Unattended Operation

Some may wonder in my last post I mentioned a case where the transmitter needs to be off in 3 minutes.. Most interpret this as 3 hours for TV and 3 minutes for AM radio but as you can see this is not stated clearly in this document, a 3 minute shut down is possible with a cell phone or regular phone and a remote that will allow call in such as a Gentner 3000 or Any of the Broadcast tools units.
In addition to a regular dial up connection, a network IP connection to site allows a back up method of control.

Here is the FCC on “unattended operation” its always good to review the case “when no one is home”.

Unattended Operation of Radio and Television Broadcast Stations

In 1995, the Commission adopted the Report and Order in MM Docket 94-130, 10 FCC Rcd 11479 (1995) [ PDFWord ] which permitted radio and TV broadcast stations to be operated without a person standing by to monitor the transmitter’s operation (“unattended operation”). This action was taken to permit licensed broadcast stations to take advantage of advances in station monitoring equipment and the inherent reliability and stability of today’s transmission equipment. However, questions have arisen as to how the relevant rule sections (47 CFR Sections 73.1300, 73.1350, 73.1400, 73.1820, 74.734, and 74.1234) apply in particular circumstances. The Audio Division, Media Bureau, in coordination with the Enforcement Bureau, has prepared this question-and-answer sheet to address these inquiries.

Q1: Notification to Commission: Am I required to notify the Commission when a broadcast station begins unattended operation of its transmitter?

A: No. Notification is not required when a station begins unattended operation of its transmitter. See 73.1300
Q2: Main Studio: Does the unattended operation rule permit me to eliminate the main studio for my station?

A: No. The Report and Order had no effect on the main studio requirements for radio and television broadcast stations. The “unattended operation” refers to a lack of human monitoring of the transmitter itself, not the entire station. Radio and TV stations, with the exception of low power television stations and FM and TV translator and booster stations, and also excepting those stations for whom waiver of the main studio rules was granted, are still required to comply with the main studio requirements of 47 CFR Section 73.1125. Note, however, that the rules do not require the main studio staff to monitor an unattended broadcast transmitter.
Q3: Is the station required to have automated equipment in place before unattended operation may commence?

A: No. At the present time, the Commission does not require the installation of automatically adjusting monitoring and control equipment (referred to in the Commission’s rules as an Automatic Transmission System or ATS) before a station employs unattended operation of its broadcast transmitter. If automatically adjusting monitor and control equipment is not employed, suitable equipment must be employed which is expected to operate within assigned tolerances for extended periods of time without constant human monitoring. See 47 CFR Section 73.1400.

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Silence Alarm

Silence Alarm.

VAD-2

VAD-2

With station automation so prevalent a good silence alarm is about mandatory. Broadcast tools VAD-2 fits the bill and its cheap. It is rather a pain to program but beyond that it dials a call list when silence is detected, ours is now set at 30seconds we had it at 1:30 but time is needed for corrective action.

In addition it has some status and relay commands that can be tripped by a cell phone. So if your remote does not have a cell phone call in… it would work… or for a very basic remote On/Off Power +/- and power normal.

There is an obscure FCC rule that you may have to shut the transmitter off within 3 min. (some say this for AM only?) The relay could go to beam off and in theory a person could do it from a cell phone in that time.

I hook the audio to our STL microwave as our Moseley 1620 will page if we are off the air, but it could be hooked to a cheap DTV converter box or FM radio to also tell you, off air. But normally in our case it indicates a programing error or satellite down.

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VIDEO ON DEMAND

Video on Demand Computer.
A computer to record Local TV shows and post to web, rename with date, reformat to .wmv windows media files for the web, auto FTP to FTP server or VOD media server and move local files to a storage folder. Tasks must be automatic as possible.
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Tower Fence & Ice Bridge

icebridgeorder

Pending Project 04/21/09 JAW

parts-hp-fence

tower-fence-drawing

I found a company for Ice Bridge parts here. http://www.bettermetal.com/l/index.html 

One question to answer, Is the bridge allowed to attach to the tower?

19′ from building to tower. 10′ to outside building 9′ to tower.

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WEBSTREAM of channel

Hello the purpose of this project is stream WTJR on web for as cheap as possible. (revised 01/19/09)
WTJR WEBSTREAM PROJECT.

Items required: Video capture card- VIEWCAST OSPREY-100 (or better model, 210, 230,..) $130. Win xp computer – parts $300 (Newegg or Tiger direct) -strip the computer of all start-up and automatic apps. LCD Monitor $150  (I went with a KVM switch instead) UPS power supply CyberPower Home/Office CP685AVR 685VA 390W UPS – Retail $61.99. Audio video wiring to Webstream computer $50 (Program out from source). Video Hum eliminator: (if needed I did at source it works better on that end) Jensen VB-1BB Composite Video Isolator $80. Audio Hum eliminator: (if needed I did) Behringer HD400 2-Channel Hum Destroyer $30.

Webstream Server: Monthly Webstream charge at http://windows.media.serverroom.us/ (or another server)
Service Levels: Windows Media 50:$12.99/Month (we use this and it works and is cheap 10x cheaper then most)

DSL or better Internet connection:  Upgrade service (done no charge) now 812KB upload speed we will use 300KB for webstream (we are using our DSL with higher upload requested)

This project is done and now up and running. Notes to follow.

Setup:
Streaming with the Windows Media Encoder 9 series: (At serverrrom.us your setup may be a little different if on a WAN )

In order to broadcast you should have the following components and/or software:
A. Windows Media 9 Series Encoder (Download software for local computer)

B. Video encoding card must be software based with windows drivers!
Not mpeg 2 hardware based!. Surprisingly some of the cheaper cards word better in this regard.

C. Access to a Windows media streaming server. (remote server).

D. DSL or above.

STEP 1 – After starting up the Windows Media Encoder and starting a new session, choose “Broadcast a live event”.

STEP 2 – Next, select, the devices you wish to use to broadcast with.

STEP 3 – Select your broadcast method. (Push method).

STEP 4 – Enter your server address and publishing point. . You will also be prompted for a user name and password.

STEP 5 – Select your desired encoding rates.

STEP 6 – Select whether or not you would like to record your broadcast to a file on your local machine. (Optional.)

STEP 7 – Choose if you would like to use additional files along with your broadcast devices.

STEP 8 – Enter your broadcast information. (Title, author, etc.).

STEP 9 – Click “Start Encoder” button.

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now broadcasting !

That is till server locks up and you need to reconnect! (click encoder stop/start button) This happen once every 48 hours at random so read below.

Solution setup a macro to start stop encoder 2 to 4 times a day! Also disconnects users so all bandwidth is not used by someone leaving there computer on all night. But most important keeps stream up.(it automates the mouse and mouse clicks!)

http://www.nkprods.com/nmacro/

nMacro Recorder 1.1

Name: nMacro Recorder
Version: 1.1
Price: FREE (only for non-commercial use)
Size: 375 KB
Release date: 23 SEP 2006
Category: Automation Tool

Create macro to stop and start encoding.

After that use windows scheduler to run the macro at the times you choose like midnight and 6:00am. Note you must be logged in for windows scheduler to work. So make sure your automatic windows re-start includes a login.

REBOOT:
In addition set computer to auto reboot one time per week.
You must have auto windows login set up (a reg hack), and auto encoder start see below, and a macro to get encoder full screen again ( a encoder .bat file that starts and stops encoder would eliminate all macros I have not found that .bat file that stops encoding.)

Encoder restart:
http://www.serverroom.us/mediapulltutorial
How To Automate Live Streaming With Windows Media Encoder This article will explain how to have Windows Media Encoder automatically reconnect (always stay encoding), and also explain how to have Windows Media Encoder automatically start encoding at boot up, for example in case of a power outage.

Remote control: Install tightVNC to control computer from outside the building.

________________________________________________________

You must have Broadband to watch stream:
The quality of the stream is 273 KPS Video, 320 x 240,  with high quality audio Windows Media Audio 32 kbps, 22 kHz, stereo (A/V) 1-pass CBR.

I decided not to embed player but to spawn Wm player as that is the way most prefer to click to watch… if you automatically launch at homepage it kills all dial-ups! Let the viewer choose.

the link: mms://169.130.151.126/wtjr

Note the mms://

The Stream is UP and on the air!

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Remote Station Operation

To the Federal Communications commission,

Hello my name is James Allen Wilson Jr. I am a broadcast engineer for both radio and television. I submit the following comments in response to the Localism Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the “NPRM”), released Jan. 24, 2008, in MB Docket No. 04-233.

The area that strikes my interest the most is part 28. Remote Station Operation.
I do not recommend the FCC return to 24 hour staffing of the control point or studio. The studio should be manned during office hours but you already have rules to cover that. What I do recommend is that you totally revise unattended operation rules `into the 21st century.

In Brief,
Assign an unattended operator for when no one is home, in writing daily in station log. This person must have a phone and or pager and be able to be contacted after hours, If not it rolls to next unattended operator. At all times someone must be available or fines. This person must be able to make contact through phone or computer to studio and transmitter. Also the studio phone must have an auto attendant to page or call unattended operator in an emergency. Many stations are doing this type of thing now but spell it out.
Put it this way, at anytime 24 hours a day some person must be able to control station within a reasonable time say 5-15 min this person also must be able to be contacted.
These changes will allow unattended operation with accountability in essence covering a lot of your staffing requirements.

Eliminate or revise the 3 min off air rule for unattended operation for FM and TV or extend to 10 min make it clear in regards to modern unattended operations. Revise the failsafe rule and make it clear also in regards to modern unattended operations per station type AM/FM/TV.
In regards to station log spell out exactly what the FCC is interested in and mandate it more so then you do now, it’s not clear it’s vague.
Bring back station log time intervals to at least once every 8 hours this can be done automatically.

The EAS on remote operation needs a lot of work. When there is a local emergency hardly anyone knows how to activate a local alert. Therefore they call and it’s after hours and no one is home. (And the station does not have a number posted for unattended operator!) And even if they are home they don’t know how to create a local alert. Each community should have a station like “LP1” that can issue local alerts not just tests or relays of alerts. Make this a rule and let all police and emergency know that station can transmit a local alert.
Make the EAS equipment remote controllable through phone and or computer, that way in unattended operation a local originated alert can be transmitted (not just relayed like it is now). Another option is to assign local alert permission t police and or fire so they can indicate a local alert (much the way the tornado sirens go off ) They have staffing at all hours and know most emergencies.

In radio stations running unattended operations, have a system where remotely a phone call can be put to air over riding automation and stating emergency.
If there is still a problem make one station in market preferably EAS LP1 have staffing after hours so they can transmit local EAS alerts. Or have local agreements’ between stations so all shifts are covered to transmit a local alert.

In conclusion I believe by adopting some of these ideas I have discussed it would not be necessary to have 24 hour studio control point staffing.

James Allen Wilson Jr.
Broadcast Engineer
engineering@wtjr.org

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Engineer wiring nightmare!

India wires

Huston we have a problem!

(picture from India)

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FCC Activities on the Localism Front

FCC Activities on the Localism Front
Subsequent to release of its recent Report & Order and NPRM on
Broadcast Localism, the Commission is taking steps to increase
the availability of broadcast information to the public. First, as
directed in the Localism R&O, the FCC’s Media Bureau revised
and released an updated version of “The Public and
Broadcasting.” This publication contains information about FCC
rules and policies, including those related to broadcasters’
responsibilities to their local communities. FCC rules require the
most recent version of this publication to be placed in the
broadcaster’s public inspection file. Licensees must also provide
a copy to any member of the public who requests one. If you
have not already placed the new version in your public file, you
should do so immediately. This publication may be accessed via
calling the FCC at 1-888-225-5322 or on its website:
www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/public_and_broadcasting.html

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Tower Transmission line TV16

Transmission line

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DTV transistion

1. Congress has mandated that after February 17, 2009, full-power television broadcast
stations must transmit only digital signals and may no longer transmit analog signals.1 With this
Report and Order in our third periodic review, we resolve issues necessary to complete the
conversion of the nation’s broadcast television system from analog to digital television (“DTV”).

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-228A1.pdf

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