The Texas Broadcast Museum in Kilgore, Texas, has a spiffy new studio setup, the work of retired broadcast engineer Jerry Whitaker.
Jerry gathered reconditioned equipment of late 1970s and early 1980s vintage and he assembled and installed it to provide a functional studio.
East Texas television station KLTV ran a feature about it recently.
“What I have here is a working radio station, including the ability to put a signal on the air at very low power,” Whitaker told the reporter.
Thanks to the Texas Association of Broadcasters for providing the photos here.
If you’ve been in this business for a while, you’ll probably recognize some old friends in these pix. How many products can you identify from these pix and the TV interview? Drop me an email to [email protected].
Smith chart
Looking to brush up on your knowledge of Smith Charts? Sim Smith is a useful program.
A Smith Chart “enables the computation of complicated equations related to transmission lines and circuits for matching,” according to the website Lightning Chart, which adds that the Smith Chart was named after inventor Phillip Smith, who developed it at Bell Telephone’s Radio Research Lab in the 1930s. Mizuhashi Tosaku, a contemporary, is credited with a similar innovation.
Insect-proof your site
Warmer weather is a good time get a jump on potential autumn insect trouble spots, says contract engineer George Spence. For instance, he suggests you spray under your building eaves to guard against nesting insects, as well as around AM antenna tuning units.
Our Editor in Chief Paul McLane points out that common pesticides cause great damage to local bees, pollinators and other important components of your natural ecosystem, so before you proceed, do a little online searching and you’ll find useful information about lower-impact pesticides, alternative treatments and best practices.
Also fill any small empty screw-holes or bolt-holes with silicon sealant. For larger holes that could permit vermin to get in, try a combination of copper wool and sealant. Remember, mice can squeeze through very small spaces, so don’t overlook crevices.
In buildings or outdoor enclosures, scatter moth balls or rodent repellent pouches liberally. Such deterrents also work with snakes.
Do you keep snacks handy at your site? Rodents have a keen sense of smell. Make sure your food is sealed in metal, heavy plastic or glass containers with screw-on tops.
What else can an engineer do to limit problems with insects and rodents? Email me at [email protected].
And if you don’t already keep a space blanket, a spare set of clothing and some sealed bottles of water at each of your remote sites, stock up now, don’t wait for winter.
Crystals and the war
History buff and engineering consultant Frank Hertel writes that in 1941, America had no radio crystals, so engineers cut 30 million from Brazilian quartz mines. You can watch an interesting 40-minute video about this topic on YouTube. Search “America Had No Radio Crystals in 1941.”
Freeze spray
Thermal cameras and tools — like the FLIR One that we’ve mentioned before — can be a real boon for troubleshooting, but not everyone has the budget.
Matt Aaron, former technical director at Ramsey Solutions, suggests you try a can of freeze spray and spritz it on intermittent or questionable parts. A blast of cold can help you diagnose faulty or failing components quickly.
Keeping at it
After serving Cox Radio in Richmond, Va., for decades, Jon Bennett turned in his retirement papers a while back. So as he gets older, is he considering hanging up the ol’ soldering gun? Nope.
While physical limitations prevent him from practicing his craft as a chief engineer or contract engineer, they don’t stop him from building and troubleshooting gear.
Many engineers set up shops in their basements and continue to tinker. Retired engineers also represent a base of institutional and legacy knowledge, so if you find yourself facing issues with older gear, check in with the retired members of your local SBE chapter.
And speaking of retirement …
After nearly 17 years with Telos Alliance, I have retired as of May 31. My customers are being placed in the capable hands of Jeff Williams, formerly of Yellowtek. I appreciate the leadership of Scott, Tom, Marty, Cam and Jim — great people leading a great company.
I plan on continuing to bring you the Workbench column, which remains one of Radio World’s most popular features thanks to you and your ideas and tips. Keep them coming, and remember that they qualify for SBE recertification credit. Email [email protected].
