Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert…
This is BDR Newsletter 779, Volume 15, #52 for July 25, 2024

Here are some things you might want to know about:

UPDATE HELL
The mess over the iast weekend (and still ongoing in some places) update from Crowdstrike is a good reminder that we need to carefully monitor updates from any software that can affect our mission critical systems. Some go so far as to avoid any updates (“if it works, don’t mess with it”) but some updates are good protection against bad guys. A local policy on how and when to do updates is worth attention.

FCC MOBILE SPEED APP
Ever suspect you are not getting the data speed the cellular company claims? The FCC has released a new app designed to allow users to check the accuracy of coverage data.

WHICH ANTENNA?
Buying a new or replacement antenna on FM is not just “send me an antenna on xxx.xx MHz.”

There are a lot of factors involved in order to get what is needed to match your transmitter and your audience. That is the plan for this week’s BDR Lunch Gathering. We’ve asked Alex Perchevich from Jampro to show us how paying attention can bring us from a potential disaster to a system that rocks.

You might wonder: when is this? You shouldn’t. It is 2 PM Eastern/11 AM Pacific on Thursday. Let’s get together and learn things.
Link requests are at: www.thebdr.net/TLG/


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

 

FCC WATCH
A couple of items that come from the FCC are worth noting.
1. The FCC plans to implement the MEP (Missing/Endangered Persons) code to the EAS – but plans to delay full implementation for 12 months.
2. The EEO Report deadline is due on August 1st for stations in CA, IL, NC, SC, and WI. The report is to be added to the online PIF and the station’s website.
3. We are getting closer to the date for the FCC’s annual regulatory fees to be paid. The positive side is that broadcasters will get a better deal this year.
4. The FCC adopted a Report & Order to give viewers greater control on how to display closed captions. This is intended to supercede previous such Orders, which did not yet achieve the Commission’s full intention.

A10 OR C4 OR …
With the FCC considering options to raise the power for Class A stations, the NAB submitted comments suggesting more information is needed – especially related to costs – that might mean upgrades will be more difficult ro achieve than first thought.

CAN YOU HELP SUPPORT THE BDR?
No, we are not asking for money. We will *not* be putting up a paywall for members only. But you can help us all. Our readers range from well-seasoned engineers and IT folks to newbies who love to learn the tricks of the trade – and what are the best models to buy when gear is needed. Your help in identifying solutions is needed. Worried about writing? Don’t … we will help. Please let us know where your interests lie and what you might be able to do!

Similarly, when you recommend the BDR to your friends and they subscribe, it brings this information to them regularly. We can all help each other!

FOR SALE
An Optimod 8400 and a Sage receiver are among the latest entries on the BDR ForSale page.

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

 

Some recent articles of interest:

• Inspect Your Tower Regularly – Bob Jellison
• Join the Lunch Gathering – Thursday 2 PM Eastern
• Enforcement Watch: Fines for I&P failure
• In A Disaster Time, How Will You Fare? – Barry Mishkind
• Do We Still Need The ABIP? – Mike Langner
• Understanding LED Tower Lighting – Alex Fuellgraf
• How The NRSC Benefits Your Station – Norm Laramee
• Really Communicating with Managers – Dana Puopolo
• Dana’s Daily Deals
• More newsy items here

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

 

MANUFACTURERS’ NEWS

Heading to the TAB in Round Rock, TX on August 7-8. This is one of the best regional conventions. Good attendance, good programs, good exhibits. And a friendly atmosphere, to be sure. For a free pass, use Broadcast Depot’s number: BRD2024.

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The TelosAlliance announces the 25-Seven PDMX Program Delay software.

Also, there is the new Virtual Commentator Panel, an addition to the Telos Infinity VIP Virtual Intercom Platform. Infinity VCP is a unique extension to the VIP product family that enables remote contributors to access a commentary or announcer station from anywhere in the world through the VIP intercom platform.

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JAMPRO has antennas for all power levels, including LPFM. The ADB-FM1 is the ideal vertically polarized FM antenna for low-power FM radio stations. It supports 87.5 to 108 MHz or Band II. 

More power? Check out the JCPB FM Broadband Antenna for Low, Medium, and High Power operation. It offers Jampro’s true Circular Polarization. And the JMPC/JHPC is available with Medium to High power options. The FM Penetrator can be custom-tuned.

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LAWO was the backbone for the Concert de Paris – part of the French National Day – and broadcast from and to the whole country.

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Arrakis Systems has a new H -10 series, which marries an analog console to a digital control system.

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WorldCast announces the expansion of its Ecreso FM AiO Series with two powerful new products, along with a major software update. The new additions extend the AiO Series portfolio up to 2kW, meeting the medium power needs of broadcasters with 1kW HR (high redundancy) and 2kW transmitters in a compact 3U form factor.

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With the lightning season in progress, Nott Ltd in Farmington, NM has several time-tested lightning dissipation tools that can help you survive the electrical storms.

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

 


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

• 4 year ago (7/25/20) Maren Moris finally dropped from #1 on the Country sales charts after 19 weeks.
• 11 years ago (7/27/13) Taylor Swift and Carly Simon sang a duet of “You’re So Vain.”
• 13 years ago (7/23/11) Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.
• 28 years ago (7/37/96) The Spice Girls became the first all-female group to hit #1 in the UK with “Wannabe.“
• 35 years ago (7/23/89) Ringo Star began his first tour after the Beatles with his All-Star Band.
• 38 years ago (7/26/86) Peter Gabriel hit #1 with “Sledgehammer.“
• 39 years ago (7/27/84) Prince starred in the film Purple Rain.
• 40 years ago (7/24/82) “Eye Of The Tiger” from Rocky III tops the U.S. pop charts for the first of six weeks.
• 49 years ago (7/26/75) Van McCoy’s “The Hustle” was the #1 song in America.
• 56 years ago (7/28/68) Hugh Masekela trumpet performance hits #1 with “Grazing In The Grass.“ In a rare event, Masekla bounced another trumpet song from #1.
• 59 years ago (7/25/65) Bob Dylan went “electric” and was booed at the Newport Folk Festival.
• 84 years ago (7/27/40) Blllboard Magazine published its first recorded music sales chart.

… and 85 years ago (7/24/39) the first experimental FMs went on the air.

How about some “regular news history” type items:

• 23 years ago (7/25/00) the Concorde crashed in Paris, essentially leading to the end of service in 2003.
• 33 years ago (7/22/91) cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is caught.
• 42 years ago (7/24/82) “Eye Of The Tiger” from Rocky III topped the U.S. pop charts.
• 46 years ago (7/28/78) “Animal House”  was released.
• 46 years ago (7/25/78) the first “Test Tube Baby” was born.
• 50 years ago (7/27/74) impeachment articles against Richard Nixon were approved.
• 65 years ago (7/24/59) Nixon debated Khrushschev at a fair in Moscow.
• 68 years ago (7/26/56) Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal.
• 75 years ago  (7/27/1949), the world’s first jet-propelled airliner, the British De Havilland Comet, made its maiden test-flight in England.
• 90 years ago (7/22/34) Infamous gangster John Dillinger killed by federal agent.
• 91 years ago (7/22/33) Wiley Post flew solo around the world.
• 103 years ago (7/27/1921) Insulin was isolated in Toronto, Canada.
• 113 years ago (7/24/1911) Machu Picchu was discovered.
• 116 years ago (7/26/1908) the FBI was founded.

… and 249 years ago (7/26/1775) the U.S. postal system was established by the Second Continental Congress – Benjamin Franklin was its first postmaster general.

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

 
** Dropping from #1 was Herb Alpert’s “This Guy’s In Love With You.“

MIDWEEK BONUS

Think you may be working with really old gear?  How about a 100+ year-old light bulb?

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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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Now … some extra stuff .. some important … some just interesting.

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