Monday Morning Coffee and Technical Notes

July 14, 2025 View as Webpage

C-Band Issues?

For years broadcasters, networks and stations have relied on C-band satellites to deliver programming. C-band uses frequencies from 3.7 to 4.2 GHz for their downlinks.

 As most engineers remember, in 2020 the FCC decided to reallocate the 3.7 – 3.98 portion of the band for use by wireless systems. Broadcasters had to move all their operations to the upper portion 3.98 – 4.2GHz.

Now the FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry on the Upper C-band spectrum, presently being use by broadcasters.  Seeking to reallocate that portion for other uses as well.

 Where does that leave broadcasters? Mark Johnson with Linkup Satellites will be our special guest on the July Engineering Webinar, tomorrow, Tuesday July 15 starting at 10:00 AM central time. Click on this link to join the webinar.

2025 ABA Conference

Radio and Television engineers should make their plans to attend the 2025 Annual ABA Convention on Thursday August 7^th. We have lined up 5 very informative technical presentations during the Engineering Seminar. The morning sessions include:

A look at the new generation of water-cooled solid-state radio and television transmitters. The presenter will be Greg Martin with Rohde & Schwartz.

This will be followed by Bryan Martin with Thompson Power Systems. Bryan will cover proper sizing and installation of large diesel generators and ongoing maintenance and service.

After the two morning sessions we will have a break to allow visits with the many exhibitor booths. This is a great time to check out new products, services, and equipment information.

Lunch is provided at noon with your registration.



After lunch the first presentation will feature Larry Wilkins, Director of Engineering Services with the ABA. The topic is “It’s what comes out of the Speaker that Counts”. A look at how to create quality audio in both radio and television program streams.

Peter Gogas with Gray Media will then discuss the implementation of ATSC 3.0 Datacasting.

Our final presentation for the day will cover Chief Operator duties as it relates to the requirements of maintaining a “Station Log”. The speaker is John George, RF Specialties and South Carolina ABIP inspector.

Engineering registration is only $40.00 which includes lunch. The location for the conference is Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa 4000 Grand Avenue, Birmingham,AL. Click here to register and if you need hotel information contact Lesa Rice lrice@al-ba.com

Take Care of your Equipment

Engineers are very much aware that heat is one of the most damaging things to electronic equipment. As temperatures continue to rise, the number one item on your to-do list should be inspections of HVAC and air flow systems, especially at remote transmitter sites.

While older tube equipment could sometimes handle higher temperatures, modern solid-state devices cannot. As a precaution, install over-temperature sensors at your site that can alarm you if temperatures are reaching a dangerous level.

Proactive maintenance prevents expensive repairs.

2025 Engineer of the Year

During the Engineering session of the ABA Conference, we will recognize the 2025 Engineer of the Year. This award recognizes excellence and innovation in broadcast engineering for an Alabama radio and/or television station. Criteria include development of new technology, leadership in education and contributions to broadcast engineering technical standards.



We invite you to send your nominations to Sharon Tinsley at stinsley@al-ba.com by July 15. Please include a short letter or email citing why you feel this person should receive the award, including ways in which the nominee has met the criteria listed above.

ABIP Training Seminar

Engineers and other station personnel are invited to attend a free two-day seminar covering the Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program (ABIP). 

Even if you are not involved in the actual inspection, this seminar will cover a lot of areas, both technical and legal. The items covered will help keep your entire operation in compliance with current FCC Rules and Regulations.

The class will be held on Monday and Tuesday August 18^th and 19^th at the ABA training center in Hoover, AL (Birmingham). The first day will be the classroom and the second day will be in the field conducting “Mock” inspections at an AM, FM and television station.

Instructors include John George, ABIP inspector for South Carolina and Larry Wilkins ABIP inspector for Alabama. LATE BREAKING NEWS: A representative from the Atlanta regional FCC office will be with us on Thursday.



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.

Becoming a life-long Learner

Chris Alexander, a longtime friend and engineer at Crawford Broadcasting, recently wrote an article in RadioWorld titled “Engineers Should Never Stop Learning,” highlighting the importance of continuous learning for engineers.

I applaud Chris, as this is something I have always shared with fellow engineers. Technology is changing at such a rapid pace, if you don’t keep up you will be out of the loop in just a few weeks.

Twelve years ago, the Alabama Broadcasters Association established the ABA Engineering Academy to address this issue.   The Academy offers year-round classes for radio and television engineers, covering both fundamentals and the latest technology.

The next radio class will be held the week of September 21 – 26 and the television class will be held the week of November 3 – 7. 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 – Mixing for correct “Loudness”

When mixing audio for live events, determining the appropriate loudness level for the mix is a common issue.   Measuring SPL in the room doesn't always reflect how the audience perceives it.   Remember, loudness is a perceived value not measurable by any type of device.

There’s a reason simply assigning a maximum SPL number often doesn’t solve the problem. Sometimes, even with a great mix, the volume is just too loud. But more often, the real issue is “frequency management”.

Even if the SPL appears normal, buildup of different frequencies can make the mix sound too loud. The key is to listen to the sound (without watching the SPL meter), pay attention to anything effecting the loudness such as a harsh guitars or cymbals.

Ron Cochran, writing in Worship Facility says, “When you’re struggling with these problematic instruments, and there’s no time for finesse, don’t be afraid to just turn ’em down. Always remember though to keep the main thing the main thing: vocals!”



Once the perceived loudness appears to be correct, check the SPL and save for the next service. That will give you a good starting point.

Earl, did you use the side cutters as a hammer again?