TWiRT - This Week in Radio Tech - Podcast

Chris Tarr just finished a long-anticipated FM transmitter move. Big implications attended this move all the way across a metro area. The new site needed a directional FM antenna, and they decided that a new transmitter made more sense than moving the old one. Chris covers a lot of ground when contemplating any transmitter site move.  Kirk Harnack touches on a few pointers for IP radio microwave links, including not trusting the existing infrastructure too much! Show Notes: Planning Transmitter Moves Facilities - Building, road, fencing, parking, HVAC, roof, ice protection Legal including FCC Permitting - local zoning, building, etc. Safety - fencing, insurance requirements, guy anchors, tower base STL considerations & options Frequency coordination for 950 & IP STLs Fiber internet availability AC Power - service sizing, etc. Executing the move What can be built and ready beforehand What has to move overnight or a weekend Absolutely no off-air time? Or minimal? Actual cutover Moving audio processing if needed What if something goes really wrong?  Plan to go back if needed? After the move (should have been before the move) Tying up all the loose ends Grounding, lightning protection Putting redundancy in place at the new location What if Internet installation is late?  Wait or move ahead? Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB! Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

What’s happening at NAB 2024 in Las Vegas? No way can anyone bring you ALL of the highlights, but we’re bringing seven outstanding engineers and corporate leaders to you on this episode of TWiRT! Our broadcast studio is the Bionic Table at Broadcast Bionics in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Thanks to Broadcast Bionics for the bandwidth and studio space.  Guests:Darnell Forde - Broadcast Engineer at Salem Media Group, San Diego, CABob Stroupe - Regional Engineering Manager at iHeartMedia, Houston, TXFrancis (Frank) Martin - Owner of MPH Broadcast ServicesDan McQuillin - Managing Director at Broadcast BionicsScott Stiefel - Chief Executive Officer at Telos AllianceJeff Schick - Chief Technology Officer at Sprite Media, Inc.George Whittam - Owner GeorgeThe.Tech, Co-host VOBS.TV and Pro Audio Suite PodcastJohn Bisset - Director, Western US Sales at Telos Alliance Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s HD Digital Radio Test Drive unlocks content, revenue, & ratings potentialBroadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

The Public Radio Engineering Conference (PREC) seems to get better and better each year. Attendees were frequently held in wrapped attention by captivating and informative presentations about audio and RF technologies and techniques.  Our guests on TWiRT each took a few minutes away from the conference sessions to give us their impressions of the technologies being discussed and what’s ahead for Public Radio Engineers. Guests:Cornelius Gould - Audio Processing Architect at Angry AudioScott Fybush - Editor/Publisher at NorthEast Radio Watch/Fybush MediaJim Gray - Managing Partner at Optimized Media Group - OMGJoseph Williams - DIrector of Engineering & Technology at WRTI, Temple UniversityRichard Parker - Director of Engineering at Coast Alaska Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB! Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Search the web and you’ll find hundreds of articles videos - and thousands of opinions - on the best mics to use for radio and podcasting. One of our sponsors is Angry Audio, makers of two novel mic processors to improve and control the sound of two popular microphone families. Our longtime friend and colleague, Cornelius Gould, designed the audio processing algorithms behind these specific mic processors. “Corny” joins us to talk about this rather unique approach to mic processor design and implementation. Plus Tom Ray pops in to discuss microphone choices with Chris Tarr. Plenty of opinions and some solid advice! Show Notes:Cornelius Gould is also the founder & host of The Rocketry Show podcast.The mic pre/processors for which Corny wrote the algorithms are the REbel & SMooth from Angry AudioTom Ray’s microphone is a PreSonus PX-1 condenser mic with a dbx 286s processorChris Tarr is liking his Electro-Voice RE20 with a RØDECaster ProKirk is currently using a Sennheiser MKH 416-P48U3 with a PreSonus Revelator iO24Article: The 4 Different Types of Microphones for your Studio Guests:Cornelius Gould - Audio Processing Architect at AngryAudioTom Ray - President of Tom Ray Consulting Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB! Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Can you imagine installing 60 broadcast transmitters over the past 8 years? Robert Combs, Corporate Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media has been doing exactly that. Transmitters of all sizes and from several major manufacturers. The most recent transmitter replacement is at WZYP-FM in Huntsville, Alabama. Market Engineer, Dominic Mitchum, is taking care of much of the local work and logistics, alongside Robert’s work. The project also includes replacing the RF coaxial transfer switch, main coax, and even the main and backup FM antennas.  Robert and Dominic give us a very informative video tour and discussion of this project on Capshaw Mountain. Plus, Chris Tarr relates his own recent transmitter installation experiences and has developed some advice on purchasing used transmitters. Guests:Dominic Mitchum - Director of Technical Operations at Cumulus Media, Huntsville, ALRobert Combs - Corporate Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB! Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Over 50 years ago, Mike Dorrough introduced the Discriminate Audio Processor - the DAP 310. Broadcasters that cared about audio quality started buying and installing DAP310s to improve the audio quality of their stations. Five decades later these old audio processors are still in demand - as are services to supply parts and repairs. Randy Swaffer and Mike Phillips are two DAP310 enthusiasts - and they know all about repairing and aligning these classic units. Jordan Tuck also joins us to talk about refurbishing other broadcast gear, including a Continental Electronics FM transmitter and an A-6000 audio console. Show Notes:DAP310 Repair Information Website - dap310.comPAMS Series 49 Jingle Demo Page - Listen here!We discussed Kapton film as used in plate blocker capacitors for FM transmitters Guests:Randy Swaffer - Minister, Professional Piano Tuner, Dorrough DAP enthusiastMike Phillips - Attorney, Engineer, musician, & Dorrough DAP enthusiastJordan Tuck - Broadcast Engineer & Refurbisher of Broadcast Equipment Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB! Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Most broadcasters either own towers or lease antenna space on them. But only the tallest towers are outfitted with elevators to bring workers and light tools up to desired working levels without spending half the day getting tired from climbing. Jim Tiner is CEO at Tower Elevators Systems. His company has built many towers - short, medium, and tall - and many of the tallest ones also have a custom-designed elevator system. This elevator technology is often applicable to other tall structures, such as bridge towers, smokestacks, and even the Statue of Liberty.  Jim Tiner presents his company’s fascinating story and tells us about unique elevator designs. Show Notes:Galleries of Photos by Tower Elevator SystemsYouTube video about Siemens Safety PLCs as used in the Statue of Liberty project  Guest:Jim Tiner - CEO at Tower Elevator Systems, Inc. Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Most of us in radio have heard Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross on National Public Radio. Joyce Lieberman was the first technical director behind this well-produced national interview program. But Joyce’s engineering and production career started several years earlier, getting a kick-start when some other engineers called in sick. At the onset of Joyce's radio work, she recorded Terry Gross and her guests when Fresh Air was a local Philadelphia three-hour program. Her attention to audio purity and detail prepared Joyce for other audio engineering achievements, including working with a team at WHYY and NPR to restore and digitally archive the episodes of Fresh Air, plus provide guidance to other archival efforts. Chris Tarr adds his expert insights as well to this interview with Joyce Lieberman. Show Notes:Joyce appears on another podcast, Working Class Audio #304More information about Joyce is found on this page about the SZALON Tech Team Guest:Joyce Lieberman - Radio Engineering Supervisor at WHYY, Philadelphia Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

TWiRT 685 - Live from the ABA Engineering Academy Are you one of hundreds of broadcast engineers who have attended the Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA) Engineering Academy? Larry Wilkins and Frank Giardina are completing the 2024 Radio Engineering Academy with attendees ranging from “new” broadcast engineers to some seasoned pros looking to update their knowledge. We’re live from the ABA Headquarters near Birmingham, AL, with Larry Wilkins, ABA President Sharon Tinsley, and a few of this year’s attendees.  Show Notes:Here’s what ABA Enigneering Academy attendees learned in this week’s Radio sessionSubscribe to ABA’s “Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes” by emailing to Larry Wilkins Guests:Larry Wilkins - Broadcast EngineerDominic Mitchum - Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media, Huntsville, ALJosh Bohn - President/CEO at The MaxxKonnect GroupSharon Tinsley - President at Alabama Broadcasters AssociationJohn “Mike” McCall - WTBF, Troy, ALLloyd Weekes - Engineer for a new FM station in Roanoke, AL Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Current technology education and career advancement are both available at the SBE Ennes Workshops, offered at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.  The dates are April 12 & 13, just prior to the NAB Show Expo Halls opening. We’re talking with David Bialik and Fred Willard, who have assembled what appears to be the most useful and beneficial set of programs in two technology tracks.  There’s an RF101 Bootcamp track. And the subject of this TWiRT show - the Media Over IP track.  Watch the show and click on the link to SBE’s full description of these technology tracks. This is a very worthwhile 2-day workshop for any level of broadcast engineer! Show Notes:NAB Registration Link: SBE Ennes Workshops @ NAB 2024, Las Vegas - April 12-13SBE Full Info: Ennes Workshops @ the 2024 NAB Show - Rundown of programs in the two educational tracks Guests:David Bialik - Owner of David K. Bialik & AssociatesFred Willard - Senior Engineer, RF Transmission at TelevisaUnivision Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Chris Tarr and Shane Toven are discussing a critical topic - especially for broadcast engineers. It’s our work/life balance with emphasis on “life”.  How’s your mental health? No, really, how is it? Why is it key to “put on your oxygen mask before helping others”? Why is it OK, and even smart, to let things fail sometimes? Should engineers always strive to “be the hero”? And what’s your value - financially and otherwise? Finally, do you know that some engineers would rather fight than be helpful? Perhaps we’ve each done that, but let’s identify it and not make it a habit. Join us for this episode of TWiRT - it may be more important than any technical discussion. Show Notes:Chris Tarr likes the APC 1500VA Smart UPS with SmartConnect | SMT1500C Sinewave UPS Guest:Shane Toven - Broadcast Engineer Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

People who know Alex Hartman realize that he tends to be way ahead of the pack.  Alex is typically just beyond the cutting edge of technology implementation. That often makes his comments hard to understand. But when you get to know Alex and understand his ideas and concerns, they usually do make very good sense. He’s also good at “breaking things”, revealing weak points in design.  Today we’re discussing people, skills, and the uncertain future of talent sourcing. Alex has some real concerns and ideas about this. In his position at Wisconsin Public Media, Alex is hands-on with basic audio tech, but also data centers and managing fleets of equipment, computing, and sometimes people. Show Notes:Alex says SNMP is passé. MQTT: The Standard for IoT MessagingTutorial Video: How to Get Started with MQTT Guest:Alex Hartman - Wisconsin Public Media Engineering Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Tom Morris always provides a fresh perspective on broadcast engineering. He’s fascinated by well-designed systems, yet finds the humor in poorly-designed ones. Tom finds nostalgia in equipment and broadcast products that most of us have forgotten. And his unconventional outlook often results in insights and solutions to complex problems. He’s the guy you want handy to solve long-standing issues when no one else has taken the time to investigate the root causes. Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack welcome Tom Morris on this episode of TWiRT, and Chris also offers up a vexing set of symptoms at an FM station that took several days to fully repair. Guest:Tom Morris - Engineer at KOVR-TV, Sacramento Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

The ABA Engineering Academy is offering the first round of broadcast engineering classes for 2024. The radio engineering class is scheduled for February 26th – March 1st. Larry Wilkins and Frank Giardina are the two main teachers and both join us on this episode of TWiRT!  Larry and Frank give us sneak previews of some of the technical teaching topics and demonstrations to add meaning and context. Engineers - new and experienced alike - attend this Engineering Academy in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s especially useful to IT technicians getting into the world of audio and radio broadcasting. Show Notes:2024 ABA Engineering Academy RegistrationSee the January 22nd ABA Monday morning newsletter here.Subscribe to ABA’s “Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes” by emailing to Larry WilkinsLarry mentioned how important it is to understand how we hear audio, so we can evaluate and manipulate audio knowing the limitations. Guests:Larry Wilkins - Broadcast EngineerFrank Giardina - Market Director of Engineering, Cumulus Media, Birmingham Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Can a team of engineers resolve thousands of engineering trouble tickets each month, and do it efficiently and keep with good engineering practice? iHeartMedia is doing it and Mike Sprysenski is leading that team. From an office in Orlando, Mike Spry and a team of radio engineers and IT professionals resolve engineering issues at nearly 900 radio stations, keeping those stations on-the-air. Many issues are even handled preemptively, before they affect what the public is hearing over the air or online. Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack discuss this approach with Mike on this episode of TWiRT. Show Notes:Chris Tarr likes SNMP hardware interfaces from https://denkovi.com/ Guest:Mike Sprysenski - CPBE, Engineering Response Team Lead, iHeartMedia Technology Solutions Center Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

The benefits of thoughtful and careful broadcast engineering cannot be overstated.  Indeed, Jim Offerdahl, thought carefully about our offer to be on TWiRT for over 10 years! And, with some encouragement from Angry Audio’s Mike Dosch, we’re delighted that Jim is finally sitting in the TWiRT Guest Chair!  We’re talking with Jim about his particular style of serving radio stations effectively and reliably. He’s sharing some tips and favorite equipment for monitoring and troubleshooting today’s transmission systems, plus letting us in on his part-time mayoral career in Fosston, Minnesota.  Stay tuned until the end of the show when Jim is making an announcement about expanding Radio Gearheads!  Show Notes:Radio Gearheads - Broadcast Engineering and EquipmentJim likes the Burk Arc Plus Touch broadcast remote control & monitoring system Guest:Jim Offerdahl - Senior Broadcast Engineer at Radio Gearheads and Mayor of Fosston, Minn.Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

What use is a low-wattage, AM radio station in a town of 2,000 residents?  Indeed, the whole county population is just over 12,200. Is AM radio viable there?  With 500 watts daytime and 18 watts at night what can a new owner do to revive such a station?  Beth Mann, President/CEO of Edge Media Group, wanted to bring WEKT back to a rightful stature in this small, Western Kentucky town.  Beth grew up in Elkton, across from the original WEKT studio and transmitter.  Now she, along with her “digital- and future-oriented” staff are putting WEKT at full throttle with local news, local sports, local weather, and appearances to promote the station on-air and online. On this episode of TWiRT, she along with Josh Claussen and Bill Booth describe the technical operation, but more importantly the community involvement that’s driving Elkton’s embrace of WEKT, resulting in advertising and renewed revenue.   Show Notes:Edge Media Group is using Riverside.FM as a remote audio connection service for sports and other outside broadcasts.WEKT’s new studio features an Axia iQx audio console, and they use Wide Orbit automation.Kirk mentioned that he has used the WKDZ Live Weather Cams on some TV weathercasts of WSMV-TV in Nashville. Guests:Beth Mann - President/CEO at Edge Media GroupBill Booth - Operations Manager at Edge Media GroupJosh Claussen - Program Director at WEKT Hosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Rolf Taylor describes himself as a Lover of Audio, Tinkerer, Broadcast Engineer, Support Engineer and Product Manager, Telco Guru, and Researcher and Writer.  As Rolf’s longtime friend, Kirk Harnack can attest to each of those appellations. Rolf joins us on this “Festivus” episode of TWiRT, though we spend most of our time on making product usage and support better, and just a few minutes on the “airing of grievances”.   Guest:Rolf Taylor - Broadcast Engineer at CACI International IncHost:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

As Chris Tarr points out, Paul B. Walker, Jr. is probably the most enthusiastic supporter of local radio service and programming.  Paul is the Program Director at KSKO-FM in McGrath, Alaska, but he wears almost every hat required for running a full-service FM Public Radio station.  Many TWiRT fans know of Paul through the Facebook group he started, “I Take Pictures of Transmitter Sites.”  Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack talk with Paul about the challenges of broadcasting in rural Alaska, including antenna icing, Internet service, STL connections to outlying villages’ FM transmitters, and even the occasional “moose fade”.     Show Notes:Paul does just about everything at KSKO-FM, McGrath, AlaskaThe KSKO-FM high-quality web stream is here. We think Reeve Air Alaska is pretty interesting as the way to get around in rural Alaska.An interactive, real-time map of Starlink satellites is here. Guest:Paul B. Walker, Jr. - Program Director (and much more) at KSKO 89.5 McGrath, AlaskaHosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube  

Any time spent with Charlie Wooten is time well spent! Engineering with iHeartMedia in the Florida Panhandle, Charlie keeps his Facebook friends apprised of bigger projects and occasional off-air emergencies. We also know that he loves “roughing it” at a 13,000 acre deer camp with longtime friends and fellow hunters. From a vexing audio crosstalk problem, to multiple station monitoring, to mentally resetting around a campfire, Charlie shares his thoughts on a great work-life balance. Show Notes:Charlie loves the ASI2816 1RU 4-16 channel streaming radio tuner for monitoring multiple AM, FM, & HD stations simultaneously.Trail cameras are good for spotting wild game - or for keeping tabs on remote transmitter sites. Guest:Charlie Wooten (NF4A) - Regional Director of Engineering and IT at iHeartMediaHosts:Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on FacebookTWiRT is brought to you by:Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.  Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.  Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube