This is one in a series of interviews with radio engineers and managers about operating their broadcast facilities as efficiently as possible.
Paul Tinkle is president and GM of Thunderbolt Broadcasting, which owns four FMs, one AM and seven translators in Tennessee. He is a lifelong broadcaster who has held positions from board op to ownership. A member of Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, he is a past chairman of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters and former member of the NAB board.
Radio World: How do you start your planning process?
Paul Tinkle: I have attended approximately 30 NAB Shows and that’s where I go looking. I have colleagues that tell me some of the new gadgets, transmitters and other “toys” that make radio better.
RW: What typical operating costs need to be considered?
Tinkle: The electric bill seems to climb faster than others. Go meet with the electric company and have them come look at the power meter; there’s a possibility there might be an issue.
Insurance has gone up substantially over the past five years. Wages have gone up, insurance for employees and equipment, towers and so forth
My engineer passed away two years ago. At home, I have a good man who is able to manage digital issues; however there will always be a need for a “go to” engineer.
Every broadcaster needs a backup plan. I purchased a backup new transmitter with low wattage but it keeps us on the air.
RW: How have budget pressures changed in radio in the last 10 years?
Tinkle: The equipment is better. The sad part is that a lot of our equipment is sitting on the shelf since we went all-digital. We’re about to come off copper and move to IP phones. Costs are not set in stone, but we have a lot of phones. We’ll trade some of it, which makes it more affordable.
RW: Do you keep a worksheet or template document?
Tinkle: Before my engineer passed away I developed a manager’s sheet that ensures the readings are read at the transmitter site, the generator, the tower lights, etc. Everything on the sheet holds me accountable.
RW: How do you decide whether it’s best to lease or buy a particular piece of equipment?
Tinkle: I have only leased a piece of equipment one time. Own it if you can. If not, pay your bills on time.
RW: How do you decide if it’s best to employ a full-time engineer vs. using a contractor?
Tinkle: For us it is not necessary right now. We have a great relationship with my out-of-town engineer, and he can be here within six hours. Our IT person and I are able to solve smaller problems. When our engineer comes, he comes loaded with just about everything in the truck.
RW: The transmitter and its related infrastructure are big power consumers.
Tinkle: I believe if you take care of your equipment, it will take care of you.
Pay attention to your transmitter. For example I put a label on the front to remind myself every week that the transmitter was built in 2005. It makes me more aware of the possibility that something might be wearing out.
Maintain spare parts. And always buy the “spare parts” bag when you buy a transmitter. They’ll come in handy for sure.
RW: How can broadcasters keep tower lease costs under control?
Tinkle: The answer is being nice to the owner of the tower. I looked at the costs of putting up a new tower, and they were just out of sight.
The bottom line is that we’re pretty much stuck, especially if you’re a small-market station.
RW: Suggestions to keep a site operating efficiently?
Tinkle: Three years ago I installed a new cooler at one of our sites, and that’s going to keep that transmitter happy. I also had to put a wall unit in for a 6 kW. It works so much better — as long as we keep dust out of the transmitter world.
Truth be told, keep your transmitter site clean. Keep dust out of the equation. Change the filter. Open the door and suck out the dirt. Best tool you can have is a vacuum cleaner.
And don’t play with the knobs. Every engineer wants to turn the knobs. If it’s working correctly leave it alone.
We have a spare tube for all our FMs; and as I understand it, the tube market may be dwindling. Owners may have to bite the bullet unless they can find the parts.
Visit your sites weekly. In my world, a walk-through takes 15 to 30 minutes. Maintain an engineer’s sheet to record that you inspected the transmitter and generator and that other systems like phones are working.
Take pictures of any work you’ve done. Be regular. And don’t skip even the smallest of details. Radio is the backbone — keeping people alive. We can use our transmitters and antennas to save lives.
Read more on this topic in the free ebook “Radio Operations on a Budget.”
