Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes

June 23,, 2025 View as Webpage

ABIP Seminar

Registration is now open for the ABA Engineering Academy special two-day seminar covering the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP).



This live training seminar is designed for current ABIP inspectors and those that are interested in becoming an inspector. We have also opened the seminar up to any engineer that is interested in learning more about the inspection program.

We have scheduled the seminar covering ABIP for August 18^th & 19^th, 2025. On the first day we will be in the classroom, going over the inspection details (Online public files, EAS, Transmitter site and basic operational items). The second day will feature on-site mock inspections at area broadcast transmitters (AM, FM and Television).

The class will be held at the ABA Training Center, 2180 Parkway Lake Drive in Hoover, AL (Birmingham). It will start at 8:30 AM central both days. Instructors are John George, ABIP inspector for South Carolina and Larry Wilkins ABIP inspector for Alabama. We also will have news shortly about a special guest speaker at the seminar.

There is no cost for attending the seminar. You can register online here. We encourage you to register early since seating is limited. On the registration page is a list of hotels that have special reduced prices for attendees.

Building a IP Network for Broadcast Operations

If your station is planning a new installation or an upgrade to the IP infrastructure, remember that the demands of the network for continuous streaming of high-quality audio and/or video are much higher than a normal business network.

COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) hardware refers to products or services that are readily available in the market and designed for mass consumption without the need for modification. Typically, these devices (switches, routers, servers, etc.) will not perform as effectively as normal devices.

A normal network may seem to work today, but as time goes by additional streams will be added, plus bandwith, latency and buffering will require more attention. Data from multichannel high bit rate audio, HDR, ST-2110, and ever-increasing amounts of metadata, will put more stress on the network.

Wayne Pecena, IT director at Texas A&M University was our guest at last weeks “Engineering Webinar”. He spent time talking about the issues of high demand and offered a lot of great technical advice. 

The webinar is available on the ABA Engineering YouTube channel. We also have his slide handout available, if you need a copy of the slides send a request to the Academy Director.

ABA Convention

The annual ABA convention is scheduled for Thursday and Friday August 7^th and 8^th . 

As usual we will offer a special engineering session on Thursday with great presentations covering ATSC 3.0 datacasting, the latest advancements in radio and television solid state transmitters, creating quality audio for radio and television, generator maintenance and wireless microphone and IFB systems.

The cost for engineers is only $40.00 which includes lunch. There will also be an exhibit hall with plenty of equipment and services. The convention will be held at the Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham. 

Registration is now open on the ABA web site. Mark your calendars for this great event.

Overview of Generators

Blackouts. Brownouts. Permanent faults. These power outages can wreak havoc on broadcast operations.  First of all, if you don’t have some type of backup to commercial power you may well be off the air, a real bummer!

There are three main types of generators: portable, inverter and standby. The type you chose is based on the running wattage of the items you will connect to them, as well as the surge wattage for starting them.

For broadcast operations the type will normally be a standby unit. A standby generator is an electrical system that operates with a transfer switch that commands it to operate automatically when a facility loses power.

Here are some characteristics to note about these types of generators:

They operate on diesel fuel, liquid propane, natural gas or some kind of hybrid.

They are permanently installed and are not portable.

Single-phase models support residential or commercial systems, while three-phase models can provide power to large systems such as a transmitter site.

Remote monitoring for some models allows users to know the status of their standby generator through a smartphone app.

Many will execute automatic weekly self-tests to ensure they will react properly a power loss.

The National Fire Protection Association publishes standards for performance requirements of standby power systems for buildings and facilities.

When planning on installing a standby power system, make sure to seek the help of a qualified industrial generator contractor. They can determine the size you need based on the load.

Once installed proper maintenance is a must. Standby generators are a little more complex than portable or inverter generators. There are some tasks owners can perform and they fall into the type of maintenance common for small engines, such as checking oil, the battery, coolant levels, belts and spark plugs. You may want a certified technician to perform more involved tasks, including testing and servicing the automatic transfer switch that is critical to getting power the main source goes out.



Keep records of inspections, tests and repairs. These records will allow you to understand when further repair or replacement may be necessary.

From Washington

The FCC has started the ball rolling to eliminate the ownership cap on how many TV stations any one company can own. The present rule, which is over 20 years old, is a national ownership cap that limit station groups from owning or controlling broadcast television stations that reach more than 39% of all U.S. television households.

Your State Association of Broadcasters will keep stations informed of the status of this proposal.

Technical Blog

Our latest Technical blog covered the proposal to move EAS operation from a hardware to software based system. While there is always room for improvements, care needs to be made

not diminish the main goal of EAS...protect life and property.

It was posted in the June 20th edition of Radio World Smart Brief

Fall schedule of the ABA Engineering Academy’s Technical classes

The ABA Engineering Academy has released the schedule for our Radio and Television Engineering class for this coming fall. The radio class will be held the week of September 21 – 26 and the television class will be held the week of November 3 – 7.

The Academy began offering these classes in 2012. Over the years it has attracted students from all across the country and Canada. While they are designed for those just starting in broadcast engineering, we have had many “seasoned” engineers attend both for a refresher course and the latest technology (including HD Radio, ATSC 3.0 and SMPTE 2110).

The classes cover basic electronics, history of broadcasting, analog and digital audio, radio/ television generation and transmission, plus overview of station operations including EAS and FCC Rules. On Fridays we offer the opportunity for students to take the SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist exam. You do not have to take the exam to attend the class.

Classes are held at the ABA Training Center, 2180 Parkway Lake Drive Hoover, AL (Birmingham)



We encourage you to register for these classes soon, as we have limited seating. Don’t forget the classes are offered at no cost by the Alabama Broadcasters Association. Click here to register. There is a list of hotels that offer special rates for students on the web site.



Contact the Academy Director for more information.

Pro Audio –  The Way we Listen

When our great Creator designed the human body, He included many sensory systems, visual, touch, smell, and hearing. Among the many sensory systems that the human body has, hearing ranks at the top. 

It is important to note that there are two types of hearing. First hearing is a natural, involuntary act that involves perceiving sound through the ears. All types of sound waves enter our ears continuously, people talking, singing, cars sounds, machines, on and on.

However, Listening demands attention, interpretation, and response. Active listening is a crucial component of the critical listening process in music production. It involves actively engaging with the sounds and distinguishing between different elements like melody, rhythm, harmony, tone, and texture. Active listeners pay attention to every detail of sound without judgement or distraction by external factors such as noise and emotions.

Active listeners can pinpoint imperfections in a track that may be overlooked by casual audiences. They understand how various technical aspects work together to create soundscapes that evoke specific emotions and messages.

Becoming a active listener requires discipline and practice.  

They are singing my song !