Lengthy and numerous off-air times reduce revenue and affect your station's ratings!
How often does your station go off the air? Have you ever wondered how you can reduce unscheduled off air time? Let's face it, when you're down, you can't play any commercials. Lengthy and numerous off-air times reduce revenue and affect your station's ratings! Common sense and a few wisely spent dollars can significantly improve your ability to stay on the air. How many back-up systems are installed at your facility? Frequent technical failures indicate that you need to take a closer look at your station's redundant systems. Your facility should have back-up systems in the studio, STL link and transmitter site. These systems provide alternate means of broadcasting when main systems fail.
Your air studio should be able to function even if you loose a cart machine, a CD player or microphone. Just make sure the studio is equipped with at least two functioning microphones, three cart machines, and three CD players. This configuration will prevent panic and possible loss of revenue when there are failures. In addition, it's a good idea to have a second studio (it could be a production room) that can be easily put on the air in the event your air studio has serious problems such as a mixing console failure.
Many stations "back-up" their STL microwave links with equalized telephone circuits
If your studios are not co-located with your transmitter site, your station is using some form of "studio transmitter link" (STL). It's either a microwave link or a system utilizing equalized telephone line(s). Both systems are usually extremely reliable, but you've got to have an alternative system that will keep you on the air when your main STL fails. Many stations "back-up" their STL microwave links with equalized telephone circuits. This is not a bad idea because it gives you two entirely separate paths from your studio to your transmitter site. If you prefer a redundant microwave system, manufacturers such as Moseley and TFT have interfaces that can detect problems and automatically switch to a backup system in the event of a failure. Check with your engineer to see how long it will take to get your back-up STL system on the air (ask if you have a back-up first!). Remember, when your STL goes down, you're off the air!
The backup transmitter doesn't have to be a Cadillac
It's good engineering practice to have some type of back-up transmitter. Stations without a back-up will be faced with hours and possibly days of off air time. The backup transmitter doesn't have to be a Cadillac, in fact it doesn't need to have the same power output as your main transmitter, but it should be reliable and easy to put on the air. Test the backup weekly, either on the air or into a dummy load. Look into automatic systems that can automatically put your back-up transmitter on the air in the event your main transmitter fails.
If it fails, you may be required to go off the air or send an operator to your transmitter site until it is repaired
The remote control system allows you to control your transmitter site from your studio. If it fails, you may be required to go off the air or send an operator to your transmitter site until it is repaired. To avoid this possible dilemma, purchase an additional remote control system to act as a back-up.
A smart solution to this problem is to mount a 1 or 2 bay antenna and feedline system on somewhere on your tower.
Antenna systems can fail. It is not uncommon for FM stations to be off the air for many days awaiting new antennas, parts or transmission line. A smart solution to this problem is to mount a 1 or 2 bay antenna and feedline system on somewhere on your tower. A patch panel or coaxial switch arrangement in your transmitter facility will allow you to quickly change over to your back-up when problems arise.
Keep the studio generator size and cost to a minimum by feeding emergency power only to essential areas
One of the most common causes of off-air time is lack of juice from the power company. If you can't live with the interruptions from your power company, install a back-up generator at your studio and transmitter site. You can keep the studio generator size and cost to a minimum by feeding emergency power only to essential areas; studios/associated equipment, overhead lighting, telephone systems, and air-conditioning. The generator at the transmitter site should be able to power your main transmitter at full power and any associated equipment. Select a fuel storage tank that will give you at least two days of emergency power. Don't forget to check the fuel level in your tank occasionally! Typical storage tanks range can hold from 500 to 2000 gallons. Test your generators weekly and have semi-annual preventative maintenance.
A great back-up FM audio processor is the Orban Optimod 8000A.
Your audio processing equipment is installed at your studio or transmitter site. No matter where it's installed, make sure you have a back-up system ready to go on the air. A great back-up FM audio processor is the Orban Optimod 8000A. It hasn't been made for quite a few years, but it sounds good, it's reliable and goes for about $1500.00 on the used market. This is definitely money well spent!
Look at each off air situation and find out what happened and how you can prevent it in the future. If you have back-up systems in the areas discussed in this article, you are way ahead of the game. Test all back-up systems regularly. Pay close attention to generator maintenance. If your generator fails when the power goes out then you might as well not have a generator!