Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes

September 7, 2026 View as Webpage

CyberSecurity Update

A quick reminder that the deadline for stations to update their “cybersecurity” in program stream devices is Tuesday September 29^th, 2026.

As we have written, this is a three-prong procedure. First make sure all devices are operating with the latest firmware and software patches, secondly create special passwords (with a minimum of 15 characters) and finally ensure a properly programmed firewall is in place.



The NAB hosted a special webinar last week covering this subject. If you were not able to attend live, the webinar is archived here.

ABA Engineering Webinar

The September Engineering Webinar has been postponed due to some scheduling issues. The October webinar will be held on Tuesday October 20^th at 10:00 AM central time.

The Associate Director of Information Technology at Texas A&M University, Wayne Pecena will be our special guest on the October ABA Engineering Webinar. Wayne will be discussing Firewalls, what they are, why they are needed, and the many ways they can be configured.



Join us for this most information webinar on October 20th at 10:00 AM. Click here to register.

ABA Engineering Academy

Television engineers, both newcomers and seasoned, should mark their calendars for the week of October 26^th as the ABA Engineering Academy holds its fall Television Engineering Class.

Seats are still available so sign up today. We cover basic electronics, audio (analog and digital), video creation and transmission (including ATSC 3.0 and SMPTE 2110) plus transmitters and antennas.



Classes are held at the ABA Training Center, 2180 Parkway Lake Drive in Hoover AL (Birmingham). Register online here.

September Required Monthly Test (RMT)

The September Required Monthly Test (RMT) will be fed on Thursday September 10^th at 11:15 am central time. The test will be distributed on both the GSSNet Satellite system and IPAWS.

 Stations are reminded that once you receive the RMT it must be relayed on all your over-the-air (OTA) streams within a 60-minute window.

Enter the results of the reception and retransmission in the Station Log.

______________________________________________________

Don’t Forget the Paperwork!

Broadcast engineering is not just technical, there are some “paperwork” that must be completed regularly. Not only is it because they are required by FCC rules but also helps to make sure that the station is operating correctly.

Some of the documents include:

·     Station Log. These logs document the proper operation of the EAS system, proper operation of the tower light system, and proper operation of the RF system. The station log must be reviewed weekly for accuracy of the data, then signed and dated by the Chief Operator. If any issues are discovered it should be reported to the correct station personnel.

·     Quarterly Tower Light Inspection. While closely related to the Station Log, this report documents the proper operation of the entire tower light system (not just the lights) including control, reporting, monitoring, and alarms.

·     Transmitter Maintenance Log. Although not specifically part of the FCC rules, keeping a detailed maintenance log aids in complying with part 73.1350 “Each licensee is responsible for maintaining and operating its broadcast station in a manner which complies with the technical rules set forth elsewhere in this part and in accordance with the terms of the station authorization”.

·     Station Authorizations. Engineers should ensure that all required authorizations are available and they are accurate and up to date.



Maintaining these documents correctly and timely should be high on your “do to list”.

Earl I don't care if you didn't have another breaker, this will not work!

Pro Audio – Mix with your Ears

Anyone involved in mixing audio, whether in a recording studio or at a live event, knows technology has changed significantly in recent years.

Still, the goal remains the same: create a sound that draws a positive response from the listener.

With so many plug-ins offering visually impressive GUIs (Graphic User Interfaces), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But don’t be distracted by how a graphic looks; listeners neither see it nor care about its appearance.

John Cooper, Bruce Springsteens FOH engineer says “there are times I may have two or three settings for an effect, trying pick the right one with graphics doesn’t cut it. He says he will close his eyes and have his assistant switch between the different settings, and he picks the one that sound best”. When using this method make sure the levels are the same so as not to effluence the discission.



Final review of the mix should be done with restful ears. Practically in the morning before the noise of day has effected your auditory system.