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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 12-13 * SBE 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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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 Hosts Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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 Registration * See the January 22nd ABA Monday morning newsletter here. * Subscribe to ABA’s “Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes” by emailing to Larry Wilkins * Larry 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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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 Equipment * Jim 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. Hosts Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored 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.

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. Guest 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, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. a href="http://bionic.

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 Inc Host Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.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.

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, Alaska * The 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, Alaska Hosts Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.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.

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 iHeartMedia Hosts Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.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.

Once each year we discuss air conditioning and airflow at transmitter sites - and we do so in preparation for hot summer weather. But what about temperature control and monitoring during the cold winter months? What issues arise when it’s cold outside but the transmitter is still making plenty of heat? There are many variations in scenarios, but Joe Fleming advises that monitoring the temperature at key locations is important to keeping tabs on your HVAC system and your transmitter’s health. Show notes: * We mentioned Bard HVAC units for transmitter sites. * What is “Low Ambient” and how can we modify an HVAC system to deal with it?  * Joe showed temp graphs created by an NTI Micro Environment Monitoring System * There’s also an NTI Low-Cost Environment Monitoring System – Supports up to 24 Temperature Sensors * Kirk likes these Wyze Cam Pan v3 units for about $25 each on sale * Kirk puts these wall thermometers in the transmitter building, in view of a Wyze cam. Guest Joe Fleming - Engineer at Virginia Public Media Host Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.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 a href="http://bionic.