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There is at least one small upside to COVID-19, which is that we have more time to catch up on things around the station or workshop. Empty studios give the engineer free reign for both cleaning and maintenance. Funny how there’s still so much to do!

Professional Engineer (P. E.) Buc Fitch has come up with a great cable test kit for the entry-level engineer, intern or assistant to build. It’s fun for more seasoned engineers too. After all, why should the new guy or gal have all the fun?

Buc’s “kit” is, as he puts it, is an “uber-simple XLR-3 cable tester.” Its purpose is to test XLR-connectorized cables for proper wiring and polarity. We’ve simplified the circuit description; hand the rest of this article to your intern and let them figure it out.

First, let’s talk about XLR polarity. It’s important!

A few years ago, I was visiting a customer who was having problems wiring up a mic cable. The internet said Pin 1 was hot! The internet is a great tool only when it’s used properly. Standard mic wiring, at least in the United States, is Pin 2 hot or +, Pin 3 i negative or – , and Pin 1 is ground. As with any tool, it must be used properly. So double-check what you read on the internet by visiting several sites or asking a fellow broadcast engineer.

Fig. 1: Buc’s sketch. This is a nice construction project for an entry-level engineer.

Buc’s cable tester will avoid this wiring problem, permitting you to verify all your XLR cables. You may be surprised to see how some cables, especially in your remote kit, are wired!

This project can be assembled with junk box parts; nothing is really critical. Buc’s schematic sketch shows power via battery or wall wart, your choice.

In the center of the schematic are the chassis-mounted XLR male and female connectors. One thing to remind the intern is that the pins flip or “reverse” from one connector (female) to the other connector (male). Be sure to check the pin numbers on each connector before soldering.

The three pushbutton switches are simple N.O. (normally open) chassis mount switches. The LEDs are not critical; Buc chose red, green and blue. LED current is limited by either the 100 ohm or 47 ohm half-watt resistors, depending on the power supply used.

As for the power supply, the simplest is shown to the left: two AA batteries mounted in a simple two-battery holder.

AA batteries provide 1.5 VDC each, and since they are wired in series, the total voltage is _____?

For the wall wart supply, the approximately 6 VDC wall wart plugs into a jack on the side of the chassis box, and feeds a 5 VDC three-pin regulator. Its output connects to a 1N4004 diode in parallel with an optional 2.1V Zener diode. Again, watch the polarity!

A nice feature that Buc added to this box is the 3.6 Volt NiCad battery, which is rechargeable and permits operation without the unit being connected to an AC power source. The NiCad will be charged when the wall wart is plugged in.

Fig. 2: Buc’s completed XLR cable tester.

By the way, the longer horizontal line on the battery symbol is the “positive” side of the battery.

Construction is not critical and any small chassis box will work. Buc’s finished product is shown in Fig. 2. If you build one of these, send in a high-resolution picture to johnpbisset@gmail.com.

(Two 1.5V batteries connected in series gives you 3 Volts, did you get it right?)

Stick These Somewhere

Eventually many of us will return to our radio stations and offices. New York Printing Solutions is providing a variety of large-format printed floor stickers and wall decals that you can use to remind employees about social distancing, wearing masks and other customized messages.

These are full-color vinyl indoor/outdoor, scuff-resistant decals. They are removable and leave no residue. They can be customized with your station logo.

Fig. 3: The website of New York Printing Solutions has large-format floor stickers and wall decals that will come in handy when staff return to the building.

You know that I like to see engineers work with other department heads; well, here’s an idea: Print a bunch of these up with your station logo and distribute to advertisers that serve the general public.

The company prints everything from business cards to foam-core posters, and finding the COVID-19 stickers took a little navigation. Visit www.nyprintingsolutions.com/floorstickers/.

Honey, Where’s the Shower Curtain?

I’ve had several email discussions with Todd Callahan at KUT Radio in Austin, Texas. Todd was looking for some kind of cover to protect his AoIP surfaces from both dust and dirt, as well as cleaning compounds that may be used to disinfect studios.

A natural choice is a custom-made furniture slip-cover.  A great idea, but when he started pricing them … whoa, expensive!

Here’s a better choice: A clear plastic shower curtain can be trimmed to fit pretty much any size console or surface. The edges can be held in place with strips of ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painters Tape. The tape will keep the edges secure for up to two weeks and can be removed without leaving residue.

John Bisset has spent over 50 years in the broadcasting industry and is still learning. He handles western U.S. radio sales for the Telos Alliance. He holds CPBE certification with the Society of Broadcast Engineers and is a past recipient of the SBE’s Educator of the Year Award. Email tips to johnpbisset@gmail.com.

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Freeland Broadcasting Co., Inc. enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation

Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa License, LLC enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation

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The National Association of Broadcasters sees the efforts of cable and internet company association ACA Connects in asking for a stay and reconsideration the FCC’s C-Band lump sum payments plans as strictly a ploy to garner more money for its members. It is urging the FCC to reject all requests for review of the final cost catalog levied by ACAC.

The FCC is preparing to conduct the C-Band auction, which will open up the lower 280 MHz of the C-Band spectrum for wireless and 5G development, while moving the current occupants of that spectrum to the upper 200 MHz of the band. Those being relocated have different options for reimbursement, including a lump sum payment determined on average cost of all estimates.

[Read: Takeaways From the NAB’s C-Band Webinar]

ACAC, whose members include cable operators that would be impacted by the C-Band auction, has been fighting the FCC’s final cost catalog and lump sum payment amount because it did not include IRDs (integrated receivers/decoders) into the calculation, which it says would help with a transition to the more efficient fiber delivery. ACAC has been petitioning the FCC to review the cost catalog calculations again and recently made a court filing to stay the current lump sum deadline of Sept. 14.

NAB opposes these actions by ACAC, claiming the group is “seeking handouts” and that the association’s primary focus is to increase its memberships’ wealth at the expense of other parties and the overall goal of repurposing the spectrum.

According to NAB, the public notice determining the lump sum payment does include IRDs, but for satellite operators not the individual MVPDs that ACAC is petitioning for; NAB says this is the right determination. NAB also denies the ACAC accusation that the process of calculating the lump sum was flawed. NAB does not believe any of ACAC’s arguments hold water.

Rather, NAB views these actions by ACAC as “the latest step in ACA’s  ongoing quest to transform a spectrum reallocation process into a cash cow that will funnel funds from winning flexible use license bidders to ACA’s members.”

“Broadcasters, programmers, satellite operators and other stakeholders are about to undertake a complex transition that must be concluded in an ambitious timeframe,” the NAB wrote. “The commission’s focus should remain on ensuring that this process unfolds in an orderly and efficient manner that preserves content distribution and protects American viewers and listeners — not on maximizing payments to ACA’s members. We urge the commission to reject the Application for Review.”

The FCC is currently planning to conduct the C-Band auction on Dec. 8.

 

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The FCC is openly giving radio broadcasters a chance to reboot their online political file efforts and address timeliness issues for candidate and issue advertising rate uploads. The commission for now appears to be ending investigations into those online public files and holding off fining broadcasters that need to catch up.

The most recent developments stem from an investigation the commission launched in early 2019 following a complaint against Entercom and its Buffalo, N.Y., cluster from a political candidate and whether she was charged the lowest unit rate possible during the 2018 election cycle.

[Read: Yet More Settlements in Political File “Derelictions”]

During that investigation several other major radio groups self-reported political file issues to the FCC with hopes of reaching an agreement on compliance. The National Association of Broadcasters helped broker an agreement earlier this summer that resulted in signed consent decrees with a half-dozen major radio groups that close FCC investigations and ensures compliance, but do not levy fines, said Robert Baker, an FCC attorney who appeared on a recent webcast hosted by the New York State Broadcasters Association.

“These consent decrees will require the broadcasters to submit compliance plans for the remainder of this year and through the end of 2021,” Baker said. Along with Entercom the group of six includes Alpha Media, Beasley Media, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia and Salem Media Group. The broadcasters admit they were tardy in updating their online political files with relevant materials, according to the FCC. In all, the six groups own nearly 1,900 radio stations.

“It is crucial that stations maintain political files that are complete and up to date because the information in them directly affects, among other things, the statutory rights of opposing candidates to request equal opportunities,” according the consent decrees.

The FCC has recently been more focused in online political file compliance, observers say, most likely because of the current election cycle and the resulting political advertising being placed.

[Read: Big Radio Companies Settle With FCC on Online Political Files]

The FCC’s consent decree with Entercom is blunt in its wording: “Entercom has now formally agreed to enter into the attached consent decree, pursuant to which Entercom admits that it repeatedly violated its political file obligations by not uploading required records in a timely manner. Entercom further agrees to implement a comprehensive compliance plan to ensure future compliance with its political file obligations and to submit periodic compliance reports to the bureau.”

“The goal of our efforts is to gain compliance. Simple as that,” Baker said during the webinar.

Similarly, the FCC has resolved online political files compliance issues with another 107 smaller radio licensees, again through consent decrees, that are meant to ensure future compliance. None of the smaller radio broadcasters will face monetary fines.

For instance, the FCC recently released a consent decree with radio licensee Carter Broadcasting, which owns WSBZ(FM) in Miramar, Fla. The FCC found the licensee failed to comply with political file requirements and suspended processing its license renewal application as a result. The consent decree stated: “Carter Broadcasting, Inc. agrees, among other things, to implement a comprehensive compliance plan to ensure future compliance with its political file obligations and to submit periodic compliance reports to the Media Bureau.”

Baker, the FCC attorney, encourages radio licensees that have been derelict in maintaining their online political file to reach out to the FCC for assistance if it is needed.

The commission says it first adopted rules requiring broadcast stations to maintain public files documenting requests for political advertising time more than 80 years ago. The FCC transitioned the public file from in-station to online for all radio licensees in 2018.

See more stories on Political Files here.

The post FCC Cuts Deal With Broadcasters Over Political Files appeared first on Radio World.

This document summarizes the procedures and deadlines for the upcoming auction of 3.7 GHz Service Licenses in the 3.7-3.98 GHz Band. The Auction 107 Procedures Public Notice summarized here is intended to familiarize applicants with the procedures and other requirements governing participation in Auction 107 by providing details regarding the procedures, terms, conditions, dates, and deadlines, as well as an overview of the post-auction application and payment processes.

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Gadsden Radio Media, LLC enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation

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Rainbow City Media, LLC enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation

Lake Cumberland Broadcasters, LLC enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation

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La Taurus Productions, Inc. enters into Consent Decree to Resolve Political File Investigation