Hot 93.7 - Holy Technical Problems Batman!

[MarcB]

With the impending snowmagedeon predicted to start later today I did my errands early today. Driving to Walmart in Southington, listening to HOT 93.7 and there was no problem. I was in Walmart for about 15 minutes and when I came back out, heading to Shoprite there is a loud, annoying hum behind the music. Driving home from Shoprite I hear the hum behind the DJ when he's talking, during the music, during the commercials, during the liners, etc, etc, etc. Now that I'm home an hour later they're still having this problem.

For those of you wondering what the hum sounds like, it sounds the hum you used to get with old school stereo equipment if it wasn't properly grounded.

Good luck to Vezzy (the DJ) trying to get a hold of someone at CBS Radio to fix the problem.

 

[MarcB]

Just checked now - 1:10PM and whatever the problem was is fixed.

 

[fybush]

Funny thing about engineers, Marc - even on a day that's a holiday to most of the rest of the world, they're still on call and ready to come in and fix whatever's broken...not that they ever get much appreciation from the rest of the world (or even the rest of radio) for that.

 

[Bill-in-CT]

Funny thing about engineers, Marc - even on a day that's a holiday to most of the rest of the world, they're still on call and ready to come in and fix whatever's broken.

I once had to call the chief engineer during my fill-in shift on Christmas morning because the directional readings weren't compliant. Station policy strictly required me to call him, and he went to the xmitter to make adjustments.

 

[DJKraze]

I don't know about anyone else, but I've always appreciated the work of the broadcast engineer and feel the need to mention it.

 

[Tom Gary]

To Scott, DJKraze and others who share your opinion about engineers, IMHO you serve as an inspiration. As an engineer long employed in and contributing to this industry, I stand at the ready to serve. I am not only serving my employer, but the broadcast industry and general public. When one station sounds bad, it reflects poorly on the radio industry as a whole especially in the light of many competing technologies who share shrinking advertising revenue dollars. I must maintain pace with evolving technology. Knowing how to fix cart machines and turntables was an asset in the past, but no more. If I am not there to keep my facilities at top performance, who will be?

It's not just music, talk, etc. but it is EAS and news portals to the general public. To those who value engineers I thank you. I am there, sleet or snow, good times and bad. I may be bruised but I shall not be beaten. Being the modest man I am I wish all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

 

[GlennO]

Tom, you were an important part of the technical, programming and sales upgrade WLAD & WDAQ went through in the eighties. It takes all of the components to make it work. In this day and age of multitasking and consolidation, engineers are often on call or totally responsible for more than just one or two stations. At the last place I worked, the VP/Programming also wired all the boards for five stations. It reminds me that there are still pros out there whose talents could lend themselves to lots of things. They just happen to have a passion for this crazy, often misunderstood business. Take a bow!

 

[Adam Rivers]

Agree with many of the posters of this thread...if there are unsung heroes around radio stations, they are definitely the engineer. Not the most glamorous job, but nothing else happens without them. Happy New Year, and thank you for all you do.

 

[WPPCProductions]

I have to agree about the unsung heroes of radio which is an Engineer without him or her .The airwaves will be silince.yes on call 24/7.Doctors or paramedics of radio and tv.they get called 2am on a night in a middle of a blizzard to get the station on the air.thank you guys for the great work that you do to keep us entertained.and have a happy new year.

Hum on Hot 93.7 ,what was it. "a bad ground somewhere"

 

[MarcB]

Re: Hot 93.7 - Holy Technical Problems Batman! - Round 2

Was listening to HOT 93.7 on the way to work this morning. Same problem as Sunday the 26th of December - hum in the background behind the music. Like something wasn't grounded properly. What the heck goes on at that place on Saturday Nights? Sheesh. I know The On-Air Idiots Show is on until 2 or 3AM and the last jock leaves at 3AM. Then they're on automation until 6AM when they run their public affairs programming then Vezzy comes in at 7AM Sunday Mornimg.

 

[DToTheJ]

Echoing a comment from WPPC on the previous page, engineers are indeed the straws that stir the aural drink of radio stations. Just look at some of the comments on the New York board about the sound of WCBS-FM after longtime engineer Mike Erickson left for North Carolina.