Clear Channel Meltdown...

[Mediaace]

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

 

[Mediaace]

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

 

[Mediaace]

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

 

[Mediaace]

92.5 now back at 9:35AM.
A possible cluster-wide automation hard crash?

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

 

[stewie]

92.5 now back at 9:35AM.
A possible cluster-wide automation hard crash?

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I guess that's possible however that wouldn't effect KFBK and KSTE since, in the absence of automation, an employee could quite literally raise a pot on the console and feed whatever network down link was supposed to be on the air.

It's more likely the audio routing system took a crap. When they were on Ethan Way, they used a system by SAS (http://www.sasaudio.com/) to route audio around.

 

[Mediaace]

Appreciate the thoughts; makes sense.

Thanks for the reply, Stewie!

92.5 now back at 9:35AM.
A possible cluster-wide automation hard crash?

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I guess that's possible however that wouldn't effect KFBK and KSTE since, in the absence of automation, an employee could quite literally raise a pot on the console and feed whatever network down link was supposed to be on the air.

It's more likely the audio routing system took a crap. When they were on Ethan Way, they used a system by SAS (http://www.sasaudio.com/) to route audio around.

 

[stewie]

Appreciate the thoughts; makes sense.

Thanks for the reply, Stewie!

92.5 now back at 9:35AM.
A possible cluster-wide automation hard crash?

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I guess that's possible however that wouldn't effect KFBK and KSTE since, in the absence of automation, an employee could quite literally raise a pot on the console and feed whatever network down link was supposed to be on the air.

It's more likely the audio routing system took a crap. When they were on Ethan Way, they used a system by SAS (http://www.sasaudio.com/) to route audio around.

No problem.

I worked on Ethan Way (what a dump) for MANY years and was always surprised how well they stayed on the air...

With the new location, I would suspect things are MUCH cleaner. Surprised they had such a "global meltdown" issue. On the same token, I imagine they're using a lot of "recycled equipment". <- nothing wrong with that, they have some nice gear.

 

[Michael Rivers Kramer]

It looks like the meltdown happened to a software problem according to the Bee. So, the LP-1 stations (KFBK-AM/FM) are controlled by a mouse click? You mean nobody is able to flip a switch or run a patch cord to put something out over the air? Are the STLs totally software based?

Appreciate the thoughts; makes sense.

Thanks for the reply, Stewie!

92.5 now back at 9:35AM.
A possible cluster-wide automation hard crash?

93.1 is back as of 9:24AM.

101.1 is now back as of 9:22AM.

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I guess that's possible however that wouldn't effect KFBK and KSTE since, in the absence of automation, an employee could quite literally raise a pot on the console and feed whatever network down link was supposed to be on the air.

It's more likely the audio routing system took a crap. When they were on Ethan Way, they used a system by SAS (http://www.sasaudio.com/) to route audio around.

No problem.

I worked on Ethan Way (what a dump) for MANY years and was always surprised how well they stayed on the air...

With the new location, I would suspect things are MUCH cleaner. Surprised they had such a "global meltdown" issue. On the same token, I imagine they're using a lot of "recycled equipment". <- nothing wrong with that, they have some nice gear.

 

[Big D]

Absolutely ridiculous. That should never happen, especially in the year 2012. 6 separate carriers with NOTHING for over 1 hour in the heart of AM drive! If I was GM I'd be pi*sed!!!

 

[stewie]

Absolutely ridiculous. That should never happen, especially in the year 2012. 6 separate carriers with NOTHING for over 1 hour in the heart of AM drive! If I was GM I'd be pi*sed!!!

Here's the article: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/11/4900838/software-problem-knocks-clear.html

Holy cow, that's terrible! Sounds like a generic answer to me.

The old Ethan Way facility had MANY ways to route around issues including a 1/4" patch panel.

 

[DJBigOne]

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I first heard the stations off just after 0700. KSTE was the first station I noticed (yes, I listen to A&G).

A software failure? How could it be out that long? I assumed it was a power outage at the studios, or transmitter site. Even that wouldn't make sense, since they should have back-up power, both UPS' and generators. Do they realize they are LP1 for EAS? :

 

[stewie]

Anyone have an idea why no audio is getting delivered to the transmitters? They are all on (open carrier) but no programming is present except from 93.7 KJQK (Jack-FM). Discovered it at 9:03AM. It is now 9:18AM.

I first heard the stations off just after 0700. KSTE was the first station I noticed (yes, I listen to A&G).

A software failure? How could it be out that long? I assumed it was a power outage at the studios, or transmitter site. Even that wouldn't make sense, since they should have back-up power, both UPS' and generators. Do they realize they are LP1 for EAS? :

Which is why I have such a hard time believing software.
I wish them the best, I'd be concerned if I was part of the engineering team.

Too many eggs in one basket whatever it was.

 

[DJBigOne]

>>
A software failure? How could it be out that long? I assumed it was a power outage at the studios, or transmitter site. Even that wouldn't make sense, since they should have back-up power, both UPS' and generators. Do they realize they are LP1 for EAS? :

Which is why I have such a hard time believing software.
I wish them the best, I'd be concerned if I was part of the engineering team.

Too many eggs in one basket whatever it was.

[/quote]

A dependence on technology for sure. That seems to be the case with most telecommunication companies nowadays.

Don't they have any redunancy? Back up transmitters, STL's? Heck, you can feed a standby transmitter with a POTS line. It might not sound great, but at least you'd be back on-the-air. With a small transmitter, you could at least cover your city of license.

 

[boiseengineer]

A software issue can take it all down.
Read:
http://radiomagonline.com/infrastructure/facility_design/extreme_studio_networking_clear_channel_seattle_1001/