This month we catch up with GatesAir to learn what’s been happening to the company since their spin-off from Harris.
Representatives will review the capabilities of the GatesAir studio products, current and future Intraplex products, and discuss the current state of audio over IP (AoIP) in the broadcast industry. We’ll also look at the next steps that will make AoIP interoperability a reality. Topics will include AES 67, Ravenna, AVB, control needs, and Studio vs. Enterprise vs. WAN applications.
Should be a good time as the meeting is Wednesday, November 19th at 12 noon the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant at 8885 Balboa Avenue east of CA-163. Members and guests are welcome and GatesAir provides lunch. Continue reading November 19 Meeting: GatesAir at 94th Aero Squadron→
A proposed $86,400 fine to Midessa Television reminds us that all Broadcast Auxiliary Service microwave links need to be covered with an FCC authorization and that all terms of that authorization need to be correct.
On October 24, 2014, there was an unauthorized playing of the national emergency alert notification (EAN) tones during a syndicated radio broadcast. These tones were a retransmission from the original EAN test conducted on Nov 9, 2011. There is a possibility that Digital Alerting Systems’ DASDEC units may have stored the recent unauthorized EAN and will retransmit on November 9 when the date/time stamp becomes valid. Digital Alerting Systems has published a Field Service Bulletin on this matter, http://www.digitalalertsystems.com/pdf/DAS%20FSB-103014R1.0.pdf. If you are using a DASDEC system version 2.5 or earlier, AND if you are located in any area where this syndicated programming was broadcast on your EAS monitoring source/station, we suggest that you read the Field Service Bulletin for more information and for the company’s instructions on how to proceed. If you use another manufacturer’s EAS equipment, we recommend you contact them if you have any questions.
(It’s very unlikely the recent national error event propagated to San Diego, and checking a client DASDEC unit, I found no stored national EAN’s. However, it’s a good time to check your configuration to turn on Strict Time if available on your device’s configuration. –ed)
The Society of Broadcast Engineers announced October 8 it will work to attract and serve those who work in technical broadcast and media related positions, in addition to its traditional broadcast engineering membership base. SBE president, Joe Snelson, CPBE, 8-VSB, made the announcement in his address during the Society’s 50th anniversary Annual Membership Meeting held at the Turning Stone Resort, in Central New York State. Continue reading SBE to Expand Membership Scope, Support→
Engineer Bill Agresta of KBRT shows off the new KNSN transmitter, a Nautel J1000. Photo courtesy Crawford Broadcasting.
KNSN (AM 1240 kHz) last month updated its downtown transmitter after its recent acquisition by Crawford Broadcasting of Denver. The downtown site rebroadcasts the religious format 50kW KBRT (AM 740kHz) Costa Mesa in order to fill in some of the coverage lost when KBRT moved from Santa Catalina Island.
Multicultural Broadcasting sold KNSN at a loss to Crawford after having owned the station for only five years.
According to Cris Alexander’s entry in his Local Oscillator corporate engineering news blog, engineer Bill Agresta from KBRT replaced an aging Gates BC-1H transmitter with the new Nautel J1000. Cris was in town from Denver in September to help with some of the final touches.
The station broadcasts with only 550 watts due to its efficient 202° high tower. Agresta and Dick Warren will maintain the site.
