Subject: [BDR] Spring Checklist/Monitoring and Alerting

 

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Greetings from your broadcast friends out on the Desert...
This is BDR Newsletter 762, Volume 15, #34 for March 20, 2024

Here are some things you might want to know about:

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
Yep, it's official. As off 11:06 PM last night you are officially in Spring Time. If you have been waiting for a good time to dig into needed projects, this is as good a time as any. Clean up the site, clear out old unwanted items, get ready for Summer.

By the way: would you like a Spring Cleaning Checklist? for your site? Guess what? We have one here.

NAB IN FOUR WEEKS
If you have been procrastinating making plans for the NAB Spring Show, hotel rates are rising, and vacancies disappearing. There are still some convenient locations available, as are free floor passes (see below). There will be, as usual, bus shuttles and the monorail available for getting around, so depending upon where you stay, a car is not necessary. Top tip: bring and wear comfortable shoes!

Several folks have asked if we are planning a "get-together" during NAB. Possibilities range from getting together for lunch to a pizza party on Monday evening. Given the growth of the LV Convention Center, finding an easy-to-get-to spot is a bit harder than usual, although there are a couple of possibilities close to the West Hall. If you would like to get together, or have an idea, let us know. (The NAB will not allow food trucks on site!)

STREAM MONITORING AND ALERTING
Knowing your stream is on line and sounding good is important - there are a number of issues that can cause problems. Knowing what they are, and how to be sure you are alerted when something goes off the rails will be the key part of Ralph Dalions' presentation. Ralph is from StreamGuys, and has experience in this area, some of which might be useful for monitoring and alerting throughout the plant.

Tomorrow - Thursday - at 2 PM EDT /11 AM PDT is the time, zoom and youtube live is the place. More information and the link request is on the TLG page, www.theBDR.net/TLG/  We hope to see you tomorrow.

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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
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www.inovonicsbroadcast.com
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FCC ISSUES NPRM
As expected the FCC desires adding another alert code to the EAS framework. This is to focus specifically on missing and endangered adults, including Native Americans. The NPRM is here.

DO YOU REALLY HAVE BROADBAND INTERNET?
The FCC has increased the benchmark for labelling Internet speeds. Broadband now is officially referring to a download speed od 100 Mbps, with an upload minimum of 20 Mbps. This changes the numbers set in 2015.

XDS RECEIVER USERS - TAKE A PICTURE, WIN SOME MONEY
LinkUp Communications continues their contest for the best pictures of XDS receivers. You can win $200 or $500 - or your station manager or anyone - multiple entries are allowed, each week. More details via the link on the BDR Spotlight page. 

THREE FM STATIONS = $75k
A total of $75,000 is the priced specified in the FCC application to purchase three FM stations and two booster stations in Rapid City and Newell South Dakota. (Hat tip to Gary Peterson.)

FOR SALE
A number of new items appear this week, including more than a few sets of coax (mixed sizes/lengths), an isocoupler, and other RF parts. Also, someone needs a 3 1/8 EIA Male to Male connector. Those and more items are found on the BDR Buy/Sell Page.

THE BUTTONS
Do the buttons on the Dana's Daily Deals page make things easier for you? We hope so. Several folks have commented on this and other ways to make the Deals page better. Now, they are easier to access. Check them out.

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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
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http://worldwideantennasystems.com/
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Some recent articles of interest:

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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
Emacs! 
http://www.lawo.com
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MANUFACTURERS' NEWS

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The 2024 NAB Show registration is now open. You can learn about NAB Spring Show preparations at www.nab.org.
 
        If you would like a free Floor Pass:
        Nautel code is NS9564.  (And don't forget the NUG on Sunday - www.nautel.com)
        Inovonics code is NS5268.
        Broadcast Depot's code is NS6722.
        GatesAir Booth W2730 - Floor Pass Code NS6663

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Broadcast Supply Worldwide has new website - and a new way to get everything from rapid quotes and order shipping (free shipping!) to the best prices and quicker support. The new Advantage Club is the key. Check it out here.

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Nautel continues its annual Sunday Morning program - but it is not only for Nautel users. Starting at 8:30 on Sunday morning, the Nautel NAB Radio Technology Forum will cover topics of interest to everyone, followed by some specific Nautel information and optional sessions. Check out the plan and register here.

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Inovonics has announced a new product, to be debuted at NAB: The

INOmini 704 Dynamic RDS Encoder

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StreamGuys has announced a modernized version of RevenueStream will be shown at NAB 2024. RevenueStream is among the first solutions of its kind to help broadcasters and live events companies tap into the potential of audience subscription revenue.

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New at the NAB Show, GatesAir is adding the new Flexiva GX2K, a 2000 Watts (2 kW) analog FM in a compact 2RU chassis.

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Digital Alert Systems and Masterplay announced a new technology partnership. The Masterplay On-Air server now integrates with the Digital Alert Systems DASDEC emergency messaging platforms that use the Digital Alert Systems EAS-Net communication protocol. As a result, Masterplay users can now rely on EAS-Net for advanced IP-based alerting in broadcast and low-power TV environments.

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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
Emacs!  
DigitalAlertSystems.com
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Do You Remember? This week in history:
Broadcast related items:

...and 122 years ago this week, the DOC licensed 24 stations, including WSB, WKY, WBT, WFIL, WIP, and KHJ. Also, on 3/22/1922, Powel Crosley opened WLW .. then 8CR .. .with 50 Watts of power.

Also, how about some more regular newsy-type stuff:

 ... and 258 years ago the UK Parliament repealed the Stamp Act after just one year

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May we please recommend this fine company which supports the BDR - and you!
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https://www.circuitwerkes.com/cwbroadcast/
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* This was actually a cover, of the Arrows' song. Jett first recorded the song as a B-Side with members of the Sex Pistols. Three years later, with the Blackharts, she hit #1 on the charts - her biggest hit ever!

** The Rutles were actually the Monty Python bunch.

*** .Johnny Mathis.

**** Bob Hope was the master of ceremonies, while Fredric March, a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor (for 1932’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and 1946’s The Best Years of Our Lives), presented the awards. The statuette for Best Picture went to Cecil B. DeMille’s The Greatest Show on Earth, while John Ford won Best Director for The Quiet Man. Winners in the top two acting categories were Gary Cooper (High Noon) and Shirley Booth (Come Back, Little Sheba).

***** With 25,000 trying to fill the 10,000 seat arena, the Police and Fire Departments halted the show.

****** The Moondog was the nickname for Alan Freed, then on WJW, Cleveland.

******* in the first two decades of the 20th century, and no song gained greater popularity in that era than Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Copyrighted on March 18, 1911, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was the multimillion-selling smash hit that helped turn American popular music into a major international phenomenon, both culturally and economically.

MIDWEEK BONUS
Need a place to store your nuts? You might have one already on hand! (Hat tip to Rhiner Johnson)

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PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND
We sure hope you are finding the BDR and the Newsletter to be of value to you. If so, there are two things that you can do to ensure the BDR keeps pulsing along:
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TELL US WHAT'S WHAT
There are so many areas into which we would like to expand, but it is feedback from you that helps us decided where to go first. Are you interested in a certain piece of gear or technology? Let us know. Even better, would you be willing to do a user report and share your experience?

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We sure do appreciate you spending time with our Newsletter. And even more so when you recommend us to your colleagues and friends.

barry

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Now ... some extra stuff .. some important ... some just interesting.

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