Maintaining signal receiving sites can be a challenge, for many reasons. For example, the signal received by satellite dishes is very tiny. While the use of parabolic dishes can achieve some significant gain figures, it also means proper alignment of the dish and the LNB is critical to solid reception. For that reason, the […]

This is another in our series of pictures that come from real installations, pictures that sort of make you scratch your head a bit. Our friend, the late Richard Haskey, would put it this way: “That’s the worst I’ve ever seen!” And then he would smile. Sometimes you just have to improvise to […]

Because the public at large is often frightened by scaremongers regarding the effects of RF radiation, broadcasters need to be aware of those areas at transmission sites where RF radiation can be an issue. The OSHA and the FCC have, in recent years, focused more attention on the measurement and signage for protection […]

Wiring a studio can involve a lot of wires. Providing easy access to circuits for testing or changing inputs or outputs without having to open up the console usually is preferred. That is why so many engineers use punch blocks to allow that easy access. However, fast forward a decade and sometimes that […]

Here is another in our series of pictures that will make you laugh, groan, or (and we really do hope not) spit up your coffee. Of course, your facility looks nothing like this, does it? Time and again, no matter how carefully a studio or transmitter site is planned, almost immediately – even […]

The days are long gone when station engineers were tasked with the regular duty of cleaning and waxing the transmitter. It is always nice to have a nice clean transmitter in a nice, clean, air-conditioned room, right? Unfortunately, that is not always reality. Engineers often are more firemen than anything else. Applying wax […]

When this set of pictures was first posted on the Internet, it was hard to believe that the tower involved had not just collapsed and caused all sorts of problems. It was, however, a poster child for so many towers where there have been no regular inspections or maintenance programs. Don Barber of […]

We have seen a lot of pictures relating to the fences and locks used – or not used – by stations. But how secure is a tower base required to be? The answer may surprise you a bit.. Section 73.49 of the FCC Rules and Regulations requires stations to provide a locked fence […]

The FCC requires stations to provide secure fencing so unauthorized persons are kept away from dangerous high RF levels. Fines are assessed where fencing has deteriorated, or gates not secure. You would think this is pretty straightforward. But it not always. It might be due to a tower not being right next to […]

Mismatches in the transmission system can cause anything from minor bandwidth and distortion issues to completely shutting down the transmitter. That is why most engineers keep an eye on the VSWR indications, and react quickly when they see any changes by checking out the entire system, starting with the transmitter tuning into the […]