Sierra Automated Systems Becomes Newest Livewire Partner

Livewire is full steam ahead, and Sierra Automated Systems is the latest partner to jump on the networking locomotive. Sierra Automate Systems manufactures digital audio network routing, mixing, console control, and integrated intercom and talkback systems. By adding Livewire, those products will now be able to interoperate with the growing Livewire ecosystem of more than 70,000 installed devices worldwide. That means SAS's support of the Livewire protocol will allow its customers to send and receive audio with stream advertising, control, and program associated data throughout its entire audio network.

TWiRT 332 - Permafrost and Air Conditioning with John Antonuk

How do you keep equipment operating when the temperature changes by 150 degrees? John Antonuk keeps 4 radio stations running year-round in Fairbanks, Alaska. And that’s pretty impressive when you consider the harsh - and varying - conditions. John joins Chris Tobin and Kirk Harnack on This Week in Radio Tech.

Guest: John Antonuk - Chief Engineer, iHeartMedia, Fairbanks, Alaska

Hosts:

Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist 

Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Show Links:

And, just where is this studio in Fairbanks?

Simulsat receive antenna brochure

AMC-8 Satellite Service Migration

The Support Team with the Most, from Here to the Coast

When you purchase a piece of equipment from The Telos Alliance, you're not just getting great gear. You're really getting the Telos Experience. From first contact with the sales staff, who can match your requirements with our equipment, through installation help from our 24/7 technical support team, as well as ongoing assistance with troubleshooting and software upgrades, we're there for you.

But wait, there's more. Sometimes our customers imagine applications that have never been done before, occasionally by combining Telos and non-Telos equipment. Don't be shy about asking for help, the tech support folks love a good challenge. Just ask Rich Parker.

Vintage Audio: Heath GR-81 Economy Short Wave Radio

An ancient Chinese proverb says, “The longest journey begins with the first step.” And so it is with building Heathkits. Over the years, I've assembled countless Heathkit projects, most for personal use, some for the electronics workbench at college media centers and radio stations, and a few as gifts. But you never forget your very first one. When I made my most recent trip to the attic, I came down with numero uno, my first electronics kit, a Heath GR-81 economy short wave radio. This three-tube, four-band receiver covered 140 Khz to 18 Mhz. The GR-81 had a long production run, from 1961-1972. List price in the 1967 catalog was $23.50. The estimated time for completion was about six hours.

Topics: Vintage Radio Technology, Vintage Electronics

TWiRT 331 - IP Radio Success with Jeff Holdenrid

Microwave radio links have been around for a while, and now with so many IP Radios on the market, how does a broadcast engineer choose what’s right? Jeff Holdenrid with DoubleRadius has been installing and configuring these systems for over 15 years. He gives us the lowdown on the inexpensive, unlicensed systems up to fully licensed links for broadcast.

Guest: Jeff Holdenrid, Sales Engineer - DoubleRadius

Hosts:

Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist 

Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Show Links:

Superior Essex Armored CAT6 cable

DoubleRadius value-added wireless networking

Micronet Communications & Consulting

Comsearch wireless solutions

Cambium Networks link planner

Ubiquiti outdoor wireless link calculator

Meet the New Guys

It's a new year, and the Telos Alliance has added two new members to its growing family. We welcome Brett Patram, new Support Engineer, and Dave Collins, US Sales Manager for Omnia Audio. Brett has been working actively in the Cleveland radio market as an engineer for the past eight years. He was the Director of Engineering for Salem Media Group Cleveland for the past six years before joining the Telos Alliance. He is also the current Vice Chair for the local Society of Broadcast Engineers chapter 70.

Dave is originally from Philadelphia, and has been in radio, working as a program director, on-air host, and technical guy, for the last 15 years. Most recently, he worked at a station group in Lebanon, New Hampshire, did the ski and snowboard reports for a network of stations, and was the voice of Dartmouth Sports Network. Dave has engineered thousands of remote broadcasts, including live play-by-play sports, debates, interviews, and live music concerts. Get to know Brett and Dave! 

Topics: The Telos Alliance

Our Top 5 Direct Current Posts of 2016

As we begin anew with the start of 2017, we also take a look back at the top Direct Current content of 2016—the items that received the most opens from our weekly enewsletter. (Sign up here!)

5) In late May we introduced Streaming University to rave reviews from broadcasters looking to get the most out of their streams. This informative video series ran all summer long as we featured a new video covering an important aspect of streaming audio each week for 14 weeks. The kickoff drew a lot of attention as Professor Kirk Harnack introduced Streaming U with an overview of what was in store.

Topics: The Telos Alliance

TWiRT 330 - War Stories with Tom Ray

It’s a “War Stories” episode with special guest, Tom Ray.  Tom is a soldier in the broadcast engineering trenches every day. He joins Chris Tobin and me with tower snakes, mothball mice, and clever engineering tips for mobile, street-level remote broadcasts.  

Guest: Tom Ray - President, Tom Ray Broadcast Consulting

Hosts:

Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist 

Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Show Links:

Lectrosonics Wireless Mic and IFB Systems

The Car Doctor show

How to get rid of a Rattlesnake!

Vintage Audio: Western Electric Gear

As an electronics geek coming of age in the 1970s, my need for components and other gear often outstripped my meager budget. Between construction projects in Popular Electronics and restoration of surplus grab gear, the revenue from the allowance and part-time job wasn't enough.

Fortunately, help was at hand. With the rapid obsolescence of equipment and a thriving economy, it was often simpler for both consumers and companies to replace than repair. Picking up discarded TVs and stereos during the town's annual spring cleanup yielded a wealth of components. Occasionally, colleges got overwhelmed with components from surplus grabs and would pass some along to deserving high school students.

Topics: Vintage Electronics

TWiRT 329 - FM Antenna Tuning with Dana Puopolo

That hunk of brass, copper, and stainless steel up on the tower is a lot more important than we often consider. The FM transmitting antenna launches a station’s signal to the audience.  It can have a huge effect on the station’s listenability. Dana Puopolo joins Chris Tobin and Kirk Harnack for anecdotes and specific advice about tuning FM transmitting antennas.

Guest: Dana Puopolo - Chief Engineer WGLS-FM, Rowan University Radio, Glassboro, NJ

Hosts:

Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist 

Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting