The author, WØMH, is an SBE Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer, now retired after more than 60 years in radio broadcast engineering, including 44 years in business. He started by turning the dials of broadcast transmitters at age 11 and stays active by mentoring four radio broadcast engineers. He is a member of the National Radio Systems Committee and a recipient of the John H. Battison Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Society of Broadcast Engineers. His website is www.mwpersons.com.
Tech Tips
Measure, Measure and Measure Again
In an RF-rich environment, unintentional signals must be dealt with
Tech Tips
Get That Beat Out of Your Head!
Setting AM transmitter frequencies to minimize interference between stations
Roots of Radio
“End of the Road Radio” Enjoys a New Birth
WELY Radio is back on the air in Ely, Minn.
Tech Tips
How an RF Spectrum Analyzer Can Help You
These tools offer a “window” into the world of radio frequencies
Tech Tips
When Your Solid-State Transmitter Fails, Have a Backup Ready
You might want to keep an old, tube-type AM transmitter handy, just in case
Tech Tips
About Those Series and Parallel Circuits
Resistors, capacitors and inductors are easy once you understand the basics
Facilities
Medium-Wave and High-Quality, on the Outskirts of Bristol
We paid a visit to the factory of Kintronic Labs
Tech Tips
Look What You Can Do With Ohm’s Law
It can help engineers clear up technical problems and create solutions
Tech Tips
Your Site Still Needs the Human Touch
Things can really go wrong when no one is paying attention
Tech Tips
Those Darn Wall-Wart Power Supplies!
What to know about using these ubiquitous devices in your plant
Tech Tips
What to Know About Three-Terminal Voltage Regulators
They’ve been a building block of nearly all electronic circuits since the 1970s
Tech Tips
Let’s Talk About Some Basics of Audio for Radio
It’s important to understand audio as it is used in the facilities we work...
Tech Tips
Your Mentorship Matters
Award-winning engineer Mark Persons celebrates a time-honored tradition
Tech Tips
Does Anyone Know What the Correct Level Is?
Consistency is the key to good radio audio. Take pride in yours
Tech Tips
Alike, but Not Alike: Broadcast vs. Ham Radio
Experience in amateur radio can be a boon to the radio engineer
Reader's Forum
Letter: Sept. 11, 20 years ago
A sobering reminder that the War on Terror is not over
Radio IT Management
Analog Veterans in the Digital World
Contract engineers reflect on their experiences during the digital evolution
Columns and Views
Ohm’s Law Answers Your Questions
Understanding these concepts will help you solve more than theoretical problems
Tech Tips
Quick, We Need a Temporary AM Antenna
Here’s what happened after a crew declined to climb WJMC’s old stick
News Makers
Mark Persons: “I Never Had a Plan B”
Recipient of lifetime achievement award is a mentor and inveterate storyteller
Headlines
What Happens When Lightning Hits? A Case Study
KRJM in northwestern Minnesota knows the answer to the question
Headlines
More Best Practices for AM Directional Systems
Practical ideas to help keep these engineering marvels running
Tech and Gear
Best Practices for AM Directional Systems
DAs are marvels of engineering but can seem daunting. Here are useful tips!
Tech and Gear
Find Your Modulation Sweet Spot
Give your AM listeners a pleasant experience with natural-sounding audio
Tech and Gear
Understand Your Dish to Keep Your Audio Online
Satellite receivers present some unique challenges; here’s how to address them
Tech and Gear
Take a Step Back in Time in Kilgore, Texas
We dropped into the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications
Columns and Views
Making Sense of Component-Level Troubleshooting
Dig inside those devices and figure out what’s going on to save time and...
Tech Tips
A Sampler of Common-Sense Helpers
Our intrepid author offers a cornucopia of useful suggestions
Tech and Gear
Power Generators: The Rest of the Story
How the unit performs is where the rubber really hits the road
Tech and Gear
If You’re a Professional, Look Sharp, Be Sharp
Being a successful broadcast engineer requires you to look and act the part of...
Tech and Gear
Repair It Correctly the First Time
This tip might seem basic, but it’s key to long-term success
Columns and Views
Yes, You Can Build Your Own
It might make more sense than you think to go the “old school” route
Tech and Gear
Consider These Field Service Tips
Think ahead about repairs and save yourself plenty of headaches