Radio Engineering Hacks

hack  n.  An inelegant but effective solution to a problem.

Often there’s more than one way to solve an engineering problem. There is usually the normal approach, and then there are one or more “hacks”. Some hacks are elegant and others – not so much.

Easy Connections for Non-Networked Audio Gear

As engineers exchange the world of single- and two-pair shielded cable for CAT5/6, finding a simpler way to interconnect non-networked gear becomes more important. Of course, you can buy adaptor cables pre-made, but what do you do with the excess cable?

Radio for Defense: Down the Rabbit Hole with White Alice

Back in the days of the Cold War, the world powers came up with some very interesting ways to monitor one another’s activities. Chief among these for North America was the DEW Line, a system of early-warning radar stations that stretched across Canada’s Arctic Circle territories, through Alaska and into the Aleutians as well as Greenland and Iceland. It operated into the 1990s prior to shutdown (although some of the DEW Line installations were converted for use with the modern North Warning System operated by NORAD).

But not without the help of White Alice.

Cordell Loken: Radio Career a Mission of Love

Following a visit last month by Telos’ Broadcast Audio Fanatics, veteran radio engineer Cordell Loken of KBNJ in Corpus Christi, TX sent us a note expressing how impressed he was with the meeting.

Radio Futurologist, James Cridland

Who better to predict radio’s future than a radio futurologist? James Cridland advises radio’s leaders across the world – on radio’s multiplatform future, the effect of smartphones on radio listening, and radio’s place in social media. He writes about what happens when radio and new platforms collide – for Media UK and other websites and magazines. And works with the brightest brains to ensure radio remains relevant. On this episode, James describes RadioDNS, which he says is one of the key technologies for radio remaining relevant and useful to a mass audience.

xNodes for AoIP: What You Don’t Know Could Thrill You

Yes, I get a little bit overexcited when I start talking about xNodes, Axia Audio's 3^rd-generation networked audio interfaces. I’ve been accused of over caffeinating (which might be true) but really, if you knew what I know about xNodes, you’d be excited too.

C’mon, let’s go for a peek behind the curtain…

Audio over IP Interoperability

The AES67 standard published in September is the first audio engineering standard to address interoperability. But why is it important? And what does it say?

AES67 is important because for years, the industry wanted a standard to address interoperability, and now, it has one. The emphasis on interoperability is important as it’s been a longstanding concern of audio engineering professionals as new technologies continue to develop.

It’s High-Octane Audio for Motor Racing Network

As the “Voice of NASCAR,” the Motor Racing Network (MRN) is the principal radio broadcasting operation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. They’ve got more than a few victory laps in their record books: Since MRN’s first broadcast – the 1970 Daytona 500 – they’ve aired hundreds, if not thousands of races. And not just the premiere events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series - but the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races as well.

Doug Watson is the Chief Engineer for MRN, and he and his crew make the technical end of the broadcasts happen. Up until last year, MRN used two large trailers and one smaller trailer with analog equipment, but Doug decided it was time to modernize the operations.

Vintage Audio: LPB Carrier Current AM Transmitter

An often-overlooked facet of AM broadcasting is carrier current radio. Typically carrier current is implemented by feeding the RF signal into the AC power distribution system of building allowing for broadcasting over limited areas. Hence, its widespread use among student-run college radio stations.

This month's trip to the attic turned up a dusty but functional LPB RC-6A carrier current transmitter, along with its coupler and test gear.

Set up Axia GPIO connections for AC and DC

Laura Gutknecht, Technical Director at WSUM Radio at the University of Wisconsin, recently submitted a tip on setting up GPIO connections to work with AC and DC in a way that isolates the GPIO gear from harm