Guide Your Audio Home with Pathfinder

In a recent blog post, Pathfinder developer Dan Bays gave us a little background on the history of Axia Audio's routing control system, and explained a bit about virtual routers and protocol translators along the way. Now Dan's back with a still more detail on this essential software suite, and explains how Pathfinder stacks the odds of proper routing of quality audio in your favor.

War Stories of 2014 - with Shane Toven

2014 witnessed some major stories, changes, and advancements in broadcast technology. Who better to talk about their implications than Radio magazine editor, Shane Toven? Shane joins Chris Tobin and Kirk Harnack talking about FCC enforcement, Rule changes, LPFM, EAS, new tech from green transmitters to IP-audio, and what we might expect from 2015.

Excellent Engineer, Wayne Pecena

Radio World named Wayne Pecena as the recipient of its 2014 Excellence in Engineering Award. Would you like to know why? Many engineers think of Wayne as their virtual mentor, and an authoritative source for learning new broadcast engineering skills, especially in computer networking. Chris Tobin and I talk with Wayne about educating engineers.

Finding Your Path with Axia

Remember that old Craftsman toolbox in your basement? Some of you may break it out every day or every weekend. For others you have to wipe off the dust and break out the manual when that construction task comes due. Axia has its toolbox too: the PathfinderPC Routing Control system. And after 15 years of projects our toolbox has grown to the audio version of the New Yankee Workshop.

Audio for TV with Gibson Prichard

How has the move to digital audio changed audio routing and workflow at TV stations? Gibson Prichard should know. He’s the Chief Engineer for Journal Broadcasting’s WTVF-TV - News Channel 5 - the CBS affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee. Self-educated in broadcast engineering, Gibson started at a local FM station and has worked through digital and HD upgrades at two television stations.

Radio Oberland Moves into the Digital Age

At the stroke of midnight on November 3rd, Radio Oberland moderators Theresa Pritschow and Simon Fritzenschaf signed off for the last time from the station's home for 22 years at Marienplatz 17. There were tears and some sadness, but also anticipation of a brighter future. The station's original analog equipment was showing its age, and it was time for the local broadcaster to move to a new location and join the digital age.

Radio Engineering at the Museum

New radio studios are always a cause for excitement. The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago is home to the Paul & Angel Harvey Studio, and the newly-rebuilt Art Laboe Control Room. We’re talking with Bruce DuMont, President and Founder of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, plus audio producers, Colin Ashmead and Chris Cwiak, along with Greg Dahl, who installed the new equipment.

Antenna & Tower work with John Hettish

Continuing our discussion about working on broadcast antennas way up high, John Hettish, joins us, describing some of his amazing tower work videos.  We’ll get the right story on his 10-bay ERI antenna rebuild, plus check out removal of some 900 pound microwave dishes.  And what about the wasps and vultures gathering at the top of a broadcast tower?

Zephyrs, Z/IPs & Axia Audio Integration on Polish Radio

As General Manager of Magnetic Media, Polish distributor for Axia, Telos, and Omnia, Piotr Kubacki has his finger on the pulse of Poland's radio scene. As such, we were keen to hear from Piotr recently regarding the implementation of Axia networks and other Telos Alliance gear at broadcast facilities across Poland.

Agora Radio Group was the first Axia user in Poland, with their first Axia studio built in late 2007. Over time, Agora slowly built their entire nationwide infrastructure on Axia, including studios in cities across Poland. Major studios are now connected via Zephyr iPorts, providing multiple, independent audio channels in both directions.

Troubles up High

Fixing broadcast gear is difficult enough at ground level. What’s it like to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair broadcast systems 300, 600, or 1200 feet above ground? Chris Tobin advises about what can go wrong and some common remedies, and we analyze an antenna repair by tower pro, John Hettish, while he’s 925 feet above ground.