Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes

June 8, 2026 View as Webpage

Increasing Cybersecurity Issues in Broadcast Operations

The ABA Engineering Services will host a special Engineering Webinar on Tuesday June 9th at 10:00 AM central time.

Wayne Pecena, Associate Director of Engineering at KAMU-FM/TV will be our special guest and will discuss the transition from dedicated broadcast hardware to software-driven and internet-connected environments which has both transformed station facilities but has made them vulnerable to intrusion from outside sources.



Register online here and share information about the webinar with others.

Late breaking news…the FCC is proposing important changes in the way broadcast operations guard against cyber-attacks to broadcast systems, focusing on the Emergency Alerting System (EAS). The Commission said the amount of these types of attacks “continue to occur with disturbing frequency”.



Among the Required changes are:

·     Properly installed and programmed firewalls

·     Password updates using a minimum of 15 characters

·     Prompt firmware and software patching updates

Read more from RadioWorld

2026 Alabama Engineer of the Year

Each year, the Alabama Broadcasters Association recognizes an outstanding broadcast engineer with its prestigious “Engineer of the Year” award.

The recipient is selected from nominations submitted by engineers across the state and honored for service to Alabama’s broadcast community.

The 2026 Engineer of the Year is Terry Harper. He began his career in 1967 at WABT (now WACQ) 580 kHz in Tuskegee, Alabama. In 1969, he joined Auburn University’s Educational Television Division as an audio engineer.

He retired from Auburn University in 1994 and has provided contract engineering services across the state ever since.

Terry and his wife Tammie reside in Auburn. They have three sons and seven grandchildren. His hobbies include snow skiing, hunting and fishing, and working on the farm.

The award will be presented at the ABA 80^th anniversary reception in Auburn Wednesday June 24^th. The reception will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa.

This is a free event, and everyone is welcome. Register here



ABA Engineering Academy

The fall round of engineering classes are coming up in September. The ABA Radio Engineering class will be held the week of September 28th – October 2nd. Our television class is scheduled October 26th – 30th.

These courses are intended for individuals at all levels of experience, including newcomers and experienced engineers, as well as those seeking to deepen their understanding of the technical aspects of broadcasting.

The classes cover an overview of basic electronics, analog and digital audio, history of radio and television technology, creating audio and video streams, RF systems for radio and television along with basic studio operation and FCC rules and regulations.

We’re currently updating our study guides and program to include more relevant material for broadcast engineers, as well as new information about emerging technologies like IP for broadcasting, digital audio and video, SMPTE 2110, and ATSC 3.0.

We also offer students the opportunity to take the SBE Certification exam on Friday if desired.



This 5-day class is held at the ABA Training Center in Hoover, AL (Birmingham). Discount rates for students are available at area hotels. More information about daily subjects covered and online registration is available here.

 ABA Engineering Monthly Webinar

The June ABA Engineering Webinar will be held on Tuesday the 16^th at 10:00 AM central time. Special guest will be Frank Foti, Telos Alliance. 



The topic will cover audio processing today and how we got to where we are today. Frank will also touch on the proper process of making adjustments to create the sound the station needs.

Register online here

Back to Basics – Power Feeds

Here is a technique that could save a lot of frustration when equipment fails due to a loss of power.

First, label all electrical receptacles so they correspond to the breakers in the distribution panel. Ideally, each rack or piece of equipment should have its own dedicated circuit.

Work with your electrical service provider to keep the load balanced as possible across both sides of the 240-volt service.

Routinely check the current on each circuit with a clamp-on ammeter and keep the load at no more than 80% of the circuit’s rated capacity. If the budget allows install a rack mounted volts/Amp monitor on each rack.

Another nice item is an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) with a build-in power conditioner on each equipment rack or main device.



The UPS will keep the equipment online until the generator comes online, while the power condition will remove unwanted noise and harmonics on the incoming power service.

Finally try to have all broadcast equipment fed from the same distribution panel which will help minimize ground loops.

Pro Audio – Less is More

One of the most liberating lessons in mixing—and one that often shocks young engineers—is this: you don’t have to hear everything all the time. In fact, if you’re mixing in church (FOH or broadcast), this is especially true.

A common mistake among newer engineers is treating everything as equal. That’s a fast track to a cluttered, even cacophonous mix. The key to a dynamic mix isn’t making sure every element is heard, it’s knowing what deserves prominence and what should sit in the background or in some cases eliminated altogether.

The key in live mixing is usually “less is more”. Use dynamic effects sparingly. Some engineers try to compensate by turning everything up. The result? A wall of sound where nothing stands out.

I’m all for refining great guitar tones, dialing in EQ, and compressing vocals just right. But at the end of the day, the goal isn’t just a great mix—it’s an effective one. And an effective mix is one that clears the path for people to engage in worship.



The road to a great mix runs through the congregation. Make room for the main thing. And remember—sometimes, that ear-candy is just for you.

Notes furnished by Ron Cochran in Worship Facility

Looks like a camera Earl made in shop class in trade school