Does your station have an old Denon CD player in your storage closet? Here’s a way to repurpose it.
Frank Hertel of Hertel Engineering reports that many Denon players have simple remote control capability. He realized that if configured properly, a player could be used at a transmitter site as a backup audio source. If the STL fails, the player can automatically play and insert generic program audio.
A station could create several CDs of non-dated generic programs that would play until the STL signal returns to normal.
Shown is the remote-control schematic for the Denon Professional DC-C615 model, which was marketed as a high-quality yet affordable CD/MP3 player for small stations, schools, churches and similar venues.
The schematic is from the product manual, which Denon helpfully makes available as a download.
It would be a simple project for most station engineers to configure this, building up a switching and control system that would be triggered by STL signal loss. This might be particularly useful where a trip to the transmitter site will take hours instead of minutes.
What other solutions have you used to create reliable audio backup at your sites? Email me at [email protected].
Reboot scootin’
Dan Slentz came across this item while researching solutions for a station that needed a remote power switch to reboot equipment remotely.
For $225, Dataprobe offers the iBoot-G2, available on Amazon as well. The device provides remote power control for rebooting and turning equipment off or on using a browser or Dataprobe’s free cloud service. Again this may eliminate a site visit, in this case to simply reboot something.
Setup is plug-and-play. The device provides a single NEMA outlet. The iBoot Cloud Service offers secure, centralized power control and monitoring for multiple locations.
Of particular interest for transmitter sites are the real-time alerts. You can receive instant notifications of power status changes, reboots or network issues via email or SMS.
No more tangles
I came across a brief yet informative YouTube video about coiling extension cords to eliminate tangles. Not only is the technique useful for engineers, but it’s a great video to share with your remote staff.
At YouTube, search “How Pros Wrap Extension Cords, Cables & Hoses.”
The video is on the LRN2DIY channel, which has more than 1 million subscribers. It describes itself as featuring “dorky guys, power tools, tips, tricks and how-to.”
Tar and feather those cables
Okay, forget the feathers, but Wayne Eckert, an engineer with Florida’s Rural Communications Cooperative, offers a tarring solution to deter theft of copper ground bars and conductors.
He suggests painting bars and conductors with black tar roofing mastic, an inexpensive compound that is simple to apply.
Roofing mastic stays sticky and messy, greatly lowering the scrap value of the copper because it’s hard to remove even with solvent. Find it at big-box hardware stores.
The cooperative has used this technique and Wayne says a costly copper theft problem has been reduced dramatically.
Scram, Mickey!
Vamoose from BugMD makes it easier to keep rodents out of transmitter buildings, outside cabinets and antenna tuning units.
This product uses essential plant-based oils — cornmint, citronella and linseed —— disrupting the rodents’ sense of smell without killing them. They want to get away from the odor, hence they’ll be less likely to set up residence in your building.
On the BugMD website, four pouches cost about $11, and each pouch lasts 30 days. Find it via online retailers.
Don’t make the mistake of feeling comfortable because you only see mice once in a while; that’s how it starts. Damaged equipment can be very expensive to replace.
Departing thoughts
Dale Lamm, engineering director at WHBC in Canton, Ohio, likes to post a list on his transmitter site door as a reminder of things to check before leaving;
- Are remote controls reenabled and all transmitters set to “Remote” rather than “Local” control?
- Are HVAC setpoints reset to where the transmitters want them, not where the maintenance engineer feels comfortable?
- Did you shut off the well-water pump?
Dale once had a pipe joint spring a leak. With the water pump running, water was everywhere. The well pump just kept on pumping.
Any reminders we can add to this list? Email me! Send your tips to [email protected].
