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Optimod question

S

Spindoctor

Guest
Just curious.
You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a picket
fence while frying eggs.

What do you do sparky? What do you do?

And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the Optimiod.

Thanks,
The Spindoctor
 
> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.
>
> Thanks,
> The Spindoctor
>
If you can't fix the STL, then you have to get rid of the beaver.

GK
 
> > Just curious.
> > You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> > The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the
> STL.
> > It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the
> talk
> > it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> > picket
> > fence while frying eggs.
> >
> > What do you do sparky? What do you do?
> >
> > And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> > Optimiod.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > The Spindoctor
> >
> If you can't fix the STL, then you have to get rid of the
> beaver.
>
> GK
>
Yep, but do you adjust brilliance, presence, or allow bass to
be upped to suck in some bandwidth.

The Spindoctor
 
> Yep, but do you adjust brilliance, presence, or allow bass
> to
> be upped to suck in some bandwidth.
>
> The Spindoctor
>

Which Optimod are we talking about?

Gate it tighter and give up some density and loudness to try and keep the noise down..

Or, you could grab an Ariane or Compellor and run that hotter at the studio end and just do some limiting at the transmitter, this way you're only limiting the audio and not doing alot of raising of the noise floor.
 
> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.
>
> Thanks,
> The Spindoctor
>

OK, I won't say "fix the STL". I will say, however, good luck! Best bet is to crank up the gate a bit to "hide" the problem.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
OK I’ll bite… Why can’t you fix or replace the STL? If the audio quality suffers from problem with the STL, I don’t think you’ll have much luck “fixing it” by tweaking the processor. You know garbage in, garbage out.

R


> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.
>
> Thanks,
> The Spindoctor
>
 
> Yep, but do you adjust brilliance, presence, or allow bass
> to
> be upped to suck in some bandwidth.


Like others said - set Gate threshold higher, reduce input gains so there's less GR in the AGC going on and yes, reduce both brilliance and presence somewhat.


Oh and - fix (or replace) the STL! ;-)


Regards,
Goran Tomas
 
> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.

Ok, REPLACE the STL (I didnt say fix it)...

YOU CANNOT FIX a problem by covering it up..you HAVE to remove it..
 
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?


Being the Asst. CE, you call the CE and inform him you are much to drunk to run back to the station so he will have to handle this one. In the mean time, tell the PD he must be losing his hearing because it sounds fine. If the PD doesn't buy this, inform him that the QEI Mod Mon. has lost a 5000 microfarad cap on the output stage of the right hand selector transformer cause the silver tipped transistor came in contact with the main crystal.
Go enjoy another beer with the sales team at the local pub, using script of course.
 
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.

If your problem is hiss are you sure it's the STL? Like previously stated, GIGO.
I think raising your squelch on your STL receiver is worth a try, too.

If it's a marginal signal can you re-peak the signal by re-aiming the antennas? Or, don't forget there are amps made to boost your STL power (though that obviously opens a can of freq coord and interference study worms. I don't think I've ever seen them, but I bet there's a receive amp out there somewhere, too.

Take it from me, don't raise the squelch (gate) too high.
 
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.

Adjusting the optimod won't do anything.

Crappy s/n ratio. Peak the antenna and put an agc (compellor?) pre-stl. Make sure you're driving it properly...put the hottest levels you can INTO something so that the gains aren't up high to pull in noise/hiss. And as someone already mentioned, check the squelch after you peak the antenna.

Might also want to start fresh with everything...flatten any EQs, return the optimod to orban's default setting and then make minor adjustments.

I had the same problem, only with a dry copper pair for an stl...spent months trying to find a workaround...not even isolating it would remove hum, hiss and noise. The ultimate fix was to replace the 20 year old analog link with a new pair and digital cards. Flattened the processing, defeated the studio-side compellor (+24dbu before clip, so plenty of room), and redid everything. Sounds amazing.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.
>
> Thanks,
> The Spindoctor
>

People have suggested adding an agc to improve S/N
Why not really maximise the S/N before the link with the Optimod you already have by moving it to the studio. It then wont be sucking up any noise from the link.

Then use a stereo generator with safety clipping at the TX site to clean up the edges/overshoots from the link.
For example....
http://www.broadcastwarehouse.com/p/BW/Audio-Processors/DSPmpX-Stereo-Encoder?pid=172
Bob and Frank also make boxes that should do pretty much the same thing.

Best regards
Scott
 
Re: Squelch level

Sure, raising the squelch level will help. Then when the STL signal level drops, the receiver will squelch, and no more noisy audio!

> > You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
>
> If your problem is hiss are you sure it's the STL? Like
> previously stated, GIGO.
> I think raising your squelch on your STL receiver is worth a
> try, too.
>
 
Hamtronics and Down East microwave both make RF amplifiers which can be retuned (down...from 1200 to 950 mhz) to the STL band & stuck in front of your STL receiver. Helpful to make up gain on a marginal STL link.

Not very expensive, either.

Can do wonders as long as you arn't also plagued by other STL signals. Not very selective,as one can imagine.
 
> Just curious.
> You have a crappy STL signal coming from the main studio.
> The Optimod is now ACCENTUATING the hiss caused by the STL.
> It's 98% covered during music playback, but during the talk
> it sounds like a buck-tooth beaver whistling through a
> picket
> fence while frying eggs.
>
> What do you do sparky? What do you do?
>
> And don't say "fix the STL". You can only adjust the
> Optimiod.
>
> Thanks,
> The Spindoctor
>
You move the optimod to the studio and put it before the STL.

OR you fix your stl...it's not THAT expensive.
 
Re: Squelch level

> Sure, raising the squelch level will help. Then when the
> STL signal level drops, the receiver will squelch, and no
> more noisy audio!
>
Perhaps next time you could read my whole post before making such a snide response. Could you please check the last line?
 
> I had the same problem, only with a dry copper pair for an
> stl...spent months trying to find a workaround...not even
> isolating it would remove hum, hiss and noise. The ultimate
> fix was to replace the 20 year old analog link with a new
> pair and digital cards. Flattened the processing, defeated
> the studio-side compellor (+24dbu before clip, so plenty of
> room), and redid everything. Sounds amazing.

Is there a place we can check out samples of your current sound Sam? :) I'm interested.
 
> Is there a place we can check out samples of your current
> sound Sam? :) I'm interested.

Sure. Put on 960 in central pennsylvania. Talk on weekends and music weekdays.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
> Hamtronics and Down East microwave both make RF amplifiers
> which can be retuned (down...from 1200 to 950 mhz) to the
> STL band & stuck in front of your STL receiver. Helpful to
> make up gain on a marginal STL link.

I would not use a Hamtronics in such a critical system...I use their GasFets on ham rptrs...but when it comes to PROFESSIONAL systems AND I have the money to spend, buy a ARR preamp. Hamtronics does make a 900MHz version (for the 902-928 ham band) and it would work on STL freqs; IF YOU MUST use them, get one with a helical front end on it (at least the Hamtronics version)...
BUT personally, I think you need to look at:
1) replace coax
2) peak antennas
3) check rcvr sensitivity
4) FIX other problems first
OR a combo of the above would fix the issue...

Let me reenforce my earlier statement:
The STL is CRAPPY?? FIX THE STL.....you CANNOT cover it up by playing with the Optimod....damn folks, USE YOUR HEAD and FIX IT!

(and we wonder WHY Broadcasting has problems keeping listeners?? Ok add in programming, too many spots, poor DJs and No local content...but geesh if it sounds like sh**, how do you expect it to keep the listener? DUH!!!)
 
> > Is there a place we can check out samples of your current
> > sound Sam? :) I'm interested.
>
> Sure. Put on 960 in central pennsylvania. Talk on weekends
> and music weekdays.
>
What model Optimod are you using? 9000, 9100, 9200?
 
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