Workbench
Stay Safe Around AC Disconnects
An infrared, point-and-shoot temperature meter can be a help
Build a Mineral Oil Heat Sink
Frank Hertel solves a problem of heat dissipation in a DIY project
What’s Lurking Behind Electrical Panels?
Tighten all electrical connections every couple of years, at least
Color-Code UPS to Simplify Troubleshooting
Also: How to hold onto those little plastic wire jumpers on circuit boards
Brighten Your Remotes With Duck Tape
‘Get the Duck to Do It’ — from gray to groovy tie-die
Manage Your Site With Google Sites
Free online resources help you track wires and log audio
‘Wet Paint’ Controls the Crowd
Keep people from trying to sit on your stage or risers at a remote
Inspect Your Tower After a Windstorm
Also: Frank Hertel looks at a glue stick and has a ‘MacGyver Moment’
Tighten Relay Screws, Avoid Catastrophe
Even small amount of vibration can cause relay socket screw terminals to loosen
Buc Builds a Relay Interface Assembly
Here’s a tip for controlling an older auxiliary transmitter
Does Your Outpost Have the Basics?
When planning a site survival kit, don’t forget the toilet paper
Check Towers After Ice and Snow
Watch insulators not only for failures but also hairline cracks
This Backup Gear Is Useless
Useless, that is, if the equipment doesn’t function when needed
Vinegar is Your Friend
For batteries and other uses, it’s a handy household cleanser
No Soldering Iron? These XLRs Crimp on
Also, a tip to remind you that your remote control is in maintenance override
Corroded Batteries Needn’t Ruin Equipment
A little baking soda and distilled water will clean that mess right up
Pay Attention to Interference Complaints
Instruct your receptionist and air staff to report any complaints to you immediately
Just Flip These Bad Boys Down
Inexpensive hardware helps engineer get at his terminal blocks easily
Monitor Your Tx Temps Cheaply
Put this low-cost, mechanical water temperature gauge to work
Track Down That Studio Whine
It's there, all right, though you might not be able to hear it
Enhance Your Ground With This
Engineers find two vastly different solutions to combat vandalism
Build This Custom Switch Controller
Also: RFI headaches for engineers … and the elderly
Oops, There Goes More Copper
Thieves continue to find precious metal and remove it from radio plants
What Next? Kevlar Engineering Uniforms?
These aren’t the kind of bullets you want at your transmitter site
Control Genset Speed Inexpensively
Governors America makes actuators that will fit almost any fuel delivery system
Get to Know That New EAS Box
Also, a tip to help your pump or generator start reliably
Identify Allocation Problems
Facilities activities reports are a new offering from Cavell Mertz
How Few Guy Wires Can Support a Tower?
Disaster can be spelled ‘unsupervised contractor’
Prepare for the Spring Thaw
Is your site fed by overhead power? Keep these tips in mind
Cyclops Eye Shines Light on Problems
Also, some ideas for Bob Culver’s open neutral problem from January
Guy Wires Underfoot? Something Ain’t Right
Also: Yawcam freeware keeps an eye on things
It’s a Transmitter, Not a Habitrail
Send in your caption ideas for this furry friendly fellow
How Velcro Replaces Waxed Lacing Cord
Phillip Vaughn likes this solution for clean, affordable cable management
Engineers Need MREs, Too
Also, how cold weather prep can help you avoid headaches this winter
Use Phone to Speed Site Visits
You probably have a logging tool in your pocket right now
Tar as a Solution to Copper Theft
Works well — and you can lay it on with a trowel