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WWLR - FM dead air when no jocks are on next few days...

O

Ozman

Hey guys I'm sad to report that our automation system which runs Both the internet stream and automation for WWLR is getting fixed so expect dead air possibly for the next couple of days especially in the mornings when no jocks are on. the stream is dead completely until the computer/automation is fixed.

few things I did want to mention before I go
1. Volunteered to use my laptop to keep the station humming with music but can't
2. Volunteered to use my mac laptop with windows to keep the internet stream. No one cares
... the lack of interest people have in radio on the management side really pisses me off because you hurt the several hundreds of listeners a day.

-OZ
 
Wait, the managers of the college radio station are not using common sense and are making ignorant decisions? I guess college radio does prepare people for commercial radio after all.
 
no its more funny when both the music director and the Production managers have been hanging out in the station all day with dead air.

"Its college radio who cares"
 
Jamie said:
Hey guys I'm sad to report that our automation system which runs Both the internet stream and automation for WWLR is getting fixed so expect dead air possibly for the next couple of days especially in the mornings when no jocks are on. the stream is dead completely until the computer/automation is fixed.

few things I did want to mention before I go
1. Volunteered to use my laptop to keep the station humming with music but can't
2. Volunteered to use my mac laptop with windows to keep the internet stream. No one cares
... the lack of interest people have in radio on the management side really pisses me off because you hurt the several hundreds of listeners a day.

-OZ
Click to expand...

What WWLR is doing is ILL-LEGAL..... the station will presumably not be running an ID and having such long periods of dead air is a violation of the FCC rule that says if you've lost control of your audio source (which you theoretically have here), you must shut the transmitter OFF!
 
radioguybroadcasting said:
What WWLR is doing is ILL-LEGAL..... the station will presumably not be running an ID and having such long periods of dead air is a violation of the FCC rule that says if you've lost control of your audio source (which you theoretically have here), you must shut the transmitter OFF!
Click to expand...

Huh? That's a new one on me. I know you have to shut the transmitter off if you can't keep it within legal power limits (90% to 105% of licensed power), but AFAIK as long as you air a legal ID once an hour you can transmit as much dead air as you wish.
 
Oldbones said:
radioguybroadcasting said:
What WWLR is doing is ILL-LEGAL..... the station will presumably not be running an ID and having such long periods of dead air is a violation of the FCC rule that says if you've lost control of your audio source (which you theoretically have here), you must shut the transmitter OFF!
Click to expand...

Huh? That's a new one on me. I know you have to shut the transmitter off if you can't keep it within legal power limits (90% to 105% of licensed power), but AFAIK as long as you air a legal ID once an hour you can transmit as much dead air as you wish.
Click to expand...

The way I read the rules, if you lose control of your audio and can't fix it in 3 minutes (dead air).. you have to shut off.. it's in the books, but an old rule thats never and impossible to enforce.

Plus, whats the point of broadcasting dead air anyways? Load up Winamp!
 
if there is a 3 min rule,
then all the stations up here are breaking the rules.. well except a few like moo 92, their jocks are on top of the silent air alarm . WWLR does not have one.
I have seen ovenights where WGMT, 106.3 the notch, 93.7 the outlaw and 102.3 have had dead air at nights especially on holiday weekends.
I remember one night a few months back, I called it the where did all the radio go sunday night weekend, 97.7 91.5, 93.7 106.3 and 102.3 were all out cold in the 2am hour.. I was drivng back from CT i think it was last easter weekend.
 
Oldbones is right.
There is no FCC rule against dead air IF...
1. Required Legal ID's are aired hourly. AND
2. The transmitter is able to be controlled by the operator.
Since WWLR fails on both counts the xmtr should be turned off IMMEDIATELY. The licensee is at risk for major fines.

Also:
This "3 minute audio rule" doesn't apply. It refers to FM translators that must shut themselves off if they lose audio for more than 3 minutes.
I wonder what the College board of trustees thinks about the bonehead moves by station "management" that are putting them on the hook for 5-figure fines.
 
nothing I can do about dead air. I am limited by other student directors to 2 hours a week. I have also suggested shutting down the transmitter but then you have the issue of what director would be around for turning it back on for the next student dj who is still learning how to use a board a few hours later. Unfortunately as the saying goes do as you are told. its too bad kids don't take radio seriously these days.
is there any place where there is an "official saying" somewhere so I can bring it up

the way I also see it is a waste of 3,000 watts+ of energy.


-OZ
 
The WWLR transmitter can be monitored/controlled remotely via telephone. I used this method many times while student GM of the station. Provided they were smart enough to rig a computer up to play a legal ID every hour they are fine.

Sadly, as Oz mentioned, dead air w/o legal ID's is nothing new on many of the commercial FM stations up there. It is their own little sad, unprofessional FM world up there. I mean, who else has 4+ local stations that play satellite fed CNN, CBS, etc news every 30 or 60 min (WWLR does not)??

Finding dedicated and/or local students and/or exec board members to tend to the station 24/7 can be tough. WWLR went through another overthrow in management in the past couple years that really took its' toll. The new management was tossed into the frying pan with little help from the old/banned exec board. From what I saw while visiting the station in September and from what I heard from one of the members they are doing the best they can and are improving. This latest twist in computer issues is not good...I assume it is for a Vista uprade....

Does anyone know if an old version of BSI Simian can run on Vista? Not to mention audio drivers... :-\

Hopefully the computer issues are something much simpler.

PJ
 
hello AZWxMan,
I don't know if simian is compatible with vista, however, we are still running the original version 1.03 I believe. yes I said original! The computer contracted a Virus which lead to issues outside of simian. The Dell we use now is actually new as of last year. Our Music director has been wanting to upgrade it to a newer version for about a year and I believe their in the final stages of doing that
Unfortunately, the motivated ones like myself don't have remote access to WWLR, I as well am not given the Password for Dell so if I wanted to do a quick air-break in live assist i can't because I don;t have access. Same with dead air. Unfortunately, at this time I think its best to stay out of the situation for I tend to Just Annoy those in charge more aka the less motivated ones who do it just as a club and don't take it seriously. its the sad truth how it is right now. Our constitution states " their in charge until they graduate, are dismissed or resign. I am well over a year overdue for a promotion there. I am just staying out of it and the future for next fall if I even bother to come back is not looking good either for they are not motivated to graduate!

As for my show Its changed over the years from all Cd's to an Ibook G4 to having an Ibook G4 and a Macbook running Itunes on both to now 2 Macbooks both running a registered copy of Radiologic DJ that coincidedes though Itunes and the audio for the show through a USB adaptor which frees up the system audio to cue up songs etc.

At this point: I just hope I can either prove myself elsewhere on the radio which is not looking good. or transfer to possibly WCSU Danbury CT (WXCI). We already know that I can do 40 hours nonstop without a sweat and I would "do anything beat that record" for I only had permission to do a day. I leave any radio station enthusiastic after a shift and wide awake definitely means that I should not give up on radio just yet
-OZ
 
AZWxMan said:
Sadly, as Oz mentioned, dead air w/o legal ID's is nothing new on many of the commercial FM stations up there. It is their own little sad, unprofessional FM world up there. I mean, who else has 4+ local stations that play satellite fed CNN, CBS, etc news every 30 or 60 min (WWLR does not)??
Click to expand...

Keep in mind we're talking St. Johnsbury Vt. here. Not exactly a major market. My guess is that at no point in history did radio there not suck.
What is the going rate for a :60 up that way...maybe $8? You're not gonna hire much of a staff for that kind of money.
 
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