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 837, Volume 17, #4 for August 27, 2025

LET THE FCC KNOW!
The NPRM for the “re-examination” of the EAS has now been published in the Federal Register. Comments are due in September.

FORM ONE
Yes, you are tired of hearing about this. Yes, the deadline is more than a month away. But those of you who know the FCC servers know how difficult the servers can be at deadline. Those new to the ETRS should take advantage of the time to ensure they have the right login credentials and information on station contacts and EAS equipment before trying to file the report.

AUDIO ZEN
Yes, you can buy an audio processor, plug it in, and use a pre-set for decent audio. But when you hear a station with outstanding audio, it proves that audio processing is as much an art as a science. David Reaves has been known for his work with the audio processors he has developed. This week, we welcome David as our guest presenter to discuss his latest audio processor – the Zen 10. His theme is sure to provoke your interest: “It does something by doing nothing.”

As usual, we meet at 2 PM Eastern (11 AM Pacific) on Thursday. Link requests are easily found at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ Our videos are also shown on the youtube.com/thebdrnet channel.

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


MORE DELETES
This time it is basically 43 Part 76 regulations that have been deleted. These applied to cable and satellite service providers.

TOWER KILLERS SENTENCED
We reported in January and February of last year that a couple of Hugo, Oklahoma people destroyed the 499-foot KITX tower on January 16, 2024 while trying to steal copper, causing about a half million dollars of damage. Now, after pleading guilty (to avoid 10-year prison sentences) their sentencing yesterday was for Candice Marie Logan, 35, and Matthew Carl Wilson, 38, to be imprisoned for 8 months and 2.5 years, respectively.

YOU HAVE TORNADOS, WE HAVE HABOOBS
The relatively dry summer here in the SW has fortunately not yet yielded too many forest fires, but we are definitely in Haboob season. Haboobs are a huge cloud of sand and dust that rolls across the desert and causes zero visibility (warning signs tell drivers to get *way off* the roadway and turn off their lights, lest someone follow them and crash into them). In some cases, the blowing sand even has been known to strip paint of radio towers. In addition to slowing down – or stopping – car travels, it reminds us to change studio and transmitter air filters.

NOTED IN TEXAS
At the recent TAB: Longtime consulting engineer Paul Easter garnered the George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, while Radio Gearhead’s John Lackness was named Associate of the Year.

IN THE WAKE OF CPB’S CLOSING
Many non-com stations have been worried about the effect of funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting being drained away. At the same time, several philanthropic organizations have worked to build a fund for public stations most in need – especially those that have been getting more than 30% of their funding from the CPB. $27 million has already be raised toward a goal of at least $50 million this year.

PROTECTING YOUR PASSWORDS
If you are using a password manager, unpatched “clickjacking ” vulnerabilities have been discussed among six popular password managers, with Bitwarden the only one to have issued a fix as yet. Basically, trying to log in on a compromised website can expose you to cross-site scripting, where a password manager interface may have invisible HTML elements overlaid by hackers.

WINDOWS 10 USERS
We are approaching the End of Support for Windows 10. There are several place on the web that show ways to upgrade Win10 to Win11. However, depending upon your CPU and other aspects, putting Win11 on you Win10 machine can slow it down dramatically.
There is a one year extension for those that sign up to get the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. Initially, Microsoft was asking a fee, but there is now a free ESU program for the next year. You have to sign up for it, but it can be had free.

FOR SALE
We have several Bext antennas, a transmitter and an RF amplifier that are new to the ForSale list this week. There is also a 120′ Rohn Self-supporting tower free for someone to come and take it. Those and other items are on the ForSale page, here.
May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR – and you!

 

Some recent articles of interest:

              More newsy items here…

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

               
               MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS


              American Amplifier Technologies, LLC (AAT)               is proud to announce the acquisition of all shares of Kathrein Broadcast USA, Inc., including the iconic SCALA antenna product line. 

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              NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association has released a video shining a spotlight on the industry’s skilled and safe tower technicians. The video highlights the competition at the 2025 Tough Tower Event that was held this summer in North Jackson, Ohio. It is the fifth in the Association’s popular #ClimberConnection Series,

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              Recognizing more and more stations are operating with fewer engineers on staff, Wheatstone is introducing Remote-In Technical Services. This On-Demand, billed by the hour, network support over a secure IP connection can provide the expertise needed when it is needed. For example, for those new to WheatNet IP audio networking or on a tight deadline can have Wheatstone experts log in and configure your system so it is on-air quickly and confidently. Additionally, stations can get hands-on guidance where the people who built the system will walk you through WheatNet IP setup and best-practice workflows on your own gear.

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              The Lawo Academy has developed a comprehensive training program designed for broadcast professionals – and those preparing to enter the industry – to expand their expertise in Lawo’s audio, video, control, management, and monitoring solutions. Many of the courses are online, self-paced, with little or no cost; some limited seating in-person courses are available, which include certification on hands-on labs.

              The Academy combines the flexibility of online, self-paced learning with the benefits of in-person classroom sessions.

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              The Telos Alliance plans to demonstrate several key AI-based workflows for its Minnetonka Audio AudioTools Server file-based audio automation platform. A key feature is the ability to measure dialog intelligibility – if the measurements reveal an audience will struggle to understand the dialogue easily, it can be extracted and processed for increased intelligibility. (The ability to isolate dialogue will also provide the opportunity for more accurate loudness measurements.)

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              Broadcast Electronics has announced that Joe Myers has been promoted to Director, Software Solutions for all company software products and services including AudioVAULT, The Radio Experience TRE+ and partnership with NewsBoss. Myers is based in Lexington, South Carolina. More information can be found at www.bdcast.com.

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              If you have worked with Nautel over the years, there is a good chance you have interacted with Wendell Lonergan. After 47 years, Wendell has decided to retire [big applause!] with Tracey Connolly talking over as Nautel’s Director of Broadcast Sales.

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

               

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

              Note: This week is NOT the anniversary of the first commercial (WEAF), which was just a PR deal. It is also not the anniversary of the first newscast. Another pair of radio myths!

              • 1 year ago (8/27/24) the band Oasis announced reunited after 15 years.
              • 1 year ago (8/26/24) WCBS ceased its news format after nearly 60 years.
              • 2 years ago (8/25/23) “Rich Men North of Richmond” made Oliver Anthony the first artist to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 without charting any prior song.
              • 5 years ago (8/28/20) Katy Perry released her 6th album – bundled with a video game, Katy’s Quest.
              • 7 years ago (8/27/18) Weird Al Yankovic got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
              • 20 years ago (8/29/05) Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Bet you did not know this. *
              • 45 years ago (8/30/1980) Christopher Cross had his first #1 hit with “Sailing” (“Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (from the 1981 film Arthur).
              • 46 years ago (8/24/79) The Ramone’s movie “Rock & Roll High School” opened.
              • 46 years ago (8/25/79) “My Sharona” by The Knack topped the charts at #1.
              • 47 years ago (8/26/78) Frankie Valli hit #1 with the theme of the movie Grease.**
              • 58 years ago (8/26/67) Bobby Gentry rode to #1 with her “Ode to Billy Joe.“
              • 63 years ago (8/25/62) Little Eva hit #1 with “Loco-Motion.“
              • 86 years ago (8/26/1939) station W2XBS (later: WNBC-TV) broadcast the first televised Major League baseball game. ***

              And, here are some more newsy-type items:

              • 30 years ago (8/24/95) Windows 95 was launched. The “start music” was composed by Brian Eno. ****
              • 47 years ago (8/26/78) The Civil Aeronautics Board allowed a 50-70% drop in air fares, sparking a lot of air travel.
              • 58 years ago (8/30/67) Thurgood Marshall became the first African American to be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. He would remain on the Supreme Court for 24 years.
              • 62 years ago (8/28/63) Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech in Washington, DC.
              • 70 years ago (8/27/55) The Guinness Book of Records debuted.
              • 86 years ago (8/25/1939) the Wizard of Oz opened. (No – the one with Michael Jackson was much later).
              • 129 years ago (8/30/1896) the first auto race was won … by an electric car.
              • 142 years ago (8/27/1883) The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurred on Krakatoa. It was heard 3,000 miles away.
              • 151 yeass ago (8/30/1874)  The Factory Act limited the workweek in Britain to *****
              • 169 years ago (8/27/1859) Edwin Drake drilled first oil well. Where? ******

              .. and for the really old folks in the room, 1942 years ago (8/24/79) Mt. Vesuivus erupted. *******

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

               


              * Not only was New Orleans flooded, but Barry Cowsill (of the Cowsills) drowned at age 50, and Fats Domino was among those rescued in the Ninth Ward. He was 77.

              ** It was the third #1 from the movie, along with “You’re the One That I Want,” a duet by the films co-stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” by Newton-John alone. A fourth song, “Summer Nights,” also hit into the Top 10.

              *** Red Barber called the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. It was a doubleheader: The Reds won the first game 5-2 while the Dodgers won the second, 6-1.

              **** Windows 95 was the first version of Microsoft Windows to include the Modern Windows Feel (Taskbar, Start Menu) Windows 95 was shipped without a default browser. Back then many of us used Netscape Navigator.

              For some this was their first Windows operating system. Some waited for hours outside a computer store for their copy.

              *****56.5 hours a week.

              ****** It was near Titusville, PA

              ******* The 2000-Year-Old Man said he reported this live?

              MIDWEEK BONUS
              Going to the supermarket definitely is not fun any more (was it ever?). But in some places, it costs a lot more than others. Here is a “look” at which cities are the costliest to shop in. You may have an idea already !

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                    TELL US WHAT’S WHAT
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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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                    Yes … you might have seen it before, but we should do this: some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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