• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Chief Engineer opening at Salem Houston

T

TexasTuner

Salem Houston is looking for a CE as of yesterday. Anyone on the board knows of an interested individual, pass this along.

Texas Tuner
 
All I know is that there was a parting of the ways. More details aren't available. He was there for a long time-almost 11 years.
 
I may be way-out-of-place here...but...I've heard two things in the last year that sorta struck a negative chord with me in reference to someone (and I honestly don't know who) at Salem-Houston. Because of the nature of the subjects, I automatically assumed that the engineer at Salem-Houston was more-than-likely behind it.

One of the items had to do with the (anticipated) completion of the tower lighting job performed last year at the Devers tower. The job was never completed. I think they got up to around 1500 feet or so. The story I heard was something to the effect "My station isn't going off the air (again) for this project." Now, that is not verbatin, but something closely akin to that. I know that the Liberman and Univision engineers were ready. KSHN (Liberty) wouldn't be affected by the completion of the project because they're at the 750 foot level on the tower and they (the tower crew) had already gone beyond that. That only left Salem's KKHT as the hold-out.

The other item I heard was about a week-or-so ago and had to do with KTEK. I'll reserve any elaboration on that one for another time.

Again, my facts may be a bit off (as well as my assumptions)...but this might have a little something to do with the engineer that was let go.

As a side note, I hope the new engineer "has an ear." While Salem's KSKY in Dallas has absolutely incredible AM audio (some of the best I've ever heard on AM), the audio on Salem's KNTH here in Houston leaves an AWFUL lot to be desired. It's a shame, too. With the power KNTH has, they could sound very dominant with the right processing and the right engineer.
 
I cannot comment on KKHT or KTEK. However, I will comment on KNTH. The KNTH audio has been a battle for me since becoming PD. I play the National Anthem every morning at 6:05AM. That last sustaining note sounds terrible. As the song ends the processing is set so that it tries to bring it up, which produces a very weird effect. The sustained note becomes choppy with the rise and fall of the note as it fades away.

Although we are a talk station, we have a lot of musical elements. Those elements whether it is from the network or stagers and promos that I have produced are affected. I agree, KNTH should have more 'punch' to it.

We just need a fresh set of ears and eyes in our engineering department. Thus, the need for a change.
 
Chuck,

What are the chances of getting the engineer who set-up KSKY's audio to do the same for Houston...maybe even before the new Chief for Houston is selected?
 
Presently, there are Salem engineers on site for a short period of time until a new chief is selected. This in addition to a contract engineer, whom I've known since 1997. I will take your thoughts into consideration.

Are you still doing a country oldies show on Sunday nights on KSHN?
 
AndyWaldrop said:
I may be way-out-of-place here...but...I've heard two things in the last year that sorta struck a negative chord with me in reference to someone (and I honestly don't know who) at Salem-Houston. Because of the nature of the subjects, I automatically assumed that the engineer at Salem-Houston was more-than-likely behind it.

One of the items had to do with the (anticipated) completion of the tower lighting job performed last year at the Devers tower. The job was never completed. I think they got up to around 1500 feet or so. The story I heard was something to the effect "My station isn't going off the air (again) for this project." Now, that is not verbatin, but something closely akin to that. I know that the Liberman and Univision engineers were ready. KSHN (Liberty) wouldn't be affected by the completion of the project because they're at the 750 foot level on the tower and they (the tower crew) had already gone beyond that. That only left Salem's KKHT as the hold-out.

The other item I heard was about a week-or-so ago and had to do with KTEK. I'll reserve any elaboration on that one for another time.

Again, my facts may be a bit off (as well as my assumptions)...but this might have a little something to do with the engineer that was let go.

As a side note, I hope the new engineer "has an ear." While Salem's KSKY in Dallas has absolutely incredible AM audio (some of the best I've ever heard on AM), the audio on Salem's KNTH here in Houston leaves an AWFUL lot to be desired. It's a shame, too. With the power KNTH has, they could sound very dominant with the right processing and the right engineer.
Click to expand...

The lights on CC's Devers tower has been in p*sspoor shape for years.....so has the tower itself (damn elevator is broken more times than not...but thats because of the cheapass ham radio group on there who takes joyrides in it and doesnt have the required $5million liability insurance REQUIRED by CC Corp.....I know, I am a stockholder and have checked into this..and they use the tower steel for return in the AC wiring since only one of the three conductors in the AC cabling to their cabinet is good....TALK ABOUT SAFETY HAZARD...I would not remove them; I would KICK THEIR CABINET off the tower from the 1500ft level..considering the person behind that group and his "wiring" expertise, I would be ashamed to have anyone hear about that crap!......ooohhh too late ;)

Salem SHOULD have a backup for 100.7 somewhere (especially since there are two other 2000ft towers in visual view from the CC tower, I WOULD BE OFF the CC tower in a heartbeat!)...KKHT was REQUIRED by federal law to reduce power or go off the air for tower work....NO IFs ANDs OR BUTTs about it...IF the Chief refused, he paid the price and its HIS fault....as a Chief Engineer, I ALWAYS complied with the RFR rules,etc unless the tower manager decided to put the work off until a major book....then it was talking to time with his management (and since the company I worked for owned the company HE worked for, guess who won that argument?? But I was not the only one complaining...two other CBS engineers were moaning as well....we won that battle..I still kept him on my Christmas Card list :)=

HOWEVER, its been almost 5 years but isnt there an aux antenna backup at 1000ft or so for the master panel on CC's Devers?? I recall the antenna switch and the wiring (or lack of!!) that was done to implement it; it being hung by chain was sooo lovely and great engineering practice....but iirc stations had to reduce power to go to the aux antenna because it could not take full power of 3 FMs....at the time, 98.5, 93.3 and 100.7 were on the master...107.9 was always on its own antenna and IT had to go off the air at times..the other three went reduced power on the lower aux (but I dont recall a license for it!!!).....and I wouldnt trust the antenna switch anyway!

As for the audio, YES!!! 660 KSKY is killer audio.....1070 sure could use the same treatment!
 
Trust me... the Salem Chief had nothing to do with the lights on the Devers tower not working. He would have turned his staion off or power downed just like any us would and did. The decision to power down or go off is made by people with a higher pay grade.

The back-up antenna on the CC Dever tower was only designed for 98.5 and 93.3. The transmission line lenghts was the question. Several peices of line would have needed to be replaced in order for it to have worked. This is and always was an option for 100.7. So when 98.5 and 93.3 ran on the back-up antenna 100.7 was off.

98.5 and 93.3 ran lower TPO on the back-up antenna not because the power handling problem but because of a it had more gain thus, running at the same TPO as the main would have put the staions over 100Kw ERP.

Sometimes budgets dictate which projects get done and what order they are done. We as engineers do not always make the decsions, most of the time we must just play with the toys are are given.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom