In this case, however, the shared programming will likely boost the FM’s ratings, which have been among the market’s lowest in recent months.

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Categories: Industry News

Amazon Video Brings Commercials, And New Paywall

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 09:59

Unhappy with the rising cost of watching the handful of programs you enjoy on an over-the-top (OTT) video streaming platform, or perhaps Thursday Night Football? Now, you’ll be paying to watch that content with limited commercials … unless you’re willing to pay more to erase the spots.

Prime Video subscribers on December 28 received an email from Amazon notifying them that, starting January 29, 2024, Prime Video movies and TV shows will include “limited” advertisements.

Why the change in tune for the Big Tech goliath siphoning ad dollars from broadcast media for the last several years?

“This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time,” Prime Video explains.

Of course, there is a caveat: “We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” it explains.

Those with a Prime membership will continue to have access to TNF and such shows as Upload. But, to view them commercial-free, a new ad-free option for an additional $2.99 per month is being introduced. But, this does not include live event content such as sports and any content delivered through the Amazon Freevee service.

Will consumers pay roughly $36 more per year to Amazon to get their programs free of commercials, which has been the standard delivery method since its inception?

“Prime is a very compelling value,” Amazon says.

Amazon Prime costs $139 per year; Prime Video membership is $8.99 per month.

Categories: Industry News

Gray Officially Unveils Two NBA OTA Partnerships

Radio+Television Business Report - Tue, 01/02/2024 - 09:55

Following a brief voiding of the deal to resolve contractual matters between the bankrupt Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports Group and the National Basketball Association franchise serving Arizona, the Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury in 2023 landed a broadcast rights agreement with Gray Television that saw a slate of each team’s home games end up on the company’s KTVK-3, “Arizona’s Family,” and sister KPHE-44, now known as “Arizona’s Family Sports.”

As the final month of the year commenced, talk of a similar deal in the Crescent City emerged. This followed a late September revelation that Gray had unveiled a “Peachtree Sports Network” with plans to have it air in six Georgia markets including Atlanta.

Now, it’s official: Gray Television now has a trio of NBA teams in its fast-growing sports stable.

Thanks to a deal announced on December 30, ten Atlanta Hawks games will air on “Peachtree TV” — WPCH-17 in Atlanta — “after almost 30 years away.” Back then, Hawks games aired on WGCL-46, owned by Tribune Co., and a dominant unaffiliated station that is today Gray-owned CBS affiliate WANF. Earlier, the Hawks aired on Channel 17 when it was WTBS — the pioneering “Superstation” owned by Ted Turner.

 

Thus, the Hawks deal is a monumental turn-back-the-clock moment for professional sports rights as Friday night telecasts for the remainder of the 2023-2024 NBA season — except the March 8 match-up in Memphis — will air on Peachtree TV. In lieu of the Grizzlies game, a Sunday, March 10 match-up featuring the New Orleans Pelicans will air.

Perhaps that’s fitting, as Gray announced on Monday that it now also has a sports right deal in place with that team, bring 10 games — home and away — to viewers via its WVUE-8 in New Orleans and its Bounce digital multicast offering. For those within the Pelicans’ footprint who cannot get WVUE, Gray says it will seek distribution arrangements with television stations located in additional markets in Louisiana and Mississippi owned by other broadcasters.

For Peachtree Sports Networks, bringing it to stations in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, and Montgomery, Ala., is now a priority.

“We are thrilled to bring the Hawks back to broadcast on Peachtree TV this season,” WANF & WPCH VP/GM Erik Schrader said. “Sports on broadcast television make the games available to everyone. Not only do longtime fans get their favorite team for free, but it’s the best opportunity to grow new fans.”

In Atlanta, Hawks games were made available for local over-the-air distribution as part of the NBA’s agreement with Diamond Sports Group, the owner of Bally Sports Southeast. Peachtree TV will utilize the Bally Sports Southeast production team and the on-air crew of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun and courtside reporter Tabitha Turner for this 10-game package of games. On-air talent from Peachtree TV and WANF including Sports Director Baillie Burmaster will also be featured on telecasts.

Peachtree TV has served as the official broadcast home for the Hawks G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, since 2019.

In New Orleans, Pelicans telecasts on WVUE-8 and Bounce begin on January 12, with a matchup against the 2022-2023 NBA Champions, the Denver Nuggets. “We know people in this region are passionate about their sports. We are thrilled to partner with the Pelicans and make these games available for all fans,” said New Orleans resident and Pelicans fan Sandy Breland, who serves as Gray’s Chief Operating Officer.

Handling the Pelicans games are play-by-play announcer Joel Meyers, former NBA star and color analyst Antonio Daniels and sideline reporter Jennifer Hale.

The New Orleans Pelicans games listed below will air on Gray stations starting January 12, 2024: DATE DAY TIME OPPONENT 1/12/2024 FRIDAY 8:00 PM AT DENVER 1/19/2024 FRIDAY 7:00 PM VS. PHOENIX 2/9/2024 FRIDAY 9:30 PM AT L.A. LAKERS 2/27/2024 TUESDAY 6:30 PM AT N.Y. KNICKS 3/1/2024 FRIDAY 7:00PM VS. INDIANA 3/22/2024 FRIDAY 7:00 PM AT MIAMI 3/26/2024 TUESDAY 7:00 PM VS. OKC THUNDER 4/7/2024 SUNDAY 5:00 PM AT PHOENIX 4/12/2024 FRIDAY 9:00 PM AT GOLDEN STATE TBD TBD TBD TBD

 

Categories: Industry News

FCC Gives Birach AM Another Chance

Radio World - Mon, 01/01/2024 - 14:06

An Oklahoma licensee must demonstrate the essential capability to stay on the air if it wishes to remain in good standing with the FCC.

The commission, in an order released just before Christmas, took Birach Broadcasting to task for extended periods of silence on KJMU(AM) in Sand Springs, Okla. It granted the company a one-year extension of the station’s license, rather than the normal eight years, and reminded it that a station doesn’t serve the community when it is off air.

This is the station’s second one-year renewal. The first expired in July.

“The FCC’s Media Bureau granted licensee a shortened renewal term because the station had been silent for extended periods of time during its prior license term,” according to the FCC’s account.

Yet KJMU was silent for more than four months during the extension. In a request for silent special temporary authority, Birach blamed transmitter problems. But the FCC pointed out that the station had been silent for 37% of its license term and 27% of the extension.

Further, although KJMU is licensed to operate at 500 watts daytime and 1 kW nighttime, when the station come back on in May it was operating at 25% of authorized power by day and was off at night.

Birach blamed transmitter issues and delays in obtaining repair parts. The FCC said KJMU operated at reduced power for nearly two months before it obtained an STA for doing so. And the FCC says that as far as it knows the station continues to operate at reduced power and only during the day, even though it is required to operate unlimited time.

The fresh one-year license renewal runs to Dec. 22, 2024. The commission also admonished Birach for operating at reduced power without authorization.

“Silence instead of operation in accordance with a station’s FCC authorization is a fundamental failure to serve a broadcast station’s community of license, because a silent station offers that community no public service programming such as news, public affairs, weather information, and Emergency Alert System notifications,” wrote Audio Division Chief Albert Shuldiner in the decision.

“In this case, (the) licensee’s conduct has repeatedly fallen short of that which would warrant routine license renewal. Licensee’s stewardship of the station fails to meet the public service commitment which licensees are expected to provide to their communities of license on a daily basis because the station was silent for a significant portion of the license term and operated at reduced power for a significant period of time without commission authorization. … The commission does not take unauthorized operation lightly.”

If at the end of the renewal period the FCC determines Birach still fell short of maintaining service, it could designate the license for hearing, or it could place another condition on renewal that specifies that additional renewals will depend on Birach returning KJMU to unlimited operation during that term.

Birach Broadcasting Corp., based in Southfield, Mich., owns 15 AM stations in cities across the country. Sima Birach is president/CEO.

[More FCC news: “The FCC Keeps Radio Market Caps in Place” ]

The post FCC Gives Birach AM Another Chance appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

For Jurison, Data Display Is the Face of Radio

Radio World - Mon, 01/01/2024 - 05:00
Alan Jurison. (Credit: Photo by Jim Peck)

Alan Jurison is the recipient of the 2024 Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award.

Honorees represent the highest ideals of the U.S. radio broadcast engineering profession and reflect those ideals through contributions to the industry. 

We’re saluting Alan for his work in deploying and advancing HD Radio services over the years, both for his employer and for the industry at large; for his contributions to the National Radio Systems Committee, including projects like helping stations insert local EAS alerts onto HD Radio subchannels; for his efforts to educate the industry about RDS and HD Radio metadata and the importance of high-quality, consistent metadata displays; for his involvement with the SBE; and for his advocacy for engineering education and awareness of issues like virtualization, the cloud and the evolving radio air chain.

Jurison, 44, is senior operations engineer for the Technical Operations group at iHeartMedia, reporting to Jeff Littlejohn. He started in radio at age 15 with Pilot Communications and worked for years at Citadel Broadcasting before joining iHeartMedia in 2012. He is based in Syracuse, N.Y.

We spoke with him about his work and career.

Radio World: Describe your responsibilities and current role.

Alan Jurison: I’m the company’s lead on HD Radio, RDS and metadata services, making sure we’re providing the best experience for our listeners and customers. 

Everyone thinks of HD Radio in terms of its audio channels but there’s all the data behind it too, the metadata services that provide title and artist, album art, station logos, and the data we send over HD stations to feed in-vehicle car navigation systems with traffic and weather information. iHeartMedia brought me on to help build that system and make sure our automotive customers, the OEMs, were happy with the data. Now the job is about making sure it is reliable and well maintained.

The RDS aspect is mostly fully developed now, but we maintain it, make sure it works and that systems are updated. There’s also streaming metadata, making sure the app looks okay. Teams write the code and handle the app development, but that data has to come from somewhere, so we have people and systems in-place to make sure that is managed well. 

And then there are emerging hybrid radio platforms like RadioDNS and DTS AutoStage. You’re starting to see vehicles that have it, and there will be more in the future, which is exciting. If something doesn’t quite look right, we figure out whether the problem is on our side, with the source data, or with an implementation on the receiver side.

We’ve worked over the past 10 to 12 years with Xperi and industry partners like GatesAir, Nautel, Inovonics and WorldCast to make sure equipment that we and other broadcasters buy support metadata. These companies take feedback, from me and many others, combine it with their own great ideas and put these best practices into products people can buy to manage metadata and make sure their stations provide the best experience.

RW: You’ve been an advocate of getting metadata right. But in your job, you wouldn’t necessarily have to be so vocal. You could choose to focus on it for iHeartMedia while letting other companies worry about it for themselves. But by working with vendors, it helps other companies too. 

Jurison: I work with various manufacturers as well as Xperi, and I give them lots of ideas. Sometimes these are iHeartMedia-specific but we try to think globally, because it doesn’t really benefit anyone to make a bunch of special devices or software that only one company can use. And we want to keep costs down for ourselves as well as the rest of the industry. There’s a lot of R&D that goes into these products.

I started putting RDS on stations at Citadel in 2002 or so, it was a pet project of mine. I believed that displays in the car were going to evolve and get more immersive. I discovered some best practices on how to use RDS, and worked with software developer Victor Capton to develop what would become Citadel’s metadata solution. 

These best practices were often developed through research on RDS standards, but also trial and error. I remember going around the office asking to borrow the keys of staff members at the radio station when they got a new car to look at how the metadata implementations were similar, or different. 

Some of the first articles I wrote in Radio World were related to those efforts. “Hey, there’s this new car that can show you all 64 characters of RDS all at once, not chunked in those little eight-character blocks! You’ll be able to see the whole message!” 

This was around 2008, in one of the first iterations of modern infotainment systems. But I still feel like we’re in its infancy. Just imagine, when people don’t have to actually drive the car, how immersive these things will be.

You still see stations that don’t understand how important it is to look good visually in the dash. We’re working with vendors to make it easier for smaller broadcasters. There’s a lot yet to come that will help a smaller station deploy metadata services.

Jurison, far right, with Xperi’s Mike Raide, Jeff Detweiler and Russ Mundschenk, a fellow recipient of the Radio World award. (Credit: Donna Detweiler/Xperi)

RW: Will the introduction of hybrid platforms expand the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots,” to the detriment of stations that don’t engage with metadata?

Jurison: It ends up becoming their business decision. But to date, HD Radio, streaming and RDS are all optional systems. Participating with them is voluntary. If you’re a smaller station or group, maybe you can’t afford all of the wizardry. As we move more into the software-developed world, it becomes less necessary to buy additional hardware to get these functions. 

This is the next evolution over five to 10 years in broadcasting. The computer in a transmitter you buy will do almost everything. Such solutions aren’t quite realized in the marketplace yet, but where we’re going as an industry is pretty exciting. 

I look at Nautel’s recent announcement with its GV2, which integrates audio processing, RDS and HD Radio alignment into the transmitter. That’s pretty powerful. And while that might only be offered in a flagship product, eventually this approach will work its way into lower power levels. Other manufacturers are working in this direction as well.

That kind of thing will be compelling for smaller broadcasters, who will buy the transmitter they plan to buy anyway and get these features too. 

RW: You do a lot of work with the National Radio Systems Committee and the NAB Radio Technical Committee.

Jurison: Lately I’ve been involved with the NABRTC’s work with Nielsen on software-based PPM SDK encoding — encouraging them to develop those tools and working with the manufacturers to implement it. This wasn’t a very hard sell, but those conversations needed to happen. Jason Ornellas of Bonneville was the point person.

With the RTC it’s nice to be working among industry peers. We all have the same kind of problems; so how can we solve them, working with a Nielsen or hardware manufacturer or a group of manufacturers on our common challenges?

By the same process we’re moving towards a software-based EAS ecosystem. Those conversations are in their infancy, while we’re trying to get buy-in and feedback from the FCC and others, but the initial conversations seem pretty good. 

We have to consider questions like, “The EAS system we’ve had for 30 years has worked pretty well, so why is moving it to software advantageous?” And examine questions about security and redundancy.

In the long term, a software-based EAS model, as we’re envisioning it, could be more resilient than the system we have today. Currently, at most stations, EAS is just one hardware device. But if it’s all in software, we would have multiple instances at a variety of places — at the studio, at transmitter sites, at the backup transmitter site. 

Today, if that one box fails, EAS is out of service for 60 days on a station. With software, you could resolve it immediately. Future changes to EAS become much easier in a secure software-defined environment. So we’re working with the FCC and with FEMA/IPAWS. They seem open broadly to the concept but we haven’t gotten into nitty gritty details yet. I think they’re still processing the benefits and weighing comments from others.

Alan Jurison hosted the NAB Technology Luncheon in 2016.

RW: How did you develop interest in radio technology?

Jurison: I got a computer when I was in first grade. And growing up, I was listening to the radio all the time. We didn’t stream audio back then. 

We moved from Pittsburgh to Syracuse when I was 12. I was one of those people who’d call WNTQ, the local radio station. I would bother the nighttime DJ, Rob Wagman. Finally one day I asked if I could come in for a tour. It was really cool. And one of the first things I noticed was that to prepare their nightly feature “The Top Nine at 9,” they were taking phone calls all day using a piece of paper and pen, tallying requests of what to play. 

I thought that seemed inefficient, so I wrote a DOS program that tallied up the requests for them. I came back the next week with the program — of course, it was on a floppy drive — and they started using it. I think they were still using it when I left the company 17 years later. 

The station was owned by Osborn Communications. Shortly thereafter, the 1996 Telecom Act came around and Jim Leven of Pilot Communications bought the station. 

I became an intern for a bit and then did technical work with computers, and my role expanded. 

When I started, there were maybe four computers at the entire station — for the business manager, the program director, the receptionist and for commercial traffic. Then they decided to put a computer in the studio. Automation became a thing. I remember thinking that someone had to figure out how to get them all to talk to each other. 

Of course, computer automation wasn’t nearly as reliable as it is today. And you couldn’t just go out and buy a refined server-grade Dell or Lenovo to run it, either. These were all homebrew PCs. But I’d been doing that kind of stuff at home on my own already, so it was second nature to me. Getting all that to work, teaching the staff how to use it, was really fun.

Then we merged and became more stations, we moved and consolidated. That’s when I got out of my IT world and started learning radio engineering, helping take apart studios and moving them, building studios from the ground up. When you tear apart everything and have to make it work again, that’s when you learn.

Jurison and Dave Edwards review data during a directional proof of 1260 AM in Syracuse in 2001. (Credit: Photo by Victor Capton)

RW: Did you have mentors?

Jurison: Dave Edwards was the director of engineering and knew a ton about RF, audio and the industry, while I knew about computers and networking. We bonded, and he taught me how to wire up a studio and fix a transmitter. He still works at Cumulus in Syracuse.

Later, Barry Thomas noticed that I was writing articles for Radio World about the newer infotainment systems and optimizing RDS. He was involved with the National Radio Systems Committee and chaired it for a time, and he invited me to come to a meeting.

That’s where I got to know David Layer of NAB and many other colleagues and peers who shared best practices and ideas. Then the idea came about to put together an NRSC guideline on best practices for RDS, and that’s what we did, going back to the original Radio World articles I’d written and building on that. The new guideline was to become NRSC-G300. It wasn’t written by one person, it reflects the contributions of dozens of people. 

Alan Jurison, second from left, enjoys the 2019 NAB Show with Dan Mettler, Van Craft and James Gay. (Credit: Photo by Jim Peck)

RW: Then iHeartMedia brought you over from Citadel.

Jurison: In 2012, iHeartMedia’s Total Traffic and Weather Network created a nationwide service for delivering information for display in vehicles via HD Radio. I was hired to ensure the quality and reliability of the HD Radio and RDS delivery networks, and to focus on improving the experience of listeners by helping to add and improve metadata, album art and station logos.

The work required not only software development on our end, but also replacing HD Radio encoding hardware on 400 stations in a very short timeframe. We were essentially on Gen 2 of HD Radio at the time in most of the country. We were moving to a consolidated Gen 3 platform so we could deliver the services we do now through HD Radio. We started in 2012 and over a year or so we ramped these services up. We needed to prepare to deliver data services for our biggest client, Toyota Lexus. 

Jeff Littlejohn and Rob Speicher were instrumental mentors getting me set up quickly in my role here at iHeartMedia, to learn the new company, to make the introductions and inform my interactions with internal and external colleagues at Xperi and Toyota on the project. With contributions from others, we assembled a solution recognized by the OEMs and that won the Telematics Update Best Navigation Solution award for 2012–2013. Over a decade later, the product is still recognized as a best-in-class solution and in use today.

RW: Is there a technical challenge today across the industry that you feel engineers should be thinking about?

Jurison: The software-defined air chain — moving more processes from physical widgets into a larger system that consolidate different broadcast functions. This is not a one-year thing, it’s a five-year thing, at least. We mentioned PPM encoding in the audio processor, and EAS. Manufacturers have been absorbing these ideas and building products that consolidate these functions to simplify the air chain. 

The other thing is making sure that stations take steps to provide really good listening experiences — not just how good the station sounds but the whole enriched experience with the metadata. 

And to make sure it looks good in a variety of vehicles, not just one. People become myopic about their metadata because they have one car where they look at it, but not every car is designed the same way. We should always consider our metadata use across a variety of different radio implementations and platforms. While I no longer borrow the keys of staff to play with their in-dash vehicles, I do make it a point to rent and observe the industry’s metadata in new vehicles often.

More on Alan

Alan Jurison started at age 15 with Pilot Communications in Syracuse, N.Y., where he developed the technical aspects of the industry’s first remote voice-tracking for stations in distant cities. The local newspaper clipping shown here is from 1995.

He graduated with a B.S. in information management and technology from Syracuse University and was promoted to regional information systems manager and broadcast engineer for Citadel Broadcasting. He led many IT and engineering projects for the company. He played roles in transitioning IT systems in the acquisition of ABC Radio/ABC Radio Network at Citadel in 2007 and assisted with IT transitions after the Cumulus acquisition of Citadel in 2011. 

“What always impressed me about Alan was that he was able to come up with solutions to engineering and IT projects that many times were completely out of the box,” said Dave Edwards, who is now with the Cumulus Radio Station Group in Syracuse. 

“He was always very generous with his time and never failed to help his fellow co-workers navigate the newly unfolding world of computers and networking. I fall back on the things I learned from him to this day.”

Dave Marchette, former CTO of Citadel Broadcasting, said that even as a young engineer barely old enough to vote, Jurison was “a superstar junior, a diamond in the rough. Enthusiastically analytical with an ability to think way outside the box, he possessed a wide, deep knowledge set especially rare for a young engineer. But his real superpower was his laser focus.”  

Marchette recalls a time when Citadel was transitioning to computer-based playback and automation. “The backbone upon which this was accomplished was a large Windows Active Directory domain that spanned the country. Deploying this piece of infrastructure into a mission-critical high-uptime environment was an important task, one that he led valiantly. Using advanced scripting techniques and a ‘security first’ approach, Alan’s team helped us build a scalable and secure platform that had literally 100% uptime for well over a decade.”

“I’m a big Syracuse basketball fan. I attend any game I’m in town for and I go to a few road games. Usually you’ll find me in the stands but sometimes I help visiting teams with engineering radio broadcasts.”

In 2012, Jurison joined iHeartMedia as a senior operations engineer for the corporate Technical Operations group. 

“Alan’s in-depth knowledge, attention to detail and continuous drive for improvement, have resulted in a greatly improved listener and advertiser experience,” said Jeff Littlejohn, executive vice president, engineering and systems integration.

“I think it is safe to say that Alan is one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field of HD Radio. His involvement in industry groups have elevated the reliability of HD Radio for all.”

Littlejohn too commented on Jurison’s focus and attention to detail. “He takes the time to dive into the minutiae and figure out the how and why of a problem and then works diligently to get the issue resolved. Alan builds relationships, seeks information from others, and freely shares his own knowledge.”

Meanwhile for more than a decade Jurison also chaired the NRSC’s Metadata Usage Working Group, and in 2022 he became chair of its IBOC Standards Development Working Group. He also serves on the NAB Radio Technology Committee and co-authored a chapter in the 11th edition of the NAB Engineering Handbook.

He is a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers and holds several certifications, including Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer, AM Directional Specialist, Digital Radio Broadcast and Broadcast Networking Engineer. 

OUR EXCELLENCE HONOR ROLL

2004 Andy Andreson
2005 Mike Starling
2006 John Lyons
2007 Clay Freinwald
2008 Jeff Littlejohn
2009 Gary Kline
2010 Milford Smith
2011 Barry Thomas
2012 Paul Brenner
2013 Marty Garrison
2014 Wayne Pecena
2015 David H. Layer
2016–17 Michael Cooney
2017–18 Larry Wilkins
2018–19 Russ Mundschenk
2019–20 Dave Kolesar
2020–21 Jason Ornellas
2021–22 Roz Clark
2023 Steve Shultis
2024 Alan Jurison

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The post For Jurison, Data Display Is the Face of Radio appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Trends in Codecs 2024

Radio World - Sun, 12/31/2023 - 15:47

What are the most important current or recent trends in broadcast codec technology and how they are designed or deployed for transport and networking?

How will the development of software-integrated air chains change how engineers choose and deploy codecs? What should engineers know about FM-MPX and MicroMPX solutions?

How does the growing use of the cloud influence radio codecs and how they are deployed? How can an engineer protect codecs and related infrastructure from cyber attacks?

This free ebook explores these questions and more.

Read it here.

The post Trends in Codecs 2024 appeared first on Radio World.

Categories: Industry News

Rosenworcel Posts Her Highlight List for 2023

Radio World - Sun, 12/31/2023 - 15:13
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Sept. 2023 Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The chair of the Federal Communications Commission traditionally releases a summary in December of what he or she considers the most important actions taken by the FCC in the past year. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released hers on Dec. 29, covering a range of topics from affordable connectivity and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence the creation of a Space Bureau. For broadcast radio, the list includes granting CPs for new noncom FM stations, opening an application window for new LPFMs and proposing to allow more FM stations to use higher digital power levels.

Here is the full text of her statement.

Our goal to “ensure that every person in every community, of every geography and income, has access to modern telecommunications service” has been the North Star of the Federal Communications Commission since its creation in 1934. This past year at the agency will be remembered for our progress toward that objective and for the policies we advanced to reflect a world where high-speed connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

I spent much of the year barnstorming the country to promote the commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program — the largest broadband affordability initiative in our nation’s history. I rallied with mayors in Boston, Phoenix and Los Angeles and the governor in Maryland. Perhaps my most notable stop was this summer, when I visited the Dallas area to announce that enrollment in the program had surpassed the 20 million household milestone. In addition, the commission conducted a nationwide outreach campaign and awarded over $77 million in grants to 244 trusted partners to help increase ACP awareness and enrollment. Together, nearly 7 million additional households signed up for ACP support in 2023, bringing the number of homes getting more affordable broadband through this historic program to over 22 million. But our progress here cannot slow down — we need help from Congress to keep this groundbreaking program going.

The commission has not only been at the forefront of the effort to make home internet service more affordable, we have been working to make it universally available.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created the Affordable Connectivity Program, also directed the commission to “adopt rules to facilitate equal access to broadband internet access service.” Consistent with the law, the agency adopted rules to prevent digital discrimination of access to broadband services based on income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion, or national origin.

To identify where high-speed internet service is and is not available across the country, the commission has also built the most accurate broadband map ever created. But it gets better because the map is iterative, we are continually refining the data, and in 2023, we released two major updates to the broadband map, which federal and state broadband funding programs are using to make smarter investment decisions about where to devote resources and develop infrastructure to close the digital divide.

It has long been a priority of mine and of this agency to close the Homework Gap by ensuring that students across this country have the high-speed internet access necessary to do their schoolwork and fully participate in the modern classroom. For over two decades, schools and libraries have received funding through the commission’s E-Rate program to support these critical connections for students. This year, we took an important step to fund Wi-Fi on school buses. This will enable students to turn ride time into connected time for homework while commuting to and from school. It is especially valuable for students in rural America, who can spend long hours on these buses and are more likely to return home to areas without full broadband access.

Although everyone agrees that high-speed internet is no longer nice-to-have, but instead need-to-have, there is currently no expert agency ensuring that the internet is fast, open, and fair. The internet is too important to our economy and society not to have effective oversight. So, in October, the commission advanced a plan to reassert the agency’s role as the country’s leading communications watchdog over national security and public safety on our broadband networks. This plan would also restore the commission’s overwhelmingly popular net neutrality rules, which preserved internet openness by prohibiting internet providers from blocking, throttling, or prioritizing lawful content.

The commission took many other actions in 2023 to update our rules and policies so they reflect new technologies and new market realities.

Some of the commission’s most exciting work in 2023 was focused on advancing innovation for the new space age. The space industry has entered an era of unprecedented growth, which is fueling an increase in both the complexity and the number of applications for space services before the commission. To keep pace with this rapid change, the commission created a new Space Bureau, which has already developed new rules to streamline our satellite policies and expedite the processing of space and earth station applications. The agency has also dedicated spectrum specifically to commercial space launch activity.

I am especially excited about our proposal to harness the power of satellites to enhance mobile phone operations in areas where there is no terrestrial mobile service. This connectivity can help facilitate life-saving rescues in remote locations and the innovative opportunities it presents will only grow.

On a personal note, perhaps my most memorable trip of the year was a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the Kennedy Space Center where I was honored to meet the Artemis II crew who are training to become the first astronauts to visit the moon in over 50 years. I am deeply grateful to NASA Administrator Nelson for the invitation to discuss the commission’s new space ventures.

With more and more facets of our lives moving online, I have reinvigorated the commission’s efforts to ensure the privacy of consumer communications. In June, I announced that we created the first-ever Privacy and Data Protection Task Force at the commission. To do this, we are bringing all of our technical and legal experts together from across the agency to maximize coordination and use the law to get results. We have updated our data breach notification rules for the first time in 16 years and put in place new rules to protect consumers from SIM-swapping fraud.

For the first time in the agency’s history, we have taken action to support communications for survivors of domestic violence and help them secure safe and affordable connections. We adopted rules not only to protect the privacy of calls made by survivors to domestic abuse hotlines, but also to help survivors separate service lines from family plans that include their abusers. On top of this, we took steps to help survivors rebuild their lives away from harm by offering six months of support for communications services for those who suffer from financial hardship.

In 2023, you cannot talk about what is new in technology without talking about artificial intelligence.

In July, the commission joined with the National Science Foundation to convene a forum on artificial intelligence. Our focus was on AI’s potential to do real good for communications, from increasing spectrum efficiency to improving network resilience with new tools to self-diagnose and self-heal network anomalies before they become communications challenges. Following this forum, we launched an inquiry to explore how the commission might leverage new AI tools to better understand the actual usage of non-federal spectrum bands.

We also kicked off an inquiry on how best to seize the opportunities of AI regarding robocalls and robotexts, such as developing tools to help filter out sophisticated spam and phishing schemes, while mitigating potential harms of AI.

These AI-centered initiatives illustrate how the commission may be using some new tactics, but we remain focused on long-standing priorities like consumer protection and maximizing the opportunities we have with scarce spectrum resources.

On the consumer protection front, cracking down on unwanted robocalls and robotexts remains at the top of our agenda. Among our many actions on this front, we have adopted the first-ever rules aimed specifically at stopping text messaging scams; closed gaps in our caller-ID authentication framework; empowered consumers to decide which robocalls and robotexts they wish to receive; and advanced rules to allow the commission to “red flag” certain phone numbers and require mobile carriers to block texts from those numbers. We even shut down the “lead generator loophole” through which unscrupulous telemarketers have inundated consumers with unwanted and illegal robocalls and robotexts.

We have also made it clear that if you illegally circumvent our rules to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls and robotexts, you will pay the price, literally. We imposed over $600 million in fines against robocallers, including a record-breaking penalty of nearly $300 million against the firm behind a flood of auto warranty scam robocalls – the largest illegal robocall operation the agency has ever investigated.

If there is one thing consumers hate more than unwanted robocalls, it is junk fees. In March, we voted to protect consumers from surprises on their cable and satellite TV bills by proposing operators provide the “all-in” price on bills and promotional materials. And in December, we proposed to eliminate early termination fees, which make it costlier for cable and satellite TV subscribers to switch service, and billing cycle fees, which require consumers to pay for services they no longer receive.

On the spectrum front, we adopted rules to support new Wi-Fi applications and services using spectrum in the 6 GHz band. This is an area where the mix of capacity and wide channels provide the unique potential for augmented and virtual reality applications. The commission also approved rules to expand the permissible uses for short-range radars in the 60 GHz band, which could facilitate advances in everything from drones to healthcare monitoring to sensors that alert drivers to children and pets left in dangerously hot cars. Looking more long-term, we voted to optimize the use of a massive swath of spectrum from 12.2 to 13.25 GHz for services including 6G and next-generation satellite broadband operations.

We also want spectrum policies that nurture a vibrant broadcasting sector. In April, we launched the public-private Future of TV initiative, which seeks to establish a roadmap for transitioning to a new broadcast standard that enables the offering of enhanced and innovative new services to consumers. In the past year, we also expanded broadcast service to the public by granting over 75 applications for construction permits for new non-commercial FM station and opening a low-power FM new station application window. In addition, we acted to support broadcast innovation by proposing changes to the digital FM technical rules with the goal of improving signal quality and coverage.

In terms of long-standing priorities for the commission, public safety remains at the top of the list. We started the year by establishing a nationwide framework to solidify the 4.9 GHz band’s status as public safety spectrum, while enabling the integration of technologies such as 5G. We made life-saving Wireless Emergency Alerts more accessible by approving enhanced support for multi-lingual alerting, requiring wireless providers that participate in WEA to support messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. as well as English and American Sign Language. We voted to accelerate the roll out of Next Generation 911, which will support voice, text, data, and video and make the 911 system more resilient. And we are making sure life-saving counseling is there when you need it by establishing reporting and notice requirements for any outages of the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

In 2023, we also ramped up our work to promote cybersecurity. We’ve worked closely with our partners at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to bolster the integrity of the Border Gateway Protocol, which is central to the internet’s global routing system. To elevate the level of baseline cybersecurity practices among manufacturers of common smart devices or products, we also proposed a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity labeling program for the Internet of Things. We also proposed a pilot program to help schools and libraries improve their cybersecurity efforts through the Universal Service Fund.

We have also been fighting to make sure vulnerable populations are treated fairly and can enjoy the benefits of the digital age. We voted to make video programming more accessible for blind and visually impaired individuals and smartphones more accessible to people with hearing loss. We provided relief for families of incarcerated people forced to pay exorbitant and unreasonable telephone rates for calls within a state’s borders. To help narrow the digital divide in Indian country, we voted to examine ways to encourage greater Tribal participation in the E-Rate program, extending our special initiative to support high-speed access in Tribal libraries everywhere. With increasing maternal mortality rates in the United States, we also voted to explore ways the commission’s new mapping platform might be enhanced to help us better leverage digital health tools to improve maternal care.

While 2023 marked the arrival of a new commissioner at the commission, it will also be remembered for the loss of an iconic chairman. On May 6, 2023, Newton Minow died at age 97. During his time as President Kennedy’s Chairman of the agency and in the decades since he left office, he reminded us that wanting better and more representative communications is worth fighting for because it strengthens our communities and our country. We are grateful for his service, and we will continue to honor his memory by working hard to ensure everyone, everywhere is connected.

[Related:  “The FCC Keeps Radio Market Caps in Place”]

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Categories: Industry News

Tech Tips: Document, Document, Document

Radio World - Sun, 12/31/2023 - 05:00

One thing I rarely hear engineers at small facilities talk about is documentation. 

Managers of large facilities live on their documentation systems. At smaller plants, though, some engineers seem to think they can protect their job security by withholding documentation. And some complain that creating documentation is a waste of time. 

They are wrong.

Good documentation allows the staff of a facility to resolve issues in an expedited manner. 

What do I mean by documentation? 

Most engineers will use a good computer-aided design program such as AutoCAD or WireCAD. Yes, a good one will be expensive. Look at it as an insurance policy. 

Some use capable diagramming software such as Visio or Simple Wires. Their files can serve as a schematic to your facility, showing equipment, wire numbers, racks and rooms. 

They can illustrate signal flow and document the workflow. You can obtain libraries of equipment that highlight all the connections. Sometimes the libraries are available from the product support pages or sold by third parties.

Knowing “which” cable in a large bundle is terminated “where” is valuable. Knowing which connector and pins is indispensable! 

A promotional image from Autodesk AutoCAD

In today’s IP-centric world, most cables are Category-5 or Cat-6, terminated with RJ-45s. But then you need to know if it is required to be STP (shielded) or UTP (unshielded). Note this in the documentation. 

I like to make notes of anything relevant to the safe and convenient operation of equipment. For example a device may need space above and below it for air flow. You or another person will appreciate such details when an emergency repair becomes necessary at an inconvenient time.

The schematics also allow you to plan an upgrade or an equipment replacement. Rack space is a commodity; planning your signal flow with smart equipment placement and the shortest cable runs will lead to a more efficient plant.

Withholding documentation is unwise and could be considered negligent. If you have to put out false traps to demonstrate that you are needed, perhaps you are not. 

Good documentation systems allow engineers to take time off. Also, you can manage the inventory. For instance I like to include serial numbers in my notes.

You don’t have diagramming skills? This is understandable. Then just use a good spreadsheet. 

Maintain current backups of your documents, too. I usually make one before any change so I can always revert to the last “good” state if necessary. Having a bunch of printouts with pencil scratch-outs is no substitute for clean documentation.

Usually, I take my notes and save them as PDF files, representing a printed final version. Besides putting them in the documentation folders on the network, I email them to my iPhone and keep them in the Books app. This is helpful when I’m not in the facility and I get THAT CALL. I can refer to my notes and put myself in the mindset to resolve the issue.

Any good manager will appreciate good documentation. It will also be appreciated by all who follow you. This industry is small. Why be known as the guy who did not document? 

Yes, I have worked with managers who did not appreciate documentation and deleted the information; but there is no excuse for being stupid.

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Categories: Industry News

Frank Hertel Revives a 1 kW FM transmitter

Radio World - Sat, 12/30/2023 - 05:00

Engineering consultant Frank Hertel writes in to describe a fix for a power supply failure in the popular BW Broadcast 1000W transmitter.

If you’re not ready for a construction project, you can get service support for the BW lineup from Progressive Concepts, which introduced the transmitters to the U.S. in 1997. The company has expertise servicing BW equipment and has once again been appointed as BW’s sole sales and service center for the United States. For information, contact Eric Hoppe at 630-736-9822.

Frank took a DIY approach. The original power supply is a semi-propriety design modified for special use, making his efforts to find a replacement harder, but Frank set out to find a workaround to revive this otherwise good FM transmitter. 

In the end, it was a fairly simple fix. What was lost was software control of the transmitter’s power output; his repair causes the transmitter power to be adjusted using the output voltage of the 48 VDC supply. You will also need to add a 12VDC power supply, rated at 3 to 4 Amps, since the original power supply provided both 48 and 12VDC.

Frank described a series of steps to replace the defective power supply. First, for the 12VDC supply, Frank selected a “brick” power supply from Amazon. They are inexpensive (under $10) and widely available. The 48VDC supply is manufactured by Jingmaida and can be found on Amazon for under $300. Figs. 2 and 3 show where to connect the wires from the new 12VDC and 48VDC power supplies, inside the transmitter chassis. For the 48VDC, Frank used #8 silicone superflex wire. 

Click on the photo to toggle between Figs. 1–7.

Frank adds the following notes:

  1. No holes were drilled in repair. The external power supplies can be replaced easily, should they fail.
  2. Velcro brand hook-and-loop fastener was used to fasten the new power supplies to the top of the transmitter chassis.
  3. Frank chose to remove the defective internal 48VDC power supply. The void provides easier routing of the new power supply wiring.
  4. If desired, the on-board voltage adjust potentiometer can be wired to an external larger potentiometer, to make power adjustment easier, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.
  5. The 48 VDC power supply also has a terminal strip where you can add a switch to MUTE the 48 VDC power supply. Frank used this feature for easy shutdown of the transmitter. These MUTE contacts can also be wired to a set of dry relay contacts on your remote control, to remotely shut down the transmitter. 
  6. When the new power supply is received, the MUTE terminal strip has a jumper on the bottom of the circuit board.  You will need to remove that jumper to use the MUTE function.
  7. The value of the Voltage Adjust Pot is 5 K Ohms. Frank and his team added two small trim pots (10K each) to the lower and upper terminals of the larger external 5K pot (Figs. 4 and 5). One of the small 10K trim pots will let you set the Minimum Voltage Platform (it should be approximately 27 VDC) and the other small 10K Trim Pot will let you set the Maximum Voltage Platform (which should be approximately 42 VDC). These settings help protect the internal regulators.

Other models of BW Broadcast transmitters have similar configurations but deserve a close review to make sure the procedure is suitable. 

The new adjustable 48 VDC power supply also has a current limit adjustment. It is factory set at approximately 33A. You should not need to reset this adjustment. Note that the replacement power supply also has over-current shut down. If something in the transmitter should fail and draw excessive current, the power supply will automatically shut down.

Fig. 6 shows the completed project, and the restored RF output power is seen in Fig. 7. 

If you complete this modification, snap some pictures and let us know how the upgrade went. Email them to me at johnpbisset@gmail.com.

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Categories: Industry News

Solving the Variables in the FM Equation

Radio World - Sat, 12/30/2023 - 05:00

It was late 1984, some 39 years ago this month, and I was new to the company where I still work today. Right out of the chute, the president of the company handed his new D of E an assignment: Fix our Detroit FM station.

We had in those days two “superpower” Class B FMs in our company, one in Buffalo and one in Detroit. Our Detroit station was 115 kW ERP at 300 feet above average terrain, impressive by any measure, at least on paper. The problem: The Detroit FM had severe multipath throughout the market and was unlistenable in many locations.

The site was right in the geographic center of the Detroit metropolitan area, near the intersection of I-96 and the Southfield Expressway. The station had an RCA 10-bay antenna, pole-mounted on a 360-foot free-standing tower. 

The antenna looked fine and the transmitter was operating at full power. There was no indicated reflected power. What could the problem be?

Some sleuthing and scrutiny of the geography and topography of the Detroit area gave me some clues. 

The downtown area, with its buildings some 600 feet tall, was about 10 miles to the east, and there were other high-rise buildings scattered around the area, some not far away. Could those buildings be producing strong reflections to cause the severe multipath that the station was experiencing?

At that point in my career, I didn’t have much experience with FM except at the operational level; I had been a TV guy until just months prior. I had done some FM allocations work in addition to building and maintaining a few FMs, but what I had not done was any kind of systems engineering. All my experience on the ground was building or maintaining what other people had designed, so I was out of my element with this project. 

Still, I had it to do, and while not expressly stated, I figured that this was a test and that my job was on the line. I had to get it right.

And so I took a self-administered crash course in FM antennas, vertical plane patterns, multipath and FM propagation. I learned about vertical nulls, Brewster angle and how direct and reflected signals could constructively or destructively combine in a receive antenna. I also learned how subcarriers could sometimes produce multipath-like effects in an imperfect transmission system or where there were already signal issues.

At the end of that study and my analysis of the situation with our Detroit station, I concluded that we had too much antenna gain, too little signal in close-in areas below the main vertical lobe and reflections off the downtown and other high-rise structures that were destructively combining with the direct signal to produce the multipath. 

Was I certain of all that? No. But it was my best, somewhat educated, guess.

The ‘new’ 500-foot tower next to the old 360-foot structure. Note the identical four-bay main and aux antennas.”

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Superpower FMs had been grandfathered, but if you made a change to the HAAT or ERP, the facility would have to come into compliance with the later rules. Clearly we needed more height, and to get that, we would have to become a compliant Class B station with maximum facilities of 50 kW and 150 meters (492 feet) AAT. 

It was with great anxiety that I took that proposal to the president of our company, telling him that the way to fix his FM signal was to reduce power from 115 kW to 50 kW. How would he respond? Should I just go ahead and clean out my desk?

To my great surprise, he gave his full approval to the project.

It included a new 500-foot free-standing tower (not cheap!), a four-bay antenna, new rigid line and a new 27.5 kW transmitter. That tower height got us 142 meters AAT, not 150 meters, but 500 feet AGL was all I could get the FAA to approve. 

I filed the CP application and got a quick grant.

The project was built in record time by today’s standards, just a few months. There was no ASR, NEPA, NPA and all that back then … we just pulled a building permit, drilled the piers into the ground and stacked the steel. 

With the new tower up and the new transmitter building in place and fully equipped, with great trepidation I threw the switch to put the new facility on the air. Would this huge expenditure fix our problems, or did I just throw several hundred thousand dollars down those pier holes?

It didn’t take long to figure out that YES! IT WORKED! The new facility had none of the multipath issues that the old one did. Coverage in the city was solid, with just a few identifiable and very localized areas with any discernible multipath at all. 

But what about distant coverage? The station manager and others drove the outlying areas and found that the coverage was equal to or better than what it had been with the higher ERP. I was greatly relieved, and it was with great pleasure and pride that I reported all this to the boss. 

I learned a lot from that project, and the knowledge has served me well over the years. I’m very grateful to my boss for his faith in me when I didn’t have a lot of faith in myself, and I thank God it all worked out.

I mentioned that our company had two superpower Class B FM stations, with the other one being in Buffalo. That one was 110 kW ERP at 195 meters (640 feet) above average terrain. It used a 10-bay antenna on a 400-foot tower. Buffalo had a lot of tall buildings like Detroit. If a high-gain antenna creates multipath issues in urban areas, why didn’t it do the same thing in Buffalo?

The answer is really simple: location-location-location. The Buffalo site was some distance south of the city. That tight vertical pattern had little impact on the urbanized area some distance from the antenna. That station continues to perform well for us, as does our no-longer-superpower Detroit FM.

In the current edition of Radio World Engineering Extra, Dennis Sloatman deals with some of these issues and teaches us about all the variables that go into an FM transmission system. He shows us how to arrive at a transmitter power output (TPO) figure given all those variables.

We also hear from Dominic Giambo of Wheatstone about RIST, a new, open-source protocol for audio transmission over IP and in particular the public internet. This is exciting and may well represent the next big thing in audio transport. 

Does anything use quartz crystals anymore? Modern transmitters and their exciters are often frequency agile and can go to any frequency in the band with a menu selection, so surely not; why would you need a crystal? 

Not so fast! Even modern, frequency-agile transmitters, receivers and other equipment have a quartz crystal at their heart, often a highly accurate, highly stable reference oscillator running at some low frequency. It’s true that it’s rare to find a crystal cut for the carrier frequency in a modern transmitter, but there’s some quartz in there somewhere.

In this issue, Buc Fitch takes a look at quartz crystals, including their history and how they are made and work. I think you’ll enjoy it.

I hope you’ll learn (or relearn) something from this group of really smart writers. I know I did.

Read the issue here.

The post Solving the Variables in the FM Equation appeared first on Radio World.

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