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Mark and Paula Persons at their ham station.

Starting in the 1920s and through the ’60s, almost every broadcast engineer was a licensed amateur radio operator. That has changed a bit, but the importance of being a ham has not.

Both environments involve getting an RF signal from Point A to Point B. But it is interesting to note that radio broadcast and amateur radio are similar and yet so different.

For those who don’t know much about ham radio, I’ll tell you that communicating locally or internationally, via licensed amateur radio, can be a fascinating and challenging hobby. There are about 700,000 hams in the U.S. and an equal number worldwide.

Physics
Broadcast and amateur radio operate under the same laws of science. Transmitters, transmission lines, antennas and receivers make up an RF path to convey a message.

Broadcast engineers know that signal propagation on AM and FM bands is dramatically different. It is because our FM band is roughly 100 times the frequency and 1/100th the RF wavelength of that on the AM band. Engineers also know that 950 MHz STL signals are line-of-sight and roughly a 10-times jump in frequency from FM broadcast frequencies. Each band has its own challenges in getting a useable signal through.

[Read: Mark Persons: “I Never Had a Plan B”]

Amateur radio operators have about 30 bands of frequencies, with opportunities to explore from below the AM broadcast band up through GHz and to light. Hams are not limited to amplitude or frequency modulation, but often use single sideband and many modes of digital. A few communicate via teletype and/or transmit television images to friends.

Yes, some hams still use Morse Code to send and receive messages in their hobby. Code proficiency is no longer required for getting an amateur radio license, but it is a fun personal challenge to many.

Similarities
What I find valuable is applying what I know about amateur radio in my work as a broadcast engineer.
And, of course, it works both ways. Forward power, reflected power, transmission line loss, antenna gain, transmitter power amplifier efficiency and path loss are all dictated by the same rules. The mysteries and science of RF propagation to a new broadcast engineer are facts of life for radio amateurs.

Hams deal with the wave propagation challenge every day. Communicating across the world via radio waves may be lost on the internet/millennial generation, but it can be a real challenge for those who want more out of life.

International contacts are common during peaks in the 11-year solar cycle. With 400 watts I was able to make contact with a station in Antarctica from home using a good antenna. I made contacts to Europe, Japan, Russia and even Australia with just 100 watts from my car, mostly on 20 meters (about 14 MHz). Talk about distracted driving! Australia is halfway around the world from Minnesota. The RF path between us was only open for a half hour. It is always a thrill to be on the right frequency at the right time.

As with broadcast, profanity is not allowed on amateur radio. Don’t confuse amateur radio with Citizens Band. CB is a sad story about people transmitting on the 27 MHz band using bad language and unacceptable social conduct. Hams can lose their licenses for that.

Differences
Broadcasters are licensed for specific frequencies at specific power levels.

Hams might run up to 1500 watts of RF peak power in most bands of frequencies. Good operating practice is to transmit with only the amount of power necessary to reach the other end. Some delight in the challenge of contacting amateur stations worldwide with a watt or less of power.

Broadcasters modulate AM, FM and/or digital as per their license. FCC rules mandate tightly controlled occupied bandwidths. Hams select one of many modulation types, although the bands are divided into segments for each modulation type, just to keep order.

Broadcast transmitters are required to maintain a tight frequency tolerance. Hams can wander up and down authorized frequency bands looking for a clear spot to call CQ (calling anyone listening who might want to talk.) They can and do easily converse with hams in foreign countries. That is far more fun and challenging than just listening.

Hams don’t “broadcast” to a city or the world. They don’t play music or run program as you will find on the AM and FM broadcast bands. Instead, amateurs communicate with other hams one on one by voice, digital or Morse Code.

Sometimes hams participate in “nets” where groups meet on frequency to share ideas. The net control operator turns the frequency over to one at a time for the rest of the group to hear.

In broadcasting, almost anyone can buy a station, a construction permit or a license. It just takes money. Amateur radio is different. For a fee of about $35, a person can write an exam to prove his or her knowledge of electronics and FCC rules. With a passing grade, the FCC will issue a license to that person, good for 10 years with a cost of only $35 to renew. Try that in broadcasting!

Amateur radio currently has three levels of licensing: Technician, General and Extra. Climbing that ladder with examinations gets hams more privileges and operating frequencies. Many thousands have done it and so can you, especially now that proficiency with Morse Code is no longer required.

Call Signs
Amateur radio operators and broadcasters are issued call signs by the FCC.

Each call is unique and recognized worldwide. There is only one WGN in Chicago, only one W0HA for my wife Paula and only one W0MH for me. The (0) is zero, not O.

Call signs in other parts of our country use numbers 1 through 9 separating the prefix from the suffix. They start with a G in England, XE in Mexico — the list goes to more than 300 countries.

Because there are so many hams nowadays, new call signs in the United States look something like KF2XYZ. To be clear, broadcast stations have call signs, but broadcast owners do not. An amateur call sign is assigned to an individual person.

Hams use their call signs to identify every 10 minutes and at the end of a conversation. Broadcast stations, as you know, are required to ID once an hour. A broadcast ID has a call sign and city. Hams only use their call sign. They might be mobile, on the water or even airborne.

SBE
The Society of Broadcast Engineers has a “Chapter of the Air” meeting on amateur radio the second Sunday of each month on 14.205 MHz single sideband. Net control is Hal Hostetler, WA7BGX in Tucson, Ariz. It starts at 2400 GMT. That is 6 p.m. Central Time in Minnesota during the winter and 7 p.m. in the summer. Hams check in and tell what has been happening in their lives, such as attending an NAB convention or SBE meeting. This group has participants from coast to coast.

Morse Code
While walking into the engineering room of a station, I heard the Morse Code letter B (Dah-Dit-Dit-Dit.)

Some hams prefer communicating by Morse Code.

It didn’t take long to realize the sound was coming from a Best brand Ferrups uninterruptible power supply. The “B” was telling me that its battery needed replacing. The letter H is a high temperature alarm. Very clever of them. Knowing Morse Code also comes in handy on 450 MHz transmitter/studio links with Morse identifiers. For those who are Morse challenged, a phone call to a local ham could reveal the answer when the sound that is played over a phone.

Morse Code is another way of speaking English. It is not that difficult to learn. If I can copy code with a severe hearing loss, you can too. (I was a U.S. Army sergeant in Vietnam 1968–69.) My wife Paula passed a 20-word-per-minute code exam to get her Extra Class amateur license.

As mentioned, code is not required nowadays. Many hams find it a preferred mode of operation because it cuts through the noise so well. Many hams refer to Morse Code as the original digital communication mode.

The Ham Hobby
Some radio amateurs like to design and build equipment. Many like to work on antennas. Most like to chat with friends on the radio. Some chase DX (long distance contacts) to stations in foreign countries. They proudly stick a pin in a world map at each far-off location.

Astronauts are licensed amateur radio operators. It is a real thrill to talk to a ham aboard the International Space Station. That can be done with just a few watts of power on VHF or UHF. The old adage is true: If you can see it, you can talk to it.

Conclusion
Broadcast engineers who are licensed amateur operators have a better handle on the world of electronics. Having a ham license is one more way of showing their peers that they know something about RF. It is another feather in their cap.

For more information on amateur radio, go to the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio at www.arrl.org.

And learn more in this video at youtube.com: “W1AW ARRL Station Tour.”

Mark Persons, WØMH, CPBE, retired after 44 years but continues to mentor broadcast engineers.  For more articles and resources from the author visit http://mwpersons.com.

Comment on this or any article. Write to radioworld@futurenet.com.

 

The post Alike, but Not Alike: Broadcast vs. Ham Radio appeared first on Radio World.

Tieline is onboard with Ravenna.

The codec manufacturer said it has joined the Ravenna community. It recently announced a firmware release that adds Ravenna support to the Gateway line of codecs.

 In the announcement, VP Sales APAC/EMEA Charlie Gawley said, “Ever since the days of POTS and ISDN, Tieline has always advocated for interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers. The world of IP is no different. It’s why our Gateway platform is AES67, ST 2110-30, NMOS and now Ravenna compliant, allowing devices using different AoIP protocols to connect seamlessly.”

Tieline said its Gateway and Gateway 4 codecs are capable of routing audio between equipment based on Ravenna, AES67 and ST 2110-30 as well as between devices using proprietary AoIP protocols like WheatNet-IP and others.

The Ravenna platform was developed by ALC NetworX.

The post Tieline Joins Ravenna Community appeared first on Radio World.

The pandemic threw a wrench into many a schedule in 2020: cancelled meetings, abandoned appointments, missed deadlines. And for the Federal Communications Commission, those missed deadlines have generated many a headline as more than a few broadcasters failed to file broadcast license renewal applications on time through the year.

The Broady Media Group, licensee of station WENO(AM) in Nashville, had its license renewal deadline smack in the midst of the COVID explosion. The station’s application needed to be filed before the first business day of the fourth full month before the license expired, which was April 1, 2020. Without providing an explanation for the delay, Broady Media filed the application on July 31, 2020, a day before its license was due to expire.

Another missed deadline in the pandemic epoch of 2020: a FM translator station license renewal application due on Dec. 1, 2020. The Media Bureau issued a forfeiture order for Soli Deo Gloria FM LLC, the licensee of K266AK in Aspen, Colo., for failing to file the renewal on time. The licensee did finally file an application on Jan. 14, 2021, but did not provide an explanation for the late timing.

[Read: Political File Slip Leads Two Texas Broadcasters Into Consent Agreement]

The procedures are clear when it comes to a missed license renewal application deadline, pandemic or no pandemic.

For Broady Media, the Media Bureau issued a notice of apparent liability, the first step in cases like these, and ordered that the broadcaster pay a forfeiture of $3,000 for failing to file a required form on time.

For Soli Deo Gloria, it received a forfeiture order, which is the second step in a process like this. The initial a notice of apparent liability was delivered on June 8, 2021, in which the commission proposed Soli Deo Gloria pay a $1,500 fine, the base forfeiture for a secondary service like an FM translator. To date, no one at Soli Deo Gloria has either paid the proposed forfeiture or filed a written response.

Broady Media has 30 days to respond to the notice and to ask for reduction or cancellation of the forfeiture. Soli Deo Gloria, however, is now being told by the Media Bureau that it must now pay the $1,500 forfeiture outright.

The post Woe the Missed Deadlines of 2020 appeared first on Radio World.

When Fox News Radio’s Eben Brown arrives on scene (wherever it may be) he’s ready to report.
Photo: Fox News Radio

Radio news is a combination of sound, speed and story. The best reports, be they live or recorded, take the listener to the scene where the news is made and tell a story, using the words of the reporter on scene, the sound of the news or the words of a newsmaker.

Network radio reporters, major-market reporters or small-market broadcasters have a tool kit they rely on to make those stories come alive for the listener.

Eben Brown’s voice is familiar to Fox News Radio listeners. Brown is a national correspondent based in Miami. One would expect him to be able to send a report from wherever his assignment takes him.

“I’m responsible for transporting and operating my own gear. Going live from anywhere is something I’ve often considered my big strength as a radio reporter. One of my recurring nightmares is being sent into the field and not being able to send line-quality audio back to the home base.

Eben Brown Photo: Fox News Radio

“Going live over telephone quality audio, to me, feels like a fail — even when it truly is the only option. With more people listening to our product via digital means or even with so many news/talk stations migrating to FM, the sound of a POTS line can be jarring. So, when I’m on my own in the field, I carry with me multiple options for getting high-quality audio, live, back to New York. But it’s not just my mic I want live. I want to be able to play my own recorded sound.”

[Check Out More From the Road Warrior]

Brown rolls with a Comrex Access NX, which allows for connections through Ethernet or multiple cellular paths, and with a second input, allows him to insert actuality with his voice. He also files a copy of his live reports in case the line back to the New York studios drops.

“Nothing is ever 100% foolproof, so filing a backup is always smart.”

He’ll use workarounds like Zoom or Skype or the smartphone if necessary, but those options won’t let him insert actuality. Recording that actuality has become easier, with iOS-based apps like TwistedWave for short recordings. Brown uses TwistedWave, but breaks out a digital audio recorder for longer news conferences.

“I’d worry too much that a smartphone battery could die if made to record 30 minutes of conference.” His choice for microphones: A Shure SM58 and Electro-Voice RE50.

Though smartphone microphones sound good, there’s another reason Brown likes the stick microphone: “Walking up to total strangers can be daunting for both parties. I find that having a stick mic with a flag — and a famous network logo — is a way of presenting my bona fides.”

“If I say I’m a network reporter, and I try to record them only by holding up a smartphone near their face, they tend to doubt my sincerity or professionalism.”

Production in the field for Brown is handled by a MacBook pro running Adobe Audition.

“Being Apple-dependent means I can record something on my iPhone and airdrop the file to my MacBook Pro. I can lay my own tracks into the MacBook via an IK Multimedia iRig-connected mic. I can edit in Audition and can send finished products back to New York via several file transferring methods that are commercially available and not specific to the industry.”

[Read More Tech Tips Here]

He can also use the iPhone to do all of that, using an app called Ferrite, which is a multitrack editor that allows him to record and mix narration, natural sound and newsmaker actuality, and send the finished product back to New York.

John Sylvester, vice president of Fox News Radio, says “FNR reporters like Brown have been given remote access to Adobe Audition, Amazon Workspace, Slack, Zoom, iNews for writing and editorial newsgathering, and VPN access to our ENCO automated audio systems. In addition, we have provided various other tools and software applications.”

“Whatever Is Most Practical”
Michelle Wright reports for Atlanta’s WSB Radio, heard on 95.5 FM and 750 AM.

“In my bag, I’ve got a laptop equipped with Adobe Audition for editing, a microphone, Zoom recorder, headset and a box that connect to the phone to do live remotes, a wireless hotspot and various charging cables for all the above-mentioned electronics. And of course, my phone.

“I also still have the old-school pen and reporter’s notebook to jot down notes as well.” Back in the newsroom at Peachtree Street, NewsBoss software and email are used to process reports.

This simple field kit helps KKHJ Radio keep their audience in American Samoa informed. Photo: KKHJ

Six thousand five hundred miles away, Joey Cummings is the operations manager for KKHJ(FM) Radio in American Samoa.

“We have three full-time news people. Of course, in a small market, everyone is responsible for gathering news. As such, we’re all using whatever is most practical and comfortable in the field.

“If we’re trying to capture a speaker at a conference or meeting, we can’t always get a full-size microphone in place. In this case, we’ll use a small Sony or Olympus field recorder and sneak it onto the table or lectern,” he said.

“Otherwise, I like the wireless Samson HXD1 wireless mic. This connects to a small USB receiver. I typically connect this to my iPhone or iPad using the Apple USB to Lightning adapter. For recording and editing in the field, I am quite fond of the TwistedWave Editor app. Best $10 I ever spent on the app store. Dropbox gets files from A to B.”

Radio World is interested in sharing with readers how other stations and organizations have outfitted their news kits to assure redundancy, efficiency and versatility. Email us at radioworld@futurenet.com to tell us what tools you use to gather, edit and send news audio. And don’t forget to include a photo of yourself using your gear.

Paul Kaminski, CBT, has been a contributor to RW since 1997. He has reported for CBS News Radio, the Associated Press, BBC World Service, CBC Radio and American Forces Radio. Twitter: msrpk_com.

 

The post What’s in your Radio News Toolkit? appeared first on Radio World.

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Alpine Radio, LLC enters into consent decree to resolve political file investigation

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FCC seeks comment on changes to its Next Gen TV rules to preserve over-the-air television viewers' access to the widest possible range of ATSC 1.0 programming while also supporting television broadcasters' transition to Next Gen TV

Issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,500 to KAZT, LLC for failing to timely file a license to cover application and unauthorized operation of the Translator

Issued a Forfeiture Order in the amount of $1,500 to Soli Deo Gloria FM, LLC, Range Paging, Inc., for failure to timely file a license renewal application for FM Translator K266AK, Aspen, Colorado

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Content delivery company LinkUp Communications Corp. has acquired the majority of assets of Orbital Media Networks Inc.

“The acquisition includes the service agreements for a wide array of broadcast customers, including those who purchase space segment and other services from OMNi, and others who subscribe to the company’s XDS satellite and streaming platform,” LinkUp stated in the announcement.

“It does not include the Rocky Mountain News Network, nor OMNi’s two-way IP services.”

[Read: Workbench: Invasion of the Bees]

Terms were not announced.

OMNi has its roots in what was once called Clear Channel Satellite Services. It was created about seven years ago when iHeartMedia got out of the backbone transport capacity business and sold it to entrepreneur Sam Dibrell Jr.

Mark Johnson, president of LinkUp, was quoted: “Our knowledge and skills complement each other. While OMNi offers the best in innovation and technology with their content distribution facility, LinkUp is known for its quality service, tailored solutions and positive working relationships with the industry’s top manufacturers.”

LinkUp Chairman Karen Johnson said OMNi customers will gain more design and installation services while LinkUp customers will have access to a distribution platform that offers both satellite and streaming.

Target client markets include secular and faith-based broadcasters, universities and colleges, sports distribution and businesses.

Orbital Media Networks offered broadcast programming delivery via C-Band, Ku-band and terrestrial, satellite-based IP networking and internet services.

LinkUp is based in Panama City, Fla. OMNi is in Englewood, Colo. LinkUp said it plans to integrate its customer support with the Network Operations Center in Englewood in a process that will take three to six months.

 

The post LinkUp Acquires Most of Orbital Media’s Assets appeared first on Radio World.

It’s being called “the most comprehensive and in-depth source of econometric data and analysis covering the entire U.S. audio media industry for the 2019-2023 period by all three industry KPIs.

Here’s your first look at PQ Media’s “U.S. Audio Media Forecast,” which covers over 40 audio media platforms, channels and categories.

Business growth starts with great information. That’s what you’ll get November 16 at the Harvard Club in New York when you attend Forecast 2022. For full details, including the agenda and registration information, simply visit http://www.radioinkforecast.com.

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Radio appears to gain strength late in the season, compared to last year.

That’s the head-turning takeaway from James Fennessy and his team at Standard Media Index (SMI). 

How does this compare to other media SMI measures?

Economic Forecasting: Broadcast Revenue Trends and Expectations for 2022 With supply chain issues and hiring challenges the Q3 2021 earnings call conversation of choice for Wall Street financial analysts, all eyes are on the first half of 2022. Will automotive finally recover in the second half of 2022? Are certain brands seeing different issues? What about sports gaming? At Forecast 2022, a panel of experts will offer attendees an exclusive and provocative discussion about who is going to “show us the money” in the year to come. For more details and to register for this event, please visit www.radioinkforecast.com today.

 

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In a significant move that signals a likely lobbying victory for the NAB, the full FCC on Friday released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on November 4 that would allow digital multicast NEXTGEN TV channels to effectively be licensed in the same manner as their host station.

The matter is open for Comments and Reply Comments, with a schedule forthcoming based on the FNPRM’s publication in the Federal Register.

As Gordon Smith exits his role at year’s end as CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters and Curtis LeGeyt prepares to take the helm, what is the state of the broadcast industry from the Beltway view? Steve Newberry, who worked closely with both executives during his own tenure at the NAB, sits down with them in an exclusive Forecast 2022 chat covering legal, regulatory, and legislative initiatives under the leadership of the NAB that have impacted the broadcast industry over the past 12 years, how they will shape and define its future, and what challenges and opportunities lie on the horizon.

DON’T HESITATE ANY LONGER. ATTEND FORECAST 2022 BY REGISTERING NOW. Please Login to view this premium content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

A steady stream this week of third quarter earnings reports from major U.S. radio groups has culminated with a rebound report from the country’s largest radio group.

iHeartMedia’s climb back to pre-COVID revenue levels continued at an accelerated pace in the third quarter of this year. The company’s third quarter earnings call on Thursday afternoon was highlighted by consolidated revenue growing nearly 25% year over year to $928 million. The company says it is confident it will be back to 2019 Adjusted EBITDA levels by the end of this year.

The broadcaster’s multiplatform group, which includes its 850 radio stations, saw Q3 revenue climb 19% year over year. iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman said during Thursday’s call “the strong recovery and growth potential of our radio business” added to the quarter’s revenue recovery.

[Read: Betting on Sports, iHeartMedia Partners With DraftKings]

Specifically, broadcast revenue grew $79 million or 19.5% YoY, while networks added $8.9 million or 7.5% up from Q3 2020.

“Our strong results this quarter are further evidence of the success of our company’s continuing transformation — data-led, digital and podcast focused, along with the unparalleled audience reach of our broadcast radio assets — supported by the largest sales force and the only unified ad tech stack in audio advertising,” Pittman said in a statement that accompanied its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For comparison sake the radio broadcasters said the multiplatform group’s revenue for the quarter was down 17% compared to Q3 in 2019, Pittman said, continuing the quarterly sequential rebound since the onset of COVID.

Digital continues to boost iHeartMedia’s revenues YoY, according the latest financial report. The digital audio group reported a 77% jump in revenue compared to Q3 2020, which includes a significant increase in podcast revenue. The broadcaster’s podcast platform boasted a revenue increase of $41.3 million over the same period a year before, which is an increase of 183.7%.

In January 2021 the broadcaster began reporting financial statements based on three reportable segments; the digital audio group, the multiplatform group and the audio & media services group, which includes Katz Media Group and RCS. Revenue from that final group decreased nearly 12% compared to the same quarter in 2020 in large part due to lower political advertising revenue this year, according to the SEC filing.

The company’s continued modernization efforts resulted in capital expenditures climbing to $101.3 million through the first nine months of this year compared to $58 million in 2020 through the same period. The company says the increase is due to its real estate consolidation initiatives.

“We expect cap ex to go down next year. This quarter we spent about $50 million in cap ex and the major increase was due to the downsizing of our real estate and becoming more efficient in that area,” said Rich Bressler, iHeartMedia president, COO and CFO.

iHeartMedia earlier this week announced a multiyear strategic relationship with DraftKings, making the sportsbook the official odds supplier for all iHeartMedia’s broadcast, digital, podcast and social media platforms. The agreement allows DraftKings to co-create and distribute long-form content with iHeartMedia using the company’s personalities.

[Read: iHeart, NPR Have Their Prints All Over Podtrac Rankings]

“This partnership builds on iHeartMedia’s industry leading sports assets, which includes partnerships with the NFL and NBA. We expect sports and sports betting to be a significant growth engine for us going forward,” Pittman said on Thursday’s earning call.

Radio groups have been aligning with betting apps and sportsbooks creating a new ad category for radio broadcasters with quickly growing revenue figures, according to analysts who follow the broadcast industry. iHeartMedia already has several radio stations with the moniker “The Gambler,” which are dedicated to sports talk and sports gambling. Bressler said during the investment call its Draft Kings deal is not exclusive and the broadcaster is open to other partnerships in the sports betting space.

iHeartMedia last week announced a $60 million voluntary buyback of its preferred stock. Pittman at the time said the repurchasing of stock demonstrates the broadcaster’s commitment to strengthening its balance sheet. As of September 30, 2021, the company was carrying approximately $5.7 billion in total debt.

 

The post iHeartMedia Q3 Report Shows Continued Recovery appeared first on Radio World.

The company’s shares were flirting with $167 in Friday’s trading on the Nasdaq GlobalSelect exchange. They bear a 1-year target estimate of $187.67.

For investors, getting in to Nexstar Media Group would involve purchasing the company’s stock at a record high, as NXST has surged from $57.73 in March 2020.

For Simply Wall St., snapping up shares today may still be beneficial. Why? Nexstar is going ex-Dividend next week.

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