Cris Alexander
A Good Plan Is Key to a Successful Project
Accounting for variables reduces pressures
Does Your Site Have Good Bones?
Pay attention even to small things for the health of your site
Engineers Should Never Stop Learning
Pandemic or no, it’s more important than ever to keep our skills fresh
Are You Prepared for the Worst?
Critical analysis of vulnerabilities is a key part of the broadcast engineer’s job
Is the Time Right for All-Digital AM?
What has to come first: a critical mass of receivers, or a significant number...
Green Tower Lights Are a Viable Option
Structural illumination changed little over many years, but we now have new options
What Does a Broadcast Engineer Do, Anyway?
Today, wiring changes are done with a mouse, making and breaking crosspoints in software
Surveillance Systems Are Powerful Site Monitors
Modern, high-resolution video systems can take site monitoring beyond your remote control
Are You Doing Your Part?
Without mentors, broadcast engineering knowledge is headed toward extinction
Get It Right the First Time
If you have time to do it twice, you have time to do it...
Are You Up to the Challenge?
Heraclitus has more to do with latency than you might think
Finding the Right Balance
The FCC offers some choices for Class A night protections
Alexander: Bring Consistency to AM Measurements
NRSC is likely to be one of the lesser problems an AM could have
The Value of Standards
Adhering to standards keeps things safe, orderly and consistent
Broadcaster Headaches From an Aging Infrastructure
It’s often up to the broadcast engineer to track down power issues
Small Signals in a Big Signal World
Balancing interests of translators and full-power broadcasters isn’t an easy task
The Connected Transmitter Site
Those with connected sites wonder how they lived without them
A New Tool for the Broadcast Engineer
Small unmanned aircraft systems offer a lot for tower maintenance
Tower Structural Standards Evolve
A revision in the TIA/EIA RS-222 standard builds on changes introduced in the prior...
Revised AM Proof Rules Lighten the Load on Broadcasters
Do you manage a directional AM array? Take note of what the FCC did...
Using DF Techniques to Track Down Pirates
Doing the legwork yourself can result in faster resolution of a pirate problem
Tower Work Insights From an Industry Leader
P&R Tower’s Jason Kardokus provides a candid look at the tower service industry
The Continuing Journey of AM Revitalization
The latest rollout in the FCC’s AM improvement initiative is great news for many...
A New Hat for a Familiar Contributor
I’m new to this role but not to this publication; here’s what you need...
AM Stations Have New Options
Existing towers can often work for AMs that must relocate
Navigating the Translator Filing Maze for AM Stations
FCC window opens July 29 for AM stations to file for an FM translator
Test Equipment Keeps Getting Smaller and More Capable
Some 30 years ago, my complement of RF test equipment consisted of a General...
Our “Last Best Chance” to Revitalize AM
RW asked our resident AM expert for his thoughts on details of the FCC...
Circuit Modeling Can Provide Clues in Troubleshooting
A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of designing and building a...
FCC Rules on Non-Directional Antennas
Does this decision affect a lot more than one station?
When Is a Non-Directional FM Antenna Directional?
How far is too far when using antenna mounting to skew an ND pattern?
Off-Air Reception Can Be a Challenge in Studio Facilities
For best results, make wise choices in antenna and distribution system components
DIY Projects Fill the Gap in Specialized Applications
Sometimes, you just need to “roll your own”
Experience Brings Important Lessons About Tower Work
Five things to look out for with tower maintenance contractors
Don’t Forget Those Recertification Measurements!
With basic test gear, a good engineer can knock these out pronto
New Antenna Protection Rules Are a Win
Many years ago, in the mid-1980s, I was charged with the task of improving...
L.A. AM Gets a New Mountaintop Home
The story of a rarity: A new 50 kW directional AM facility
Multimode Fiber Provides Option for Microwave Data
A solution to Cat-5 limitations