Society of Broadcast Engineers

Chapter 16, Seattle, WA

(Titles are links, clicking on the title will take you to the article)

November was the month winter returned with snow at our remote transmitter sites.  My Thanksgiving Day was interrupted with a call that KDDS-FM was off the air at South Mountain.  The auxiliary would not power up and I could not bring up the remote control for the main.  I reached the site after driving through 18 inches of water over the road at the base of the mountain and nearly getting stuck in the foot of mushy snow near the top.  It turned out a phase converter had failed.  The emergency generator was fired up to provide transmitter power until the converter could be repaired.  I got back home late in the evening to cold turkey sandwiches.

Ibiquity, NPR, NAB, and other broadcasters finally reached a compromise on the FM IBOC power increase and the issue is now waiting for FCC approval.  NPR has been studying the impact of the power increase with the goal of improving indoor and portable reception of HD signals.  The recommendation suggests raising the power level from the present -20 dB to -14 dB, a 6 dB increase.  To get to the 10 dB increase will require further study of spacing allocations.  There is also the possibility to reduce interference problems with asymmetrical power levels in the digital sidebands.

Will the power increase improve reception with the recently introduced portable HD receivers?  The most recent addition to the growing HD portable market is Radio Shacks HD receiver that tethers to the ubiquitous IPhone and IPod.  All of the receiver controls are on the devices touch-screen and includes ITunes tagging capability.  If you hear a selection you like, the Apple ITunes store will download it automatically and bill your credit card.

The FCC continues moving forward with plans to allow unlicensed wireless data services to operate in the spaces between licensed television stations.  The commission is asking for proposals to develop a database which the devices can use to avoid interference with licensed television transmitters.

The Christmas season is here and our biggest SBE Christmas party yet will be held on December 19 at Ivar’s Salmon house.  We will have many great gifts and prizes as well as an elegant dinner.  Be sure to RSVP for this year’s big event.  See you there. See the website for all the details.

South Mountain Snow

South Mountain Flooded Road

SBE Chapter 16 Secretary Report                                                               
Minutes of Luncheon meeting at Big Fish Grill, Bellevue WA                        Thursday, November 12, 2009
Chapter Chairman Jim Dalke called the meeting to order at approximately 12:15.  Twenty-one SBE members and guests were present.  After brief introductions, there was a short business meeting. 
Jim noted that the Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 19 at Ivar’s Salmon House.  Doors open at 6PM.  Dinner will be at 7PM.  Tom McGinley is sending out invitation Emails to vendors along with requests for items to use as door prizes. 
The January program was next topic.  The speaker was unknown; Program Chairman Steve Lockwood said he would have to check his notes.  Treasurer Spring also reported the Chapter was still very solvent. 
Clay Freinwald discussed the possible flooding of the Green Rivers due to the issues with the Howard Hansen Dam.  As has been detailed in the news, if waters have to be released from behind the dam due to heavy rains, heavy flooding is expected to happen in the South King County area adjacent to the river.  Damage could be as high as 9 billion dollars.  Clay recommend that all stations program their EAS units to have Flash Flood and Evacuation warnings set to auto forward.  Clay reinforced the fact that this is “not a test”. 
The luncheon speaker was Hal Kneller from Nautel.   Hal presented recent studies on the effect of higher HD power and subsequent recommendations to increase HD power from -20dB to -14dB.  Hal also talked about the HD transmitter solutions offered by Nautel. 
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30PM. 
  

This is my farewell issue for the SBE Newsletter and the SBE website. It has been interesting working with SBE the last couple of years and learning more about the broadcast business. I want to wish you all the best in 2010. As of January 1,2010 you will have the pleasure of a new newsletter editor and Webmaster. Please send all questions or queries to Mr. Jim Dalke until he has announced the new webmaster/editor.

With the ‘Thanksgiving Holidays’ over and the sights and sounds of ‘Santa’ everywhere… Certification may not be foremost on your mind…. Not everyone is a ‘broadcaster’ and many industry engineers work for ‘Production Houses’ and ‘Audio Recording Studios’ where the same knowledge and skills are required. Smaller companies really depend on their technical staff to make sure things are – right. Usually ‘making sure it’s right’ falls to one person. Certification insures that standards are met & expertise is recognized. Consider giving yourself a “”Gift”” early…. Happy Holidays.

Certified Audio Engineer (CEA)
and Certified Video Engineer (CEV)

The candidate for Certified Audio Engineer or Certified Video Engineer must have five (5) years of suitable experience in audio/video engineering or related technology and must achieve a passing grade on the proficiency examination.
Substitution of broadcast engineering, or education in related technologies, for experience may be made as follows:

1. A state registered Professional Engineer's license will count as four (4) years experience for all levels of certification.
2. A Bachelor Degree will count as four (4) years experience.
3. An Associate Degree will count as two (2) years experience.
4. Years of related accredited education, i.e., military, correspondence, etc. can be substituted, year for year, up to four (4) years.
5. Applicant will not receive dual credit for concurrent years of experience and education.

The Certified Audio or Certified Video Engineer Exam: Exams are three hours, consist of 50 multiple-choice questions relating to either audio or video, covering the equivalent of five (5) years experience. Each exam is computer-selected from a pool of questions, and every exam is unique. Each correct answer will be worth two (2) points. The Audio/Video Engineer multiple choice examination will consist of questions on:

• operating practices
• problems
• theory
• safety

Dates to Remember in 2009
Certification Application Deadlines:

December 31,2009      @Local Chapters        Test Date: February 5-15, 2010
March 26, 2010           @NAB                        Test Date: April 13, 2010
April 16, 2010             @Local Chapters        Test Date: June 4-14, 2010
June 4, 2010                @Local Chapters        Test Date: August 6-16,2010
September 17,2010     @Local Chapters        Test Date: November 5-15,2010

     CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVES
   To raise the professional status of broadcast engineers by providing standards of professional competence in the practice of broadcasting engineering. To recognize those individuals who, by fulfilling the requirements of knowledge, experience, responsibility, and conduct, meet those standards of professional competence. To encourage broadcast engineers to continue their professional development.

For more information and/or application forms please feel free to contact Michael Scott, CPBE.
E-Mail okscott@halcyon.com ; Voice (253) 680-7756 ; FAX (253) 845-5882

Before I forget it – Seasons Greetings to one and all !

Hard to believe that Christmas is just about here and another year has passed..

  To help put this into perspective, should we get a big dose of Pineapple Express and they have to let the water pass through the dam, the resulting damage would be (according to those who know) on a par with Katrina.   The Army Corp of Engineers have been working on a temporary solution to the problem that has, apparently, been somewhat successful to the point that they reduced the chance of flooding from 1 in 4 to 1 in 24.   Now back to the 1210 site.   This 4 tower AM array, very near the Green River,  was built back in 1990 and was constructed at an elevation that would be above what we were told was the 100 year flood level.   Now that I think about it, how in the world could they project a 100 year flood in 1990 if the dam was built in 1962?  Oh well.   Bustos Media, owner of the station, was working toward elevating the transmitting equipment by 8 feet to be above the 6 feet of water that local Emergency Management folks were projecting.   Our plan was to raise the roof of the building, construct a second story and let the river run under.  Now, with the improved odds, we decided to try and keep the water out by making modifications to the building) and by moving everything up to survive 4 feet of water. This project will be completed the weekend of the 12th – Hopefully Mother Nature and the Dam will cooperate until that point.    Moving the 10 Kw transmitter, equipment racks, electrical systems etc about 20 feet horizontally and 4 feet vertically requires Ripping out everything I did 20 years ago and starting over.   Not too much fun!

Speaking of AM transmitter sites and starting over – I recently learned from Andy at KRKO.   Apparently I will be spring when we see the replacement towers erected.  Still have not heard anything about them catching the people responsible for taking them down.

Hey what about California?   Spoze you heard that they are going to mandate energy efficient TV sets?  The California Energy Commission estimates that 10% of a homes electricity use is for TV sets.  Apparently when you add up millions of TV’s in the state you are talking serious power.  They figure that they can avoid building a 500 Megawatt power plant via the new rules.    As an example they figure a 42 inch Hitachi plazma consumes 313 watts.    I have to wonder about the power consumption of that old, tube type, Magnevox, Sylvania or Hoffman.   You’d think that the replacing of standard light bulbs with CFL’s would have compensated….But guess not.   So now, just like with cars, there will be the ‘California Model’.  Under new regulations, all new TVs distributed in California must cut their energy use by 33% for the 2011 model year, and by 50% in 2013. The rules, when fully realized, will be the toughest such restrictions in the world, and you guessed it- the CEA is not a happy camper.

Rumor is that Washington State is considering the same thing.  I do know, for sure, that PSE is trying to reduce electrical consumption.  They recently paid a huge percentage of the cost of my new gas water heater to get me to get rid of the old electric model….Not to mention their campaign to get to you trade your old light bulbs for free CFL’s  Question is – Where is this going and what else could be on their radar?   What about limiting the power of stereo equipment? Or….The 0-60 time of electric cars?  Or power output of TV and Radio stations?

Not often you have a chance to share a meal with your ex-boss.  But that’s exactly what happened there other day as I met former KBSG GM, Chuck Maylin for breakfast.  Chuck is now selling telephone systems.  

I see where KGY may not have to move from their long time waterfront location in Olympia.   Likely the economic situation and diminished need for port expansion had something to do with it.   Speaking of which, It’s been nice to see GM Dick Pust attending the last couple of EAS- SECC meetings.

Ah yes, EAS.   Yes we are still going to have a revised and improved EAS system, it’s just taking longer than some would have liked.

Meanwhile the FCC fined a station for messing up an EAS test.   This resulted in all the state broadcaster associations calling on the FCC to back off, which they did.  This matter is far from over for it underscores some of the severe problems with EAS in some parts of the country.  If you are curious about what’s going on and would like to know more - Here’s an invitation to join the SBE EAS Exchange.  This Remailer is the place to find the answers.   Sign up info is on the SBE Web Site – www.sbe.org under Government Relations/EAS.    While I’m at it – If you are not subscribed to the Washington State EAS Remailer – You are not able to fully participate in our states system.   Go to -
http://sea.sbe16.org/mailman/listinfo/eas-wa  and get connected !

Looking at economic issues –

According to some of their creditors, Tribune Co. management should not be given sole control over the filing of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.   Sounds like the mess continues at high levels.  Tribune owns two TV’s in Seattle.

The Washington Post is shutting down some of its U.S. bureaus o concentrate our journalistic firepower on our central mission of covering Washington DC.  Translation – economic mandated contraction.

According to Mediaweek’s report on Radio - The digital segment, saw a sales increase 14% to $126 million in Q3.  Local and national ads were off by 19% to $3.4 billion, network radio revenue fell 11% to $253 million and sales from off-air sources dropped 9% to $335 million. RAB reported Q3 Revenue was down 16% 

It’s not just radio. Local TV revenue was down 27% in the first half of the year, and the Newspaper Association of America reports revenue fell 28% in the third quarter to $6.44 billion.

The bottom line – Just about everyone says the worst is behind us and have reason to believe that things are looking up. 

Oprah’s big news came as no surprise as she announced that next year would be the last for her long-running TV show aired locally by Channel 5. Rumor is that she will be creating a cable channel.  Is this another loss for Broadcast TV.

Not everyone it thrilled with PPM.  Could it be that Congress feels they can ‘fix it’?
December 2 is the day for a House Committee to start their hearings into just how the Arbitron system works.  The company has said that they are looking forward to it.

The FCC has been busy – here is a sampling -

You would have thought by now that every broadcaster understood that not having their tower fenced is a big NO-NO.   Proving that timing is important ….KCNL-AM Carson City NV suffered the misfortune of having much of the fence around its tower blow down – and an FCC field agent happened by for an inspection before it was able to put the fence back up.  Despite a number of interesting circumstances, the station will pay $3500.

The FCC has advised Clear Channel that they’d like a check for $8000 for the un-authorized transfer of control of WOLL –FM.   This one sounds like a large box of lawyer fodder to me.

A cable TV system has been issued a citation for excessive leakage.

A pirate radio station on 107.9 in Lompc has been issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation.

A New Mexico FM station has been fined 20 Grand for operating from the wrong city, 34 miles from where it was supposed to be.  (DUH!)

The FCC is seeking comment on issues related to children's use of electronic media. The FCC's Notice of Inquiry on Empowering Parents and Protecting Children in an Evolving Media Landscape can be found at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-94A1.doc.
Comments are due January 25, 2010 and reply comments are due February 22, 2010.

The NOI seeks information on the extent to which children are using electronic media today, including television, cell phones and other mobile devices, DVD players and VCRs, video games and video game players, iPods and other MP3 players, and the Internet.  The NOI also asks about the benefits and risks these technologies bring for children and the ways in which parents, teachers, and children can help reap the benefits of electronic media while minimizing the risks.

Meanwhile, in Oregon - The FCC has ordered KRAT-FM/Altamont, OR, off the air, saying it didn’t have a  license to operate since a license renewal application was dismissed back in 2007…Reportedly,  the real owner of the station fraudulently filed for the license renewal under another person's name.   

Remember that big judgement over a death related to a radio contest in Sacramento?
Well the stations owners, Entercom, reported the amount was fully covered by their insurance.

Folks at KPLU are not likely too happy with the news that the frequency of their long standing translator at View Park that provided great a great signal in downtown Seattle will be replaced by a new, full power, FM on 88.1 from Capital Peak near Olympia.  The station is KLOP licensed to Ocean Park.   Capital Peak is also the site of Clear Channels KNBQ on 102.9.

Speaking of things on the FM band that make you wonder…..I noted on I-5 in the Federal Way area, between 320th and SR18 you can hear an XM radio channel quite well.   Additonally I was listening to Howard Stern talk about female body parts the other day just north of downtown on Northbound I-5.  Apparently someone also re-broadcasting an XM Radio channel.

Reading in the latest issue of Radio World a piece by Randy Stine talking about the aftermath of the fires in the LA area that threatened Mt Wilson.  The take away from this is the importance of having back-up or auxiliary transmitting facilities that are truly redundant, ie, not at the same location.   Here in the Seattle area only a hand-full of FM/s have this ability.   Granted TV stations today can loose their off-air signal due to the level of cable penetration, however radio is not that lucky.  The time may come that these facilities will discover how lucky they have been over the years, lets hope not.

We’ve all been subjected to the call for bans for distractions while driving.   No more talking on the phone, texting, reading a news paper etc etc.   Thankfully no one has
Called for a ban on operating Amateur Radio equipment in a vehicle, especially when the equipment is push to talk and laid out so as to not cause the driver any distraction.
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Images/distracted.jpg

Doug Irwin, former CE of Clear Channel Seattle, was in town recently.  We had lunch and discussed what its like to work in NYC.   Did not realize that he still has his home here.   Get the feeling he would love to come back to the PNW.   If anyone knows of
An opening, let him know….I’m sure he’d appreciate it.

I found out after I sent out last months edition that George Bisso has been in the hospital.   Apparently something quite serious.   Get well soon George!

Remember the great KOMO power failure of a couple months back?   Well this time the spinning knife stopped at KING-TV.  City light was having trouble in the area of the KING Transmitter and the power failed, when it did things apparently did not go well within the plant on QAH.   I don’t have any details.

Recent power problems stuck the KDDS Transmitter on South Mountain with failure of their rotory phase converter and then, a short time later, their auxiliary transmitter resulting in silence on Thanksgiving Day at 99.3.  

In Georgia recently something took place that we have all worried about.  A 2 man crew for  WSB-TV had just finished a live-shot from the Fulton County Jail and started to leave the scene.  Only one little problem – Their mast was still up.   As they moved the mast came into contact with high voltage power lines and the resulting explosion ripped off the mast and left a crater under what was left of the truck.   The two occupants were checked out at a local hospital and are expected to be OK.    You have to wonder about the training, or lack thereof, at WSB-TV…..Additionally, why did they not have an interlock circuit that would have prevented the vehicle from moving with the mast up?

But wait ! …………  There’s more -

Some good news for Radio Broadcasters as Apple introduced an FM tuner for its iPod and the MSFT Zoon received some good reviews.

Very much enjoyed having Hal Kneller of Nautel at the November Chapter Meeting.  Apparently the major factors dealing with the matter of increasing the power of HD-Radio transmission are now in agreement on asking the Commish for a 6 db increase.  This would increase the HD Radio power level from 20db below FM to 14db below. Proponents of the increase would like to get to -10,  however concerns about adjacent channel interference appear to have been heard.  Possible means of dealing with that involves operating with one set of carriers (above or  below the FM) at different levels.   One station in our area, 96.5, has been operating with HD-R levels of -15 and the 5 db increase is quite impressive.   This is not just a matter of turning up the power on an existing transmitter as most stations don’t have over sized HD transmitters.   Then there is the issue of up-sizing down stream components.   HD Radio power is not the same as FM power due to the differences in Peak to Average Ratio.  Some stations opted to purchase single tube transmitters operating in Hybrid (FM + HD) Mode.  These units were designed for -20 HD levels and not -14 or more.  Bottom line – getting that extra 6 db is going to be very expensive.  All this is, of course, dependent on the FCC approving the request. 

HD radio continues to make progress with an increasing number of auto makers announcing that HD would be standard in their new models.  Rolls Royce just joined that club.   Unfortunately Toyota has not.   I just purchased a 2010 model and they were of no help.

Sad to report the passing of Louis King.  He was the founder of Kintronic Labs.  Kintronic
Is probably the leading supplier of phasing and matching equipment used in AM stations.
He was 94.
.
Let me leave you with the following questions – Perhaps 2010 will be the year when we discover the answer to these ?–

Why do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?

Why do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke?

Why do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters?..

Why do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage?

Why does the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why can't women  put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?

Why is it that doctors and lawyers call what they do 'practice'?

 Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

Why If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Let me end this edition with my sincere wish for a very happy new year and the very best in 2010.

Clay, K7CR, CPBE
SBE Member #714