Crawford's Latest Engineering Newletter

[clouseau]

Mr. O IS an “unreliable idiot” [a totally inexperienced one at that]

My My. Political are we? Heh heh.

Now wait... Because I did not lock step and agree publically. I'm sure I'll be branded as suffering from "Obamamania". Or is that a Democratic "Shill".

To get back on radio... George or Radioracket or whoever, put's on the Coast to Coast tin foil hat and declares the only reason for AMHD was to raise ratings by getting those "out of market" listeners to listen locally. Here's the math. Your original ratings, plus an unmeasurable amount, equals... YOUR RATINGS. No change. I suspect you know this. Even if not, radio managers and programmers do.

Then we claim it's to "Force smaller stations onto the "EXB". Where I come from the EXB is 1620-1700, but I suspect based on a diversity of ownership reference, he's referring to the CH5/6 proposal.

Please I"M BEGGING YOU.. use your brain. The big guys are afraid of AM's SOUND QUALITY, not small AM competition. They're running HD to try and fix it. The results are definitly up for debate, but everything is not a vast Right wing/ left wing /Government conspiracy. Nor is it the product of an alien landing.

As for the revolution starting, Rush Limbaugh says it started on Tuesday with the signing of what he calls the "Porkulous" bill.

And as for... Oh wait, I see Contrails outside. Gotta head for the root cellar.

Clouseau

 

[clouseau]

What irks me is that the FCC is so obsessed with the DTV transition, a transition they obviously botched big time,

How so? We've all been bombarded with DTV transition info forever. The "Botch" came when they followed the administrations mandate and extended the deadline. We gave away millinons of dollars worth of converter boxes and just because you waited to the last minute, you need to actually pay the $39.95 and BUY one? So what. What's the worst that will happen, you don't have TV til payday? ? I ran into that a year and a half ago when Lightning came down the pole and fried mine. I didn't get a government freebie, even though it was beyond my control. I don't agree with the "Botched" until they negated ALL of the conversion advertising by CHANGING THE DATE. DUMB DUMB DUMB... (IMHO)

...they have effectively ignored the other elephant in the room; namely the slow disintegration of the broadcasting industry of which the destruction of the AM/FM bands is symptomatic. Only some of this can be blamed on the economy. Most of it is due to poor oversight by the Commission.

While I realize I've already been labeled an Obamamaniac, Just maybe the financial welfare of the broadcaster is NOT the job of the FCC. Just a thought...

I just hope the new FCC Chairman is responsive to the problems the industry faces and savvy enough to know what the current issues are. Little Kevin Martin was clueless. Copps means well, but as an interim chairman his hands are tied.

AFAIK, The FCC is not the answer. The Broadcasters are the answer. Some are small guys and do well (Bob). Other are big guys and do poorly. (Farid)

Radio stations have been going out of business for as long as I've been alive. Is suspect they'll be doing it long after I'm gone. The FCC doesn't have the power to change that. Let's hope they never get it.

Clouseau




[/quote]

 

[Tom Wells]

There is no problem with the quality of AM. I do dare say it can sound far more natural, and those who know will agree.
There are only bad radios and pollution courtesy of the FCC's dereliction of duty back in the day when Triacs and SCRs were perfected.
These and other "discontinuous current" switching devices should have been regulated in application as extremely as chemical toxins are
by the EPA. They are poison to the "environment", and the reaction of manufacturers to make ever cheaper, less sensitive and worse sounding radios as the solution to this is to be ridiculed, not accepted.

I recently read the code of conduct for the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and I am puzzled.
The code of "integity, above all", and specific enjoinders to be more or less bluntly honest despite all outside influence,
regarding matters of technology and application..... how can AM iboc even exist?

Is it that the owners won't listen or were they just too afraid to speak up?
The way I read it, their ethical duty was to keep a mess such as this, caused by those who don't understand, from happening.
That was the engineering fratentiy that was taught to me at the old dead radio engineering school.
You respected, and knew the guy who was the engineer on the same frequency and maybe the adjacents 100 miles away,
and would not dare cause him a moment's irritation with your signal if you could possibly help it.

What the heck happened to the industry I respcted as a place of order and rules?

 

[rbrucecarter5]

Mr. O IS an “unreliable idiot” [a totally inexperienced one at that] - and I’m a third-party voter-turned McCain supporter for that very reason... ‘Seems I lost [darn], but so did the rest of America [just wait 'n see]. Don’t look to any O-reformation at the FCC to right past wrongs... ‘Maybe just an end to the profitable “talk radio” format... OK, WHEN will the “real revolution” happen?

A little too political for my taste. However, given the direction of this administration, I expect an Obama FCC to back corporate radio and iBiquity with a bailout from my great great great grandchildren's tax money.

 

[hipporadio]

Mr. O IS an “unreliable idiot” [a totally inexperienced one at that]...

A little too political for my taste. However, given the direction of this administration, I expect an Obama FCC to back corporate radio and iBiquity with a bailout from my great great great grandchildren's tax money.

I humbly apologize, rbruce... This board is heated-enough without an infusion of pol-speak. I’ll just fondly remember Mark Fowler’s FCC and leave it at that... BUT WAIT – didn’t he preside over the AM stereo “episode”? ‘Guess no man is perfect!

From USA Today:

Administration says again: Obama opposes bringing back the 'fairness doctrine'

Let’s remember WHO actually wrote the infamous “stimulus bill”—NOT Mr. O, rather his coffee-clutch at the other end of Penn Ave. A similar fate beckons the [un]fairness doctrine... It will originate IN CONGRESS courtesy of Nancy, Harry, and that unflattering Debbie [the Michigander married to that FORMER liberal radio magnate that has this propensity for prostitutes]. Mr. O will not claim credit for a return of obscene government censorship on the AM band – he’ll just allow his cadre in congress do it.

That’s my FINAL political commentary... I PROMISE

There is no problem with the quality of AM.I do dare say it can sound far more natural, and those who know will agree. There are only bad radios and pollution courtesy of the FCC's dereliction of duty back in the day when Triacs and SCRs were perfected...

More wisdom which has become the signature of one Tom Wells... Nice to know that there are a few good minds left within the “engineering profession”!

 

[elchupacabras]

KUDOS to Tom Wells! There is nothing better than a bass voice coming across an AM Optimod (or Dorrough for that matter) into the transmitter. AM radio is not the problem. The government needed to enforce an AM Stereo and AMAX solution decades ago. AM Stereo works thousands of miles away. HD AM works, if you are lucky, a mile away. I am an FM HD proponent, but think that AM HD is nothing more than JUNK SCIENCE!

 

[hipporadio]

KUDOS to Tom Wells! There is nothing better than a bass voice coming across an AM Optimod (or Dorrough for that matter) into the transmitter. AM radio is not the problem. The government needed to enforce an AM Stereo and AMAX solution decades ago. AM Stereo works thousands of miles away. HD AM works, if you are lucky, a mile away. I am an FM HD proponent, but think that AM HD is nothing more than JUNK SCIENCE!

YES... “Kudos” to Tom Wells [and I love that "bass voice" and the Top-40 from 12/69 thru a Dorrough and a rig with a new set of modulator tubes, also]... The Lowery Boyz in San Antonio ought to hire this fine man to bring basic engineering practice into their Texas broadcast barn... Their 50kw AM stations would surely benefit [700 WLW is an audio disaster area – Randy M is cursing in the men’s room mirror, while shutting-off IBOC at WGN]. JUNK SCIENCE, indeed :-[

 

[Carmine5]

What irks me is that the FCC is so obsessed with the DTV transition, a transition they obviously botched big time,

How so? We've all been bombarded with DTV transition info forever. The "Botch" came when they followed the administrations mandate and extended the deadline. We gave away millinons of dollars worth of converter boxes and just because you waited to the last minute, you need to actually pay the $39.95 and BUY one? So what. What's the worst that will happen, you don't have TV til payday? ? I ran into that a year and a half ago when Lightning came down the pole and fried mine. I didn't get a government freebie, even though it was beyond my control. I don't agree with the "Botched" until they negated ALL of the conversion advertising by CHANGING THE DATE. DUMB DUMB DUMB... (IMHO)

...they have effectively ignored the other elephant in the room; namely the slow disintegration of the broadcasting industry of which the destruction of the AM/FM bands is symptomatic. Only some of this can be blamed on the economy. Most of it is due to poor oversight by the Commission.

While I realize I've already been labeled an Obamamaniac, Just maybe the financial welfare of the broadcaster is NOT the job of the FCC. Just a thought...

I just hope the new FCC Chairman is responsive to the problems the industry faces and savvy enough to know what the current issues are. Little Kevin Martin was clueless. Copps means well, but as an interim chairman his hands are tied.

AFAIK, The FCC is not the answer. The Broadcasters are the answer. Some are small guys and do well (Bob). Other are big guys and do poorly. (Farid)

Radio stations have been going out of business for as long as I've been alive. Is suspect they'll be doing it long after I'm gone. The FCC doesn't have the power to change that. Let's hope they never get it.

Clouseau

[/quote]

Why are we even having this conversation?! What I'm saying is nothing new. It's all over the trades. Obviously, sending out PSAs for the DTV transition was not enough to alert the nation as to what was pending. Only as the deadline grew closer did the FCC start a roadshow to see if the transition was going smoothly in selected cities. Apparently not. Hence an emergency bill to move the deadline up to June 12, a move that many stations correctly stated would only confuse the issue. The Commission should have been aggressively shepherding this transition from the beginning.

I never said that the FCC or the government should help broadcasters remain financially solvent and obviously there are single and combo station owners who are doing well, like Mr. Savage. Financial prudence and not carrying too much debt is helping many such operations to survive.

But the Commission's draconian rules and procedures, their propensity to sit on petitions for years and the unquestioning renewal of licenses of stations owned by these behemoth radio companies as they satellite feed their "properties" has done nothing to keep radio from losing touch with its community. Instead we have stations that are nothing more than borgs. Hell, much of radio isn't even entertaining anymore, let alone relevant to local issues!

The best the FCC can come up with is a fishing line tangle of proposed legislation they think addresses the issue of localism. But instead of promoting true localism it just adds another layer of bureaucracy and busy work paper shuffling for station owners.

C5

 

[clouseau]

Why are we even having this conversation?! What I'm saying is nothing new. It's all over the trades. Obviously, sending out PSAs for the DTV transition was not enough to alert the nation as to what was pending.

Why is that obvious? Everyone not on the international space station for the last 3 years knows about the DTV transition. The only reason to move the transition forward was to allow for more DTV converter box coupons. The extension bill was a political grandstanding move by the politicians to play CYA when there are issues. And there are always going to be issues. There were issues on 2-17 and there will be issues in June. However when extended several times you can point to "Well we delayed it" to CYA.

Hence an emergency bill to move the deadline up to June 12, a move that many stations correctly stated would only confuse the issue.

Well should we have extended the deadline or not? Were we ready or not? You're just arguing, your not putting forward a point AFA I can see.

The Commission should have been aggressively shepherding this transition from the beginning.

What more would you have had them do? I don't get paper bills from my cable company, but I had a notice MAILED to my house.

We've been seeing these crawls for YEARS on analog and digital stations.

RADIO stations have had to run PSAs about it.

There's a notice about it posted in the POST OFFICE.

What's next, an FCC worker comes to my front door and requires me to sign an affdavit showing I know about the DTV transition or they slap me around? As Don Bevridge used to say, "This is not a Deficiency of knowledge problem, it a deficiency of execution."

But the Commission's draconian rules and procedures, their propensity to sit on petitions for years and the unquestioning renewal of licenses of stations owned by these behemoth radio companies as they satellite feed their "properties" has done nothing to keep radio from losing touch with its community. Instead we have stations that are nothing more than borgs. Hell, much of radio isn't even entertaining anymore, let alone relevant to local issues!

You lost me there. Draconian rules? Like requiring news, Public service, Equal time for political opinion, Community Outreach... THOSE Draconian rules? You know they're all gone, right? If we have an issue now it is a LACK of Draconian rules. Or are you complaining about that Draconian "Public File" rule. That, EAS and Tower fencing is basically all that's left. Not exactly "Draconian".

The best the FCC can come up with is a fishing line tangle of proposed legislation they think addresses the issue of localism. But instead of promoting true localism it just adds another layer of bureaucracy and busy work paper shuffling for station owners.

Agreed. THAT might be Draconian. You DO know we don't have that now, right?

Clouseau

 

[Carmine5]

The best the FCC can come up with is a fishing line tangle of proposed legislation they think addresses the issue of localism. But instead of promoting true localism it just adds another layer of bureaucracy and busy work paper shuffling for station owners.

Agreed. THAT might be Draconian. You DO know we don't have that now, right?

Yes, I am aware that this is just a proposed set of regulations (which is why I referred to it as "proposed legislation"). Believe or not, I can read and even comprehend what I read.

What I am expressing is disappointment that, at a time when localism needs to be addressed, this is the best the Commission can do.

C5

 

[KB1OKL]

They also should have taken into account that most people really couldn't care less about this, this is an FCC money making proposition only, it is not and was never done with the people's wants or needs in mind, it would be as dead as HD radio is if it wasn't being mandated by the FCC pinheads. 99% of the people go in and turn on the TV and that's about it, they don't think about it, they couldn't care less if it's HD or not except for maybe sports fanatics and gadget-o-philes and people like us, you could shoot them in the butt with a dart that has a flyer attached that says "Attention TV is turning all digital in February 2009, get a box!!", they'd pull the dart out and toss the flyer into the trash. Most people also have cable or satellite for their TV and it is being done automatically for them, I wonder how many people really understand what's happening? My 80 YO father has an idea, my 77 YO mother would say huh? I wonder if the poor people who are still using TV antennas because there is no cable in their area know about it even though they've probably have seen (and shut off) the arrogant commercials trumpeting the conversion warning them to get a converter box or else?
I have satellite and have had a digital ready Sony flat screen TV now for several years, do I have a digital picture? Beats me, and I couldn't care less. If I have to pay one extra penny for it ever my house will remain a digital free zone. Does my Peruvian wife know anything at all about it? Nope. Does she or would she care? Nope, it's just another scam to pull money out of unsuspecting Americans and sell radio space. I wonder when the US government is going to start selling and licensing air? And no I'm not a luddite and have nothing against digital TV, I just don't like government shoving things down people's throat who don't have a choice and don't have a say in it.

 

[tomservo]

Sorry to interrupt this fascinating diversion, but I have a couple of observations from the Crawford PDF.

First and foremost, one of the engineers was surprised that the new state-of-the-art HD device he installed at the TX site was going to need more cooling than he was preparted for. He was expecting that moving 500 cfm would be adequate cooling for the building, only to discover that with this new, state-of-the-air Nautel transmitter will actually require 3,000 cfm! That means knocking a new hole in the transmitter building.

D'oh.

And second, in an opinon piece, another Crawford engineer rants and raves on people using closed systems like Windows instead of Linux.

The irony of his devotion to HD is not lost on me, although kudos to him for encouraging iBiquity to make their system… Wait for it… oper source.

 

[KB1OKL]

Sorry to interrupt this fascinating diversion, but I have a couple of observations from the Crawford PDF.

First and foremost, one of the engineers was surprised that the new state-of-the-art HD device he installed at the TX site was going to need more cooling than he was preparted for. He was expecting that moving 500 cfm would be adequate cooling for the building, only to discover that with this new, state-of-the-air Nautel transmitter will actually require 3,000 cfm! That means knocking a new hole in the transmitter building.

D'oh.

Well you can fry eggs on top of the iBlock receivers, why deprive engineers of that same pleasure?