TWiRT 689 - Transmitters: Brand New or New to Me, with Dominic Mitchum & Robert Combs

Can you imagine installing 60 broadcast transmitters over the past 8 years? Robert Combs, Corporate Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media has been doing exactly that. Transmitters of all sizes and from several major manufacturers. The most recent transmitter replacement is at WZYP-FM in Huntsville, Alabama. Market Engineer, Dominic Mitchum, is taking care of much of the local work and logistics, alongside Robert’s work. The project also includes replacing the RF coaxial transfer switch, main coax, and even the main and backup FM antennas.  Robert and Dominic give us a very informative video tour and discussion of this project on Capshaw Mountain. Plus, Chris Tarr relates his own recent transmitter installation experiences and has developed some advice on purchasing used transmitters.

Guests:
Dominic Mitchum - Director of Technical Operations at Cumulus Media, Huntsville, AL
Robert Combs - Corporate Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB!
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. 

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TWiRT 689 - Transmitters: Brand New or New to Me, with Dominic Mitchum & Robert Combs

TWiRT 688 - I Can Fix DAP!

Over 50 years ago, Mike Dorrough introduced the Discriminate Audio Processor - the DAP 310. Broadcasters that cared about audio quality started buying and installing DAP310s to improve the audio quality of their stations. Five decades later these old audio processors are still in demand - as are services to supply parts and repairs. Randy Swaffer and Mike Phillips are two DAP310 enthusiasts - and they know all about repairing and aligning these classic units. Jordan Tuck also joins us to talk about refurbishing other broadcast gear, including a Continental Electronics FM transmitter and an A-6000 audio console.

Show Notes:
DAP310 Repair Information Website - dap310.com
PAMS Series 49 Jingle Demo Page - Listen here!
We discussed Kapton film as used in plate blocker capacitors for FM transmitters

Guests:
Randy Swaffer - Minister, Professional Piano Tuner, Dorrough DAP enthusiast
Mike Phillips - Attorney, Engineer, musician, & Dorrough DAP enthusiast
Jordan Tuck - Broadcast Engineer & Refurbisher of Broadcast Equipment

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
NUG@NAB Radio Technology Forum  is almost here! Register for this free event at NAB!
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

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TWiRT 688 - I Can Fix DAP!

TWiRT 687 - Can I Get You a Lift? with Jim Tiner

Most broadcasters either own towers or lease antenna space on them. But only the tallest towers are outfitted with elevators to bring workers and light tools up to desired working levels without spending half the day getting tired from climbing. Jim Tiner is CEO at Tower Elevators Systems. His company has built many towers - short, medium, and tall - and many of the tallest ones also have a custom-designed elevator system. This elevator technology is often applicable to other tall structures, such as bridge towers, smokestacks, and even the Statue of Liberty.  Jim Tiner presents his company’s fascinating story and tells us about unique elevator designs.

Show Notes:
Galleries of Photos by Tower Elevator Systems
YouTube video about Siemens Safety PLCs as used in the Statue of Liberty project 

Guest:
Jim Tiner - CEO at Tower Elevator Systems, Inc.

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 687 - Can I Get You a Lift? with Jim Tiner

TWiRT 686 - More Than Fresh Air with Joyce Lieberman

Most of us in radio have heard Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross on National Public Radio. Joyce Lieberman was the first technical director behind this well-produced national interview program. But Joyce’s engineering and production career started several years earlier, getting a kick-start when some other engineers called in sick. At the onset of Joyce's radio work, she recorded Terry Gross and her guests when Fresh Air was a local Philadelphia three-hour program. Her attention to audio purity and detail prepared Joyce for other audio engineering achievements, including working with a team at WHYY and NPR to restore and digitally archive the episodes of Fresh Air, plus provide guidance to other archival efforts. Chris Tarr adds his expert insights as well to this interview with Joyce Lieberman.

Show Notes:
Joyce appears on another podcast, Working Class Audio #304
More information about Joyce is found on this page about the SZALON Tech Team

Guest:
Joyce Lieberman - Radio Engineering Supervisor at WHYY, Philadelphia

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 686 - More Than Fresh Air with Joyce Lieberman

TWiRT 685 - Live from the ABA Engineering Academy

TWiRT 685 - Live from the ABA Engineering Academy

Are you one of hundreds of broadcast engineers who have attended the Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA) Engineering Academy? Larry Wilkins and Frank Giardina are completing the 2024 Radio Engineering Academy with attendees ranging from “new” broadcast engineers to some seasoned pros looking to update their knowledge. We’re live from the ABA Headquarters near Birmingham, AL, with Larry Wilkins, ABA President Sharon Tinsley, and a few of this year’s attendees. 

Show Notes:
Here’s what ABA Enigneering Academy attendees learned in this week’s Radio session
Subscribe to ABA’s “Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes” by emailing to Larry Wilkins

Guests:
Larry Wilkins - Broadcast Engineer
Dominic Mitchum - Director of Engineering at Cumulus Media, Huntsville, AL
Josh Bohn - President/CEO at The MaxxKonnect Group
Sharon Tinsley - President at Alabama Broadcasters Association
John “Mike” McCall - WTBF, Troy, AL
Lloyd Weekes - Engineer for a new FM station in Roanoke, AL

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel’s new GV2 FM transmitters are here - chock full of features!
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 685 - Live from the ABA Engineering Academy