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 830, Volume 16, #50 for July 9, 2025

FCC TO MAKE MOVES ON BROADCAST ISSUES
This month’s FCC Open Meeting plans to have some substantial action on matters of interest to broadcasters. The Meeting, scheduled for July 24th, will include a several aspects of the Delete, Delete, Delete initiative. “The Commission will consider a Direct Final Rule that would repeal certain rules identified as outdated and obsolete via a direct final rule procedure and clarify the potential use of the direct final rule procedure in other circumstances in the future.” There should be more deregulation to come.Also note: an “accelerating upgrade away from old copper line networks,” something that most of us know about all too well over the past few years, with emphasis on high-speed infrastructure, wireless.

AUCTIONS TO RETURN
In the recent large Bill signed by the President, the FCC has received authority to hold more auctions of spectrum. Nothing specific has been announced, but was there not a comment a few weeks back suggesting the upper satellite C Band might be an area the Commission would like to sell off?

GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR AUDIO PROCESSING
Whether it is your console, transmitter, antenna, or audio processor, our goal always is to get the best from each part of our program and transmission system.

One of the simpler – but complex at the same time – parts of the system is the audio processing. Paul Kreigler from The Telos Alliance is our guest this week to talk about audio processing. Whether you are comfortable with the presets or want to know what you can – or should – do with the GUI, Paul has some special answers that ought to help you get the best out of your Omnia processors.

At our regular time/place: Thursday at 2 PM Eastern/11 AM Pacific. You can get the link at www.theBDR.net/TLG/ or www.youtube.com/thebdrnet

Also, you might be interested to know we are now booked until September, with one open week, with some great presentations. Check the same page for the list of upcoming presentations: www.theBDR.net/TLG/


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


SOFTWARE EAS – ARE WE REALLY READY FOR IT?
The discussion on how to implement parts of EAS, usually related to hardware, in software continues. Richard Rudman’s article focuses on the need to avoid rushing to answers before the questions are asked. What should we be doing?

SIMINGTON GETS NEW POST
Nathan Simington, who resigned from the FCC last month, has now joined the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C

STATION TOTALS
The FCC has released its Second Quarter 2025 total of broadcast stations. The big significant number: a loss of 19 FM and 7 AM stations. NCE FMs jumped by 55, with most of the rest not moving much. AM is now down to 4,360, losing a few licenses each month.

UPLOADING TO THE FCC SERVER
Each Quarter, we get notes from folks reporting the FCC server is running sloooooooow, and unless you find the right time uploading required files can be difficult. We hope the FCC really is serious and digs into and finally solves the problem regarding  their server.

WHERE IS THE CONTROL POINT?
The ending of the Main Studio Rule mean your station control point can be anywhere – any physical location (not your Chief Operator’s cell phone). The FCC does require you notify them of the Control Point’s location and the best contact number – and keep it up to date in the LMS.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS!
Have you recently bought a new piece of gear or service? Why not let us all know your feelings. Did it solve your problem? Was it easy to install? Was the support solid and helpful? Let us know so we can tell everyone.

PRIME DAYS
Amazon Prime Day has officially kicked off and will run through July 11. Some other companies like Walmart also plan special sales this week. Look below, under Manufacturers’ News, for some very nice deals.

AI THREAT TO VULNERABILITIES
Keeping your local network safe and clean definitely is getting harder than ever. Even as we celebrate (curse?) the great strides some AI apps have made, the bad guys are using it too. The National Cyber Security Centre warns that automated AI attacks could be used to locate and exploit any vulnerabilities in your LAN and WAN for data disclosure and exploitation.

FOR SALE
Looking for a deal on an Omnia or Orban audio processor? We have several on the BDR ForSale page this week. Also, there is a new set of used Belar AM and FM modulation monitors. Those items and more – we might have what you need! – you can check them out 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

            Wheatstone is now shipping the Wheatstream Duo, a turnkey, Linux-based streaming appliance that brings your entire streaming chain into a single rack-mounted box.

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            Broadcast Depot             is featuring the Syes line of transmitters this week. For more information, look at these prices! and get with Tim or Mary.

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            AMAZON DAY DEALS
            If you are looking for a good electronic deadbolt or door latch, you should take a look at the Bolt Fingerprint, the Bolt NFC, and the Latch 5 from Ultraloq. These units have many of the features you would expect, including the ability to “hide” the code by letting you enter extra numbers if you think someone is watching. The unit knows if you used the right code! The NFC unit will respond to your Apple Watch, making it easier to unlock and enter, especially if you are carrying things. And during Prime Day(s), there significant discounts – 25% to 30%, and on top of that, the first 200 orders of the Bolt F Homekit will get an additional 50% off. Check them out here and on Amazon.

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            THERE IS MORE
            During Prime Day(s), all sorts of items are reduced, as much as 50% or more. Need copy paper? It is 1/3 off at Amazon. Lexar flash drives 1/2 off. And more. Amazon.com is one place.

            Or check out Dana’s Daily Deals for his list of great bargains.

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

             


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

                    • 3 years ago (7/7/22) Bob Dylan recorded one copy of “Blowin’ In The Wind” for producer T Bone Burnett. Price?*
                    • 3 years ago (7/8/07) Elton John concluded his farewell tour – which started in 2016 – in Stockholm.
                    • 18 years ago (7/7/07) Live Earth, a series of concerts urging action against Global Warming, ran around the world.
                    • 29 years ago (7/8/96) the first Spice Girls record “Wannabe” hit #1 in the Uk, then the US.
                    • 33 years ago (7/9/92) the first AM HD transmissions were being tested in Cincinnati.
                    • 46 years ago (7/12/79) Chicago White Sox fans, led by two DJs blew up thousands of disco records, causing a cancellation and forfeit of a Major League ball game, nine injuries, and 39 arrests. Some called it “the end of Disco.”
                    • 51 years ago (7/6/74) the first disco song topped the Hot 100. **
                    • 53 years ago (7/8/72) Bill Withers “Lean on Me” started three weeks at #1.
                    • 63 years ago (7/12/62) the Rolling Stones performed their first concert.
                    • 63 years ago (7/10/62) Telstar 1 was launched.
                    • 68 years ago (7/6/57) John met Paul for the first time.
                    • 70 years ago (7/9/55) Bill Haley & His Comets have the first Rock song to hit #1. ***

                    … and 65 years ago (7/10/60) the Hollywood Argyles hit the charts with “Alley Oop,” kicking off a “novelty-song” outbreak. What was your favorite?

                    How about a few “general history” items as well?

                    • 14 years ago (7/8/11) Atlantis is launched on final mission of US Space Shuttle program.
                    • 46 years ago (7/11/79) Skylab crashed to earth – five years after the last Skylab mission. (The space stations orbit began to deteriorate earlier than was anticipated because of unexpectedly high sunspot activity.)
                    • 57 years ago (7/14/68) Hank Aaron hit his 500th Home Run.
                    • 63 years ago (7/10/62) a U.S. patent was issued for the three-point seatbelt.
                    • 84 years ago (7/9/41) the Enigma key was broken.
                    • 94 years ago (7/7/31) work began on the Hoover Dam.
                    • 97 years ago (7/7/1928) Sliced Bread was first produced in Missouri.
                    • 100 years ago (7/10/1925) the Scopes’ “Monkey Trial” began in Dayton, TN.
                    • 111 years ago (7/11/1914) Babe Ruth made his Major League debut.
                    • 146 years ago (7/9/1879) The Bell Telephone Company was founded – the first busy signal was not far behind.

                    .. and 221 years ago (7/11/1804) Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel.


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

                       


                      * Dylan’s song sold for $1.7 million.

                      ** Hues Corporation’s “Rock the Boat.”

                      *** this was not too hard to guess: “Rock Around The Clock.”

                      MIDWEEK BONUS

                      Did your station play music from a Canadian band called The Velvet Sundown? FYI: this was an AI construct, as was the music that began streaming all over the place. There is no such band…..

                      During Summer time, everyone tries to slow down, especially when it is hot. Here is something to fill some time as you look at a list of lists. You will certainly find something of interest here!.

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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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