Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes

October 13, 2025 View as Webpage

October Required Monthly Test (RMT)

The October Required Monthly Test (RMT) was issued last Thursday October 9th at 12:15 AM. This test was distributed only via our GSSNET satellite system. It was not relayed by IPAWS as we normally do.

This was designed to test how well the message was being relayed by our local primary stations equipped with GSSNET satellite downlinks. Should there be an actual alert and the IPAWS system failed we needed to test sending an “over the air message” using just GSSNet.

We are excited to report that the RMT was successfully received and retransmitted by 92 percent of the 196 stations currently monitored by our EAS monitor servers.

We asked that all stations review their EAS log for October 9th at 12:15 AM and verify the reception of this test. If your station did not receive the RMT please sent an email to the Alabama SECC indicating your station call letters and the TWO required monitor sources you are using. Do not list National Weather Service or IPAWS.



Thank you for helping create a fully redundant EAS system.

FCC Operation Update

For the most part the FCC web site remains off line This is due to a partial lapse in Federal Government funding arising from lack of Congressional Appropriations, termed a government “shutdown." 



The Commission has announced that most filing deadlines will be extended to the next business day following the resumption of normal FCC operations.

The only section that appears to be working correctly is the ETRS site. So if you still haven't file an updated Form One (which was due on October 3rd), you may go ahead and get that done.

If due to the shut down, you miss any filing date, communications attorneys suggest you prepare a memorandum stating that you had the document ready on the deadline, attempted to upload, but the system was down. Save the memorandum for future use in uploading and for reference when your station’s license renewal application is filed. When the FCC’s system is eventually up and running, upload the issues-programs list for the 3rd Quarter along with your brief memorandum. 

A copy of the FCC’s Public Notice, Impact of Potential Lapse in Funding on Commission Operations, DA 25-922, released September 30, is attached, which address filings and deadlines.

ABA Engineering Academy

As a reminder the ABA Engineering Academy will hold the Television Broadcast Engineering class the week of November 3^rd – 7^th, 2025.

This an excellent opportunity for new engineers to receive valuable technical training, including basic electronics, analog and digital audio, history of television, technical operation of NTSC, ASTC 1.0 (8VSB), ATSC 3.0 and SMPTE 2110. Seasoned engineers can use it as a refresher course as well as learning about ATSC 3.0 and SMPTE 2110.

This class runs from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Friday is reserved for those wishing to take the SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist exam.

The class is offered at no charge. By the Alabama Broadcasters Association. Click here to view the daily schedule and registration.

ABA Engineering Webinar

Mark your calendars for Tuesday October 21st for the ABA Engineering Webinar. Special guest will be Frank Foti with Telos Alliance. Frank, considered by many as the “God Father of the Omina Processor”, will be discussing how to set up a monitoring system to use while adjusting audio processors. 

All too often engineers adjust processors in the wrong environment making it impossibe to create the proper “over the air” sound.

The webinar will start at 10:00 AM central time. Click here to join the webinar. 

Redundancy in the Studio

Few things are more embarrassing for an engineer or damaging to a station’s reputation than being “off the air.”

This often results from the failure of a piece of equipment that lacks a backup or a method to “patch around” the trouble area. This is why we emphasize creating a “plant drawing” that traces the program signal flow from the source to the transmitter. Once the drawing is completed, it becomes much easier to spot weak points in your signal flow.

Taking a page from the Pro Audio field, John Cooper, FOH engineer for Bruce Springsteen said “I have back up equipment for every piece of gear in use and in most cases I have back ups for the back up equipment”.



This mind set should be the same for broadcast operations as well. Zero off the air time should be every engineer’s goal.

Pro Audio –  Preplanning for Events

Professional audio engineers will always stress the importance of doing your homework before setting up for a live event. It doesn’t matter if is a small corporate event, church service or large concert, starting early in the planning will save time and hopeful avoiding last minute issues.

First step will always be sitting down with event planner (for church services this will be the worship leader) and making plenty of notes on what their needs are. If a concert, secure contact information for all the artists, bands or speakers. Also very important is to get information about the venue (location, load-in date, site technician, and required permits).

Visit the venue as early as possible, meeting with site technicians make a drawing of the layout, making sure to enter dimensions of stage area. Don’t forget to go over power requirements, cable runs, and support structure of speaker and lighting hangs.



Depending on the available shore power it may require a separate power system (generator power).

Keep in contact with the event planner and participants about any changes in the program requirements.

Earl, don't be taking the change from the tone arm