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Technology & news for radio decision makers radioworld.com | April 24 2024 | $5.00

His faith
in the
all-digital
AM mode
remains
strong
Dave Kolesar, recipient of the
NAB Radio Engineering Achievement
Award, reflects on what he has
learned about MA3 HD Radio

More on modes Let’s talk color Workbench

Also in this issue, Alan Jurison
tells the story of MP11 for FM.
temperature A handy reminder
about TRRS wiring.
Solid-state LED lighting has
opened new worlds for the eye.
 Vol. 48 No. 9 | April 24 2024
www.radioworld.com

Here comes
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FM geotargeting
CONTENT
Managing Director, Content & Editor in Chief Paul J. McLane,
paul.mclane@futurenet.com, 845-414-6105
Assistant Editor & SmartBrief Editor Elle Kehres,
elle.kehres@futurenet.com
Technical Advisors W.C. “Cris” Alexander,
Thomas R. McGinley, Doug Irwin
Contributors: David Bialik, John Bisset, Edwin Bukont,
James Careless, Ken Deutsch, Mark Durenberger, Charles Fitch, A unanimous FCC endorses the idea behind ZoneCasting

W
Donna Halper, Alan Jurison, Paul Kaminski, John Kean, Nick Langan,
Larry Langford, Mark Lapidus, Michael LeClair, Frank McCoy, Jim Peck,
Mark Persons, Stephen M. Poole, James O’Neal, T. Carter Ross, John ow, the FCC will allow FM
Schneider, Gregg Skall, Dan Slentz, Dennis Sloatman,
Randy Stine, Tom Vernon, Jennifer Waits, Steve Walker, Chris Wygal
geotargeting. Were you as surprised
Production Manager Nicole Schilling as I was that when this decision
Senior Design Director Lisa McIntosh
Senior Art Editor Will Shum arrived, it was unanimous, with
ADVERTISING SALES bipartisan support?
Senior Business Director & Publisher, Radio World
John Casey, john.casey@futurenet.com, 845-678-3839 As I reported on the Radio World
Publisher, Radio World International website in early April, the commission approved the
Raffaella Calabrese, raffaella.calabrese@futurenet.com,
+39-320-891-1938 Paul concept of allowing FM stations in the United States to
SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE
To subscribe, change your address, or check on your current account
McLane originate programming on boosters for three minutes
status, go to www.radioworld.com and click on Subscribe, email Editor in Chief per hour.
futureplc@computerfulfillment.com,
call 888-266-5828, or write P.O. Box 1051, Lowell, MA 01853. Until final rules for processing, licensing and service
LICENSING/REPRINTS/PERMISSIONS can be put in place, the FCC will allow existing booster
Radio World is available for licensing. Contact the Licensing team to
discuss partnership opportunities. Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw stations to originate programming under renewable
licensing@futurenet.com
one-year experimental authorizations. The FCC said this will allow it to
MANAGEMENT
SVP, MD, B2B Amanda Darman-Allen monitor the rollout of the technology.
VP, Global Head of Content, B2B Carmel King
MD, Content, Broadcast Tech Paul J. McLane
It’s a big win for GeoBroadcast Solutions, which plans to offer stations a
VP, Global Head of Sales, B2B John Sellazzo system called ZoneCasting. (The FCC did not exclude other suppliers from
Managing VP of Sales, B2B Tech Adam Goldstein
VP, Global Head of Strategy & Ops, B2B Allison Markert, offering such systems.) Broadcasters will be able to air targeted content,
VP, Product & Marketing, B2B Scott Lowe
Head of Production US & UK Mark Constance different from their primary station’s signal, to specific areas within the THIS
Head of Design, B2B Nicole Cobban
FUTURE US, INC.
primary’s service contour. ZoneCasting will use synchronized booster ISSUE 3
transmitters and antennas to overlay a stronger, geographically localized
Future US LLC, 130 West 42nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036
NEWS
signal in the target region. From the
3
GBS believes broadcasters will use this to air highly localized programming Editor
All contents ©Future US, Inc. or published under licence. All rights reserved. No
part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any and ads. In the case of a commercial station, a station might for instance
way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Kolesar still
Limited (company number 02008885) is registered in England and Wales. air simultaneous commercials from three different advertisers within three 5
sees the
Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information
contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, portions of its market or, instead, air three versions of an advertisement promise of
correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility
from a single advertiser, including one in a different language. all-digital for
for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact
AM
manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services
referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication
GBS filed its petition in 2020 but was met with stiff opposition from many
are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any
other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not
large broadcast groups, state associations and the National Association FEATURES
of Broadcasters. Among the criticisms were concerns about co-channel A handy
affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
10
reminder
If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/ interference, disruption to HD Radio signals, increases in the noise floor about TRRS
or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you
automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your and a depressive impact on ad rates. Some worried that the change could wiring
submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications,
in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media seriously destabilize the U.S. radio industry.
Beasley gets a
channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your
The FCC acknowledged these concerns but ultimately decided that the 14
own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future n or its employees, new hub of its
agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We
assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and
public interest would be better served by allowing the change. An example own in Boston
reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions. of its response: “We do not think it would advance the public interest
The story of
Radio World (ISSN: 0274-8541) is published bi-weekly by Future US, Inc., 130 for us to reject a new technology based on the fact that it could increase 18
West 42nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
the FM IBOC
Phone: (978) 667-0352. Periodicals postage rates are paid at New York, NY competition among FM stations for advertising revenue and thereby reduce MP11 mode
and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Radio
World, PO Box 1051, Lowell, MA 01853. advertising costs.”
Let’s talk
The approval on the five-member FCC was led by Democrat Geoffrey 23
Please recycle. We are committed to only using magazine about color
paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified
forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was
Starks and Republican Brendan Carr. Starks said in a statement, “Radio is the temperature
sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict only media service that, until today, could not offer geo-targeted content.
environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill OPINION
and printer hold full FSC and PEFC certification and accreditation. Talk about competing with one-hand tied behind your back.” The best
29
The NAB had been vociferous in opposition, challenging the idea on contract is
business and technical grounds. But GBS said smaller and independent none at all

broadcasters were in its corner. It also particularly thanked Educational Readers’

30
Media Foundation for its support, noting that it owns the largest number of Forum
 From the Editor

FM signals in the country. “EMF’s comprehensive comments But it waved these concerns off for one reason or
on our proposal have been crucial,” the company wrote. another, adding that there was plenty of support from
In a lengthy footnote, the FCC addressed several organizations with no known affiliation with GBS. It

“
criticisms that had been lodged by the NAB. It took note emphasized that it isn’t endorsing GBS specifally. “We
of a suggestion that many of supporting comments had limit our decision to whether to allow booster stations
been filed by the same counsel that represents GBS. The to originate programming, using the equipment of any
commission also noted that NAB had raised concerns about manufacturer.”
“fraudulent and deceitful conduct” involving GBS’s principal, The NAB apparently believes the fight is not over. It
Chris Devine, based on past litigation and proceedings. noted that the commission “is only authorizing the use
of GeoBroadcast Solutions’ troubling technology on an
experimental basis at this time. The record clearly did

GBS filed its petition

not support full authorization, and we appreciate the
commission taking a measured step here.”

in 2020 but was met But to me, the FCC’s mind has been made up, barring
any dramatic new evidence during the experimental

with stiff opposition rollout phase.

What do you think? Is this change going to revolutionize

from many large broadcast

”
radio for the better, as some believe? Is it going to cause
a death spiral or fatal “race to the bottom” on ad rates,

groups, state associations and as others fear? Or, as I suspect, will it generate some
interesting new applications without causing massive
the National Association of upheaval across the U.S. radio business?

Broadcasters.
Email me at radioworld@futurenet.com. And you can read
my full story at www.radioworld.com. Type “geotargeting” in
the search field.

4
 Digital Radio

Kolesar still sees the

Writer

promise of all-digital for AM

The NAB has honored him as an engineering pioneer

P
Randy J. erhaps it was his sense of adventure, or the “There are lots of questions about the future of all-digital
Stine fact he comes from an R&D background. AM, and the same can be said for analog AM, whether it will
The author Whatever it was, Dave Kolesar knew that once survive,” he told Radio World.
profiled he converted AM station WWFD in Frederick, “The sound is FM-quality. You can transport metadata.
Oklahoma
broadcaster Md., to full digital transmission, there was no It looks good in the dash with album art and the station
Will Payne in going back to analog for the radio station. logo, something you can’t do on analog AM. There is
February. WWFD recently concluded its five-year experimental lots to like.”
phase of testing the all-digital MA3 mode of HD Radio, but Kolesar is senior broadcast engineer at Hubbard Radio
it remains a full-time all-digital station. The FCC now allows and this year’s recipient of the NAB Radio Engineering
AM stations to use all-digital if they wish. Achievement Award.
Kolesar and Xperi Corp. conducted extensive testing on His primary role for the past 17 years has been as the
the station’s operations through those five years. During transmitter engineer for the WTOP flagship news station,
that time a few other stations have turned on MA3, but its sibling Federal News Radio WFED(AM), and WWFD. He
uptake has not been widespread. also programs The Gamut, a Triple A music format heard
Below Yet Kolesar says he is even more optimistic about the on WWFD. This year’s recipient of the NAB award on the
Dave Kolesar technology today. television side is Winston Caldwell.

Innovator and advocate

The NAB describes Kolesar as a broadcast
engineering pioneer. 5
“In addition to his efforts to make all-digital AM radio
a reality, Kolesar has been an advocate for all-digital AM
within the industry, sharing and documenting his work
in numerous technical papers and at conferences, and
continuing research on ways to improve all-digital AM
performance,” NAB stated in its announcement.
Kolesar has helped lead the discussion and discovery of
all-digital AM radio. He flipped WWFD (820 kHz) to all-digital
in 2019, the first AM station of its kind in the United States
to do so.
He says he has been “floored” by the results.
“We saw an effective increase in our usable coverage
area, thanks to the forward error correction you get with
digital broadcasting. Reception is more robust around
structures like bridges and under power lines. There is no
going back to analog,” Kolesar said.
“What we have is a mode of broadcasting that looks,
sounds and feels just as good as any other broadcast
service in a motor vehicle.”
Turning on MA3 means that listeners with analog AM
receivers cannot hear a station. Only those with HD Radio
receivers can pick it up.
But Kolesar says Xperi’s DTS AutoStage and RadioDNS
have helped level the playing field for AM stations
that use the MA3 mode. In fact WWFD recently sold its
FM translator to another company, making WWFD a
standalone all-digital AM station.

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Digital Radio

electronics engineer in the

Information Technology
Division of the U.S. Naval
Research Laboratory.
He says the jump from lab
to field and into broadcasting
required some nerve. Yet it
also seemed natural, given
that he been building Radio
Shack AM broadcast kits since
he was six. And as a teenager
he built what he jokingly calls
a “Part 15 and a half” station
in his bedroom to broadcast
to his neighborhood in
Cheverly, Md.
“I had a mentor when I
worked in the research lab by
the name of Edward Barr. He
has passed on now. He never
worked in broadcasting
but followed the industry
closely. He encouraged
me to explore my passion
PHOTO: Jim Peck
for broadcasting and
Above “We had found that most of our listeners had encouraged me to leave the lab for an industry I loved.”
Dave Kolesar, already migrated to 820 AM because of its much larger Kolesar expressed appreciation for Joel Oxley, general
left, is shown
6 with Hubbard footprint. Part of our strategy from the beginning was to manager of WTOP, and Dave Garner, VP of engineering
colleagues George use the FM to promote the better coverage of the AM — for Hubbard Broadcasting, for having the faith in him to
Molnar and Brian and stereo sound, actually. The FM was mono because it offer a job.
Oliger at an
NAB Show. was on a noisy channel.” “I think they kind of knew what they were getting into
NAB says his insights have benefited other broadcasters when they hired an R&D guy from the Naval Lab. They’ve
Right considering their AM options. allowed to me to go down these different paths.”
Kolesar in the
late 1990s. “I tell broadcasters: If their long-term goal is to keep their He credits Xperi for helping put the all-digital AM radio
AM broadcast transmission alive, I think it is necessary to go
digital eventually. Because analog AM radio broadcasting is
sliding into oblivion. It’s an awful user experience, and digital
solves a lot of those problems.
“It’s going to be necessary for broadcasters to improve
the service so it is once again desirable for listeners. AM
needs good content and better technology to meet listener
expectations,” he said.
Another benefit is better reception within electric
vehicles. Kolesar says AM MA3 likely will require less
expensive filtering in all-electric cars.
He has given numerous presentations at NAB Show
Broadcast Engineering & IT Conferences, including one this
year about AM carrier power reduction
in the MA3 mode with Xperi’s Paul Peyla.

An R&D guy in radio

Kolesar earned a master’s degree
in electrical engineering from the
Catholic University of America.
Earlier in his career he worked as an

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 “
Digital Radio

What we have
is a mode of
broadcasting
that looks, sounds
and feels just as good

”
as any other broadcast
service in a motor
vehicle.

station on the air and working with WWFD during the

experimental authorization phase.
“They helped us figure it all out. We kind of fumbled our Above feasible to redistribute some of that power to other digital
way through it — how to maximize the bandwidth and The late Edward carriers within the signal to improve robustness.
Barr, right, who
performance of the antenna system and work through it to worked at the “We hope to do some field trials to see if there are
make the station sound good. Naval Research possible tweaks to the MA3 standard itself in order to
“When you are Serial Number 1 of anything, there is a lot Laboratory for improve performance.”
50 years, was an
of stuff to figure out.” important mentor. Kolesar, 46, is an avid reader who loves technical and
And perhaps his experimentation isn’t done just yet. “We He’s shown with engineering books, along with science fiction, historical
8 are looking at applying for another experimental authority Kolesar at the fiction and mysteries. He is also a past recipient of the
transmitter site of
later this year. We want to finish work on ways to reduce WFED(AM). Barr Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award and Engineer
the level of the reference carrier in the MA3 signal, as a died in 2021. of the Year Award from Chapter 37 of the Society of
power saving measure and possibly even to see if it is Broadcast Engineers.

KQED Receives Its

World Radio Day Award
The hardware arrived at KQED to mark its selection as winner of
the fifth annual World Radio Day Award.
The award honors a U.S. station that exemplifies the best
attributes of the radio industry. Vice President, News, Ethan
Toven-Lindsay and Executive Director of Radio Programming and
Content DEI Initiatives Ernesto Aguilar are shown.
KQED is one of the country’s most-listened-to public radio
stations. It provides news and public affairs reporting to northern
California via FM broadcasting, streaming and podcasts. Its stated
commitment is to “provide people with the knowledge they need
to make informed decisions; convene community dialogue; bring
the arts to everyone; and engage audiences to share their stories.”
The Academy of Radio Arts & Sciences of America presents the
award. Prior recipients include KDKA in Pittsburgh, WINS in New
York, WRHU on Long Island and WTOP in Washington.
World Radio Day itself is observed annually to mark the
founding of United Nations Radio in 1946. The international day is
recognized each year on Feb. 13.

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Workbench

A handy
reminder
about TRRS
John
Bisset
CPBE

wiring
The author
is in his 33rd
year of writing
Workbench.
He handles
western U.S.
radio sales
Also, troubleshooting a Continental
for the Telos
Alliance and is
816R-4C aux transmitter
a past recipient

C
of the SBE’s
Educator of the onsultant Frank Hertel sees a lot of electronic
Year Award.
devices, in both consumer and broadcast
applications, that use 3.5 mm Tip-Ring-Ring-
Sleeve (TRRS) connectors. However, many of
them use non-standard wiring configurations.
Frank decided to share a drawing that you can
Tip Goes
clip from this column or take a picture of to keep on your
Here
Send us your phone as an aid in wiring TRRS connectors.
tips (though you You might also tape the graphic to the bottom of the
10 can hold onto equipment, with appropriate notes, so the next guy won’t
your rings and
sleeves). Email waste time trying to solve the pinout.
johnpbisset@ Frank’s drawing reflects the most commonly used As a part of his weekly transmitter maintenance site
gmail.com. configuration. But be aware of this connector’s foibles, visits, he operates each auxiliary transmitter into a dummy
solder pin variations and the non-standard wiring used load. This ensures proper operation in the event of a main
by some manufacturers. In some devices the wiring is transmitter failure.
perverted, and the equipment may not work properly When Brian recently tested a Continental 816R-4C
or at all. Frank also advises that you trace the solder pin auxiliary transmitter, it came up but then immediately shut
connections for each plug. They may be laid out differently, down. Brian spotted a high amount of reflected power on
and it’s easy to get it wrong. the IPA when it was on, so he lowered the transmitter’s
total power output and applied the plate voltage again.
The transmitter stayed on but the output power was
Test yer backups bouncing and reflected power on the IPA was, again,
Right
Frank Hertel’s Brian Cunningham, CBRE, is a chief engineer for Crawford noticeably higher.
drawing shows Broadcasting, based in western New York. He wrote Coming back later with test equipment, Brian checked
the most common recently in Crawford’s engineering newsletter The Local the performance first of the Continental 802-B exciter and
pinout for Tip-
Ring-Ring-Sleeve Oscillator about the importance of checking backup then of the IPA amplifier. Bypassing the IPA and running
connectors. equipment regularly. the exciter directly into the final PA showed no difference in

As a part of his weekly transmitter

maintenance site visits, Brian
operates each auxiliary transmitter
into a dummy load.
radioworld.com | April 24 2024
 Workbench

Right performance. The transmitter would not stay on

A colorful visual with power settings above 55 to 60 percent.
for resistor color
code values. This Brian then moved to the IPA, and everything
image is from the was good there. The exciter exhibited no issues
website of Jameco and was on frequency, so he moved on to a
Electronics.
thorough examination of the final PA tube
socket. No visible abnormalities, burnouts or
signs of extreme heat.
This led him to suspect a tube problem. Brian
had a used tube on hand so he installed it to
see if the problem would go away. The rig tuned
up beautifully, though the total power output
maxed at 85% because of the age of the tube.
I like Brian’s step-by-step approach of
separating and checking each section of the
transmitter: exciter, intermediate power amplifier
and final power amplifier. It offers a reminder for
all of us in diagnosing serious problems. Figuring
out the problem was easy; next came the effort of
trying to find a rebuilt tube in stock.

Clip-n-Save
Radio World Editor in Chief Paul McLane passes
along another useful image, a color photo of
the resistor color code. This appeared on a PDF
on the website of Jameco Electronics (www.
12 jameco.com/).
Veteran engineers will remember the verse
“Bad Boys Ravish Our Young Girls But Violet
Goes Willingly.” The first letter of each word
is a prompt to help you remember the color
sequence. There are numerous variations
of that phrase but a visual is handy to keep
around. You can find similar images online. Colt offer options too. Bill notes that they often increase in
value over time.
Like any tool, a handgun should be kept clean, wiped
One engineer’s favorite “tool” down with a lightly oiled cloth from time to time, and you
Bill Traue, CSRE, 8-VSB, AMD, is principal at Bill Traue should be well trained in its proper and safe use.
Technical Service. One tool that he carries in his travel bag If your contract business takes you on interstates or
is particularly useful in areas where snakes are known to airplanes, check local laws on what is allowed in your bag,
intrude in transmitter facilities. It is manufactured by Smith and understand the rules about carrying firearms when
& Wesson and comes in many models and sizes. Ruger and flying.

One tool in Bill’s bag is

particularly useful in areas
where snakes are known to
intrude. It is manufactured by
Smith & Wesson.
radioworld.com | April 24 2024
 Radio Facilities

Beasley Gets a New Hub

of Its Own in Boston
“The design cleverly addresses the and gathering areas.
technical requirements of a broadcast Corporate
facility while creating a dynamic technical leadership
and visually captivating space,” said and advocacy for
Shaun Dolan, partner at Inrush the project came
Broadcast Services. from Beasley CTO
He was describing the new home Mike Cooney and
of Beasley Media Group’s Boston VP of Engineering
brands, which moved from the Lamar Smith. The
Dorchester neighborhood into a new local Beasley team
25,000-square-foot space in Waltham included DOE
in late 2022. Dennis Knudsen and engineers Dan and Sideboards). The WideOrbit
The cluster includes some of the Kaiser, Charlie Henneberry, Steve Automation for Radio system is
most popular media properties in Conti, Josh Polonksy and Deb Benanti. supported by 27 servers and clients,
the region such as WBZ(FM) “98.5 V Three Studios was the architect, and the studios use approximately
The Sports Hub,” which required a and J. Calnan & Associates was 40 codecs from a range of
large hybrid TV-radio studio flanked the general contractor. The manufacturers.
by dual-redundant control rooms. In integration was done by Inrush You can see more photos of this
all the integration project involved Broadcast Services. facility in the Radio World ebook “New
18 new rooms for nine stations. The The studios have a Wheatstone Studios That Dazzle” at radioworld.
photo here shows a brightly designed AoIP infrastructure with 20 control com/ebooks.
hallway with small meeting rooms surfaces of various types (LXE, L — Paul McLane

14
 Digital Radio

The story of the FM

18 Writer

IBOC MP11 mode

This extended service mode offers more than
Alan 146 kbps usable digital HD Radio throughput

M
Jurison P11 is the widest-bandwidth backward- interference on the same station of this widest extended
compatible HD Radio extended hybrid service mode might be too great. The thought at
hybrid service mode and provides a the time was that broadcasters would consider this mode
Above commercially viable method for stations when there were more digital radios in the marketplace
A radio in a 2014
Toyota Tundra is to get increased HD Radio audio or data than analog. It was surmised that broadcasters would
shown tuned to capacity while maintaining backwards have to disable FM RDS and FM stereo, and revert to
the HD4 channel compatibility with analog FM. monoaural FM only.
that was enabled
by MP11. HD1 and The story behind the extended hybrid service mode However, advancements in transmission technology
HD2 are on the MP11 is interesting, and the global COVID-19 pandemic have shattered those early theories.
standard hybrid P1 paused publicity of the successes and deployment of When Xperi started developing the current Generation4
partition enabled
by service mode the mode. (Gen4) HD Radio platform circa 2014, they included a
MP1. HD3 is on MP11 was conceptualized in the original NRSC-5 commercialized development for service mode MP11, and
the extended documents circa 2005 and authorization for extended included a feature called PAR2 Carrier Protection, which is
hybrid P3 partition
enabled by service hybrid mode operation was adopted by the commission in an advanced peak-to-average ratio reduction scheme for
mode MP3. HD4 is 2007. However, it was not developed for commercial use the HD Radio RF signal.
on the extended until almost a decade later. This advancement was not something envisioned or
hybrid P4 partition
enabled by service It was initially thought (more than two decades ago) even possible with the hardware resources the industry
mode MP11. that the risk of “host interference” or digital-into-analog had a decade prior. With PAR2 Carrier Protect, there is a

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Digital Radio

Right
Logical Channel
Spectral Mapping,
Service Mode
MP11. From NRSC-
5-E HD Radio Air
Interface Design
Description Layer
1 Document FM
Lower Sideband Upper Sideband
Y_IDD_1011s. Primary Primary

Main Main
Extended Extended

4 4
10 frequency partitions frequency frequency 10 frequency partitions
partitions partitions

Analog FM Signal
PIDS PIDS
P3 P4 P4 P3
P1 P1

-198 kHz -129 kHz 129 kHz 198 kHz

-116 kHz Channel Center 116 kHz

way for broadcasters to “have their cake and eat it too.” of the more extensive compatibility studies that were
Stations can remain fully competitive with a stereo FM underway before putting this service mode on the air.
signal, with analog RDS, and simultaneously transmit in the With the PILOT findings in hand, iHeartMedia set out to
widest extended hybrid service mode (MP11) without host find a candidate station to perform MP11 field tests. We
20 interference. were looking for a station that had a full complement of
Presented at the 2019 Broadcast Engineering and IT Gen4 HD Radio transmission hardware. Requirements
Conference at the NAB Show, David Layer of NAB and included low-level, common mode FM+HD amplification
Michael Rhodes from Cavell, Mertz & Associates outlined with a Gen4 Exgine exciter, and a transmitter that had
the results of extensive lab studies that were performed sufficient headroom to support the 1.5dB power increase
by PILOT, NAB’s innovation initiative. These tests were that occurs switching from MP1 to MP11.
conducted with the participation of Xperi and Nautel and The company’s WTUE(FM) in Dayton, Ohio, went live with
are documented at length in a white paper included in the MP11 on July 1, 2019, and has been transmitting in that
2019 BEITC Conference Proceedings. mode continuously since that date.
This groundbreaking research proved to the industry that In our implementation, we were looking to create an
MP11 was a viable option for broadcasters. HD4 program in the additional 24.6 kilobits-per-second
P4 partition. The conversion couldn’t have been easier.
In the real world We needed to load the latest firmware into the existing
At iHeartMedia, we had been testing MP11 on Gen4 for transmitter/exciter (earlier firmware versions did not
a little over a year in our own labs. Receiver compatibility support MP11), and we installed a (then new) Gen4
seemed acceptable, but we were waiting for completion GatesAir FMXi 4g Exporter. We provided the HD4 audio

WTUE(FM) in Dayton,
Ohio, went live with MP11
on July 1, 2019, and has been
transmitting in that mode continuously
since that date.
radioworld.com | April 24 2024
 Digital Radio

via AES audio of WONE(AM) Dayton, which offers a sports/ the hardware.
talk format. However, there is broad support for MP11 in today’s
WTUE was chosen not only because the Gen4 transmitter transmission marketplace. Xperi and the manufacturers
had the headroom but also because Dayton was a have all been forward-looking, putting the advancement
convenient place to test. We had engineering resources in their current line of products while not porting it to
nearby in Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis to hardware that is considered borderline obsolete. It’s hard
support the tests. On the day we launched, we were able to believe, but the Gen3 framework is nearing 20 years old.
to have several engineers at key locations within the It is recommended that Low-Level, Common-Mode
WTUE coverage area with a variety of different receivers to FM+HD amplification be implemented when broadcasting
immediately discern if there were any issues with digital-to- MP11. That is the only method that has been thoroughly
analog host interference. tested in the lab and out in the field. The use of older
As the PILOT lab tests established, no host interference combining methods is generally not supported and not
was found, and none has been reported since we signed recommended.
on. WTUE is approaching five years of operation in service As of March 2024, three transmission equipment
mode MP11. (To hear a sample, watch the YouTube video manufacturers offer products that have
at www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLpbAlEfVD0.) implemented MP11:
We had envisioned reporting our successes at the 2020
and 2021 NAB Shows. Both were cancelled due to the • Gen4 Importer/Exporters:
COVID-19 pandemic due to the travel restrictions and º GatesAir FMXi 4g Embedded Importer/Exporter
health and safety concerns at the time. º Nautel HD MultiCast+ Importer/Exporter
Advancements in HD Radio IBOC extended hybrid service º Rohde and Schwarz HDR-900 Embedded
modes has made headlines more recently, with Radio Importer/Exporter
World reporting on Hubbard’s successes on WWWT(FM) in • Gen4 Transmitters:
Manassas, Va. Their addition of an HD5 program using the º GatesAir Flexiva Low Powered + High Power (FAX +
additional bandwidth offered by extended hybrid service FLX) Series
mode MP11 is a great use case, and the industry welcomes º Nautel GV2 (Updated hardware/software is potentially
Hubbard and others who may consider this latest option. available to update a GV to GV2)
22 º Rohde & Schwarz THR9 FM+HD Series
Benefits of MP11
While much time has elapsed since the lab and field tests While receiver support of extended hybrid service modes
began, it is great to see broadcasters like iHeartMedia is difficult to project, it is safe to say there are millions of
and Hubbard using this mode to provide additional digital vehicles on the road today that can decode new audio
services to the public. channels in the P4 partition of MP11. As time goes by, more
This additional bandwidth can be used for additional automotive receivers will be in the marketplace to tune in
audio services, helping with AM station and FM translator to the additional content enabled by the MP11 extended
re-broadcasts. It also helps increase the diversity of formats hybrid service mode.
providing content to underserved audiences. Alan Jurison is a senior operations engineer for iHeartMedia’s
Service mode MP11 will not work with older Generation3 Engineering and Systems Integration Group. He chairs the
HD Radio Importer/Exporters, transmitters or exciters. National Radio Systems Committee (NRSC) IBOC Standards
PAR2 Carrier Protect also cannot run on this hardware, as it Development Working Group (ISDWG). His opinions are not
is computationally intensive and exceeds the resources of necessarily those of iHeartMedia, the NRSC or Radio World.

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 Tech Tips

Let’s talk about color temperature

Solid-state LED lighting has opened new worlds for the eye

W
elcome to the era of solid-state lighting, Writer Light blue tinting
featuring a variety of approaches using resulted in
light-emitting diodes. successful new 23
In December I shared tips about options for reading
light bulbs, lumens and brightness, and emulating
upon which retired TV engineer Cliff true daylight.
Kotchka suggested an article about how to choose the Today’s solid-
correct color temperature with the new LED lamps. state LED lighting
The choices are mesmerizing! These new designs is very efficient but A clear
Writer GE 60-watt
have completely changed what consumers expect of presents some
Karl Zuk tungsten
household light! quizzical new light bulb.
Retired after a
LEDs offer a new palette of colors to the world of lighting. 50+ year career challenges. Clever
First, learn these two basic types: soft white and daylight. in broadcast combinations of
Soft white refers to warm golden light at 2700 Kelvin, close engineering, LED colors and passive filtering can create quite a variety
the author
to the look of legacy light bulbs. Daylight emulates natural holds a degree of colors. Advanced designs allow fine-tuning to exact hues
sunlight at high noon with a light blue tint at 5000 Kelvin. in theater and lighting that can gracefully change color throughout
What is Kelvin? Lighting designers refer to degrees of lighting from the day, configured via smart phone apps or hand-held
Queens College
Kelvin to measure the light’s color temperature. When in New York remote controls.
an old-fashioned incandescent tungsten lamp provides City. Unfortunately, we are still limited to a finite number of
light, its filament heats to a temperature around 2700 colors that various LED phosphors or doping can provide.
Kelvin, which is about 4400 degrees Fahrenheit. Tungsten Often a variety of different-colored LEDs are used to
filaments are not capable of reaching more than about achieve a specific overall color. Some advanced designs
Above
3300 Kelvin or about 5500 Fahrenheit before the filament A store display are “tunable” using variable masking and filtering of LED
melts! Old-fashioned light bulbs are filled with helium, highlighting three elements to vary the resultant look.
argon or similar inert gases to hinder filament failure at kinds of typical One-color, one-“wattage” LED bulbs are incredibly simple
LED lighting: warm
these enormous temperatures. Tungsten filaments will 2700K soft-white, and clever in design. Just what is inside?
always provide warm orange-yellow light. blue-white 5000K I was curious so I dissected a basic Sylvania 60-watt
Tungsten light bulb design progressed over time. daylight and a soft white LED bulb. The translucent top bulb shape was
couple of super
Powdery treatments inside the bulb glass gently diffused white lamps in made of an easily pierced pliable plastic. I found a small
light and removed harsh shadows from light presentation. center. circular PC board inside, complete with eight surface-

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Tech Tips
Right
Two Sylvania
boxes showing
similarities
in packaging
between soft-
white and
daylight types.

Far Right
Box from a GE LED
light bundle. Four
bulbs with two
matching remotes.

Below
The round PC
board found
inside a Sylvania
60-watt equivalent
LED bulb.

mount yellow LEDs doped

with an orange tint to
tune the color to about
2700 Kelvin.
The little system is
managed by a single
miracle chip, a Bright
Power Semiconductor
BP5133HC. Only two create needs to have little or no effect on how
additional parts were objects look to the human eye. Red apples need to
needed to complete the entire bulb: a typical 10uf/200v look authentically red, not brown or bluish-grey. Bananas
24 electrolytic capacitor and a 4.7 ohm current limiting need to look bright yellow not grey, green or blue. Whites
resistor. All of this for 99 cents on sale! Amazing! especially need to look white.
Manufacturers of LED light bulbs also must provide Look for GE’s Reveal and Sylvania’s Tru Wave Technology
adequate filtering of “blue light.” Studies have shown product lines for finer-quality LED bulbs that meet the
that raw LED light includes specific blue and green light highest standards on the color rendering index.
elements that can affect your sleep patterns, your skin, Important tip: When venturing into the world of solid-
your eyes and your circadian rhythms. state LED lighting, first buy only one light bulb to test the
Many current LED light bulbs already include some results at home. If you enjoy what you see you can buy as
corrective blue light filtering. Block Blue Light is a many as you like with confidence. Is the light ugly or harsh
company that embraces these concerns and takes them to your eyes? Return the one light bulb and try again.
to the next level. Their catalog offers many alternative Be creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment with
light sources. Are these harbingers to the future of widely combining various color temperatures and looks. Do you
marketed bulbs? See www.blockbluelight.com for a new have four eye-level lamps with warm light but the overall
world of ideas. look is just a little too warm together? Try switching a
Today’s developers of advanced LED formulations yearn light bulb or two to daylight types to bring up the overall
to concoct more accurate true-to-life light that conforms temperature. Or add a couple more lamps fitted with
with the Color Rendering Index. Any artificial light we daylight color bulbs. You can also experiment with how
brilliant the lights are. You can certainly mix “40
watt,” “60 watt” and “100 watt” lamps to fine-tune
your visual end product.
Be patient and find a bulb you like. Some “soft
white” LED lamps produce a color that looks like
a blend of mustard and deep orange tones, while
I have seen some “brilliant white” light bulbs in
action that will make your eyes weep and cry for
mercy. Hand me those Ray-Bans!
Hopefully, you will eventually discover a color
and intensity that are just right.
 Engineering Careers

“America’s Dairyland”
works to grow engineers
In Wisconsin, broadcasters take a multifaceted
approach to addressing the engineering shortage

M
any veteran engineers are retiring while Writer improving their communication skills, especially when
few skilled young people are stepping in talking with non-engineers.
to take their place. “Knowledge of technology alone is not a key to success.
Leaders of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Engineers need to communicate with all the departments
Association are well aware and are taking [at the station] in a way that is understandable.”
a proactive approach. They are working
with colleges and vocational schools that have relevant Help from the state
courses, encouraging the use of apprenticeships, and Andy Smock, chair and associate professor in the
hosting conferences and seminars, sometimes with the Donna L. Department of Radio TV Film at the University of
Society of Broadcast Engineers. Halper Wisconsin’s Oshkosh campus, is developing a program
Their goal is to provide young adults with opportunities The author called Media Engineering. He believes the word “broadcast”
to understand the engineering profession while giving wrote last fall no longer has much meaning to contemporary students.
about The High
them the training, mentorship and guidance they need School Radio Although his school has award-winning outlets WRST-
to succeed. Project. FM and Titan TV, he says most students who get involved
want to focus on sports reporting. Yet students in the
MTI department also get hands-on experience working with
One of WBA’s most popular initiatives is the Media the equipment, setting up for events, and doing audio and
Technology Institute. It was founded in 2012 by engineer video production. 25
Terry Baun, a past president of the SBE. It is a three-day Conversations with Bill Hubbard and with Bill Kerkhof,
series of seminars to educate attendees about broadcast director of engineering for the department, led Smock to
engineering and technology, held in conjunction with the conclude that it could play an important role in training
WBA’s summer conference. Below the next generation of engineers. Many of the necessary
In 2023 WBA renamed it to become the WBA Duke WBA held a courses existed already, so he believes the new program
Wright Media Technology Institute, honoring the late student forum will be well-received.
in February
Duey “Duke” Wright, a pioneering broadcaster who owned at Lambeau Another avenue for developing engineers is a new
Midwest Communications. Field, home of media broadcast technician apprenticeship program
Engineer Bill Hubbard assumed the institute’s leadership the Green Bay offered through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce
Packers, to provide
role after some 30 years working in the University of information about Development.
Wisconsin system. careers in media. Amy Phillips is the youth apprenticeship program
Hubbard and Baun worked together from the institute’s
earliest days, envisioning it as a way to train people in
the basics of broadcast engineering. But as time passed,
Hubbard noticed that experienced engineers wanted to
attend too, to enhance their skills. Even some general
managers signed up.
As might be expected, many of the institute’s
presentations focus on topics like transmitter maintenance
or repairing versus replacing equipment. But others are
about practical matters like preparing for an FCC inspection
or contemporary issues like information security. Given all
that today’s engineers need to know, Hubbard now uses
the phrase “media technology” rather than “broadcast
engineering.”
Hubbard says there is also a focus on helping technical
people understand the business of broadcasting and

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Engineering Careers

coordinator there. She said that based on feedback from Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, to provide
WBA President/CEO Michelle Vetterkind, Vice President Kyle information about a variety of careers in media. About
Geissler, Bill Hubbard and numerous station managers, 200 high school and 200 college students came to the
she identified 16 desired competencies, skills that industry venue; the event featured a job fair, speed networking
professionals are looking for in the people they hire for and a keynote address from Packers Radio Network
media engineering work. broadcasters and WBA Hall of Famers Wayne Larrivee and
In 2020 the state debuted a Youth Apprenticeship Larry McCarren.
for Media Broadcast Technicians, a two-year program. Geissler hopes events like this will encourage young
Phillips has been recruiting high school students who are people to expand their perceptions of media and “think
enrolled in broadcasting, communications, information about engineering, not just sportscasting or news.”
technology and science, technology, engineering and
mathematics, who might have an interest in a media Persistence
apprenticeship pathway. WBA’s outreach to students was led for many years by
Kyle Geissler is working to provide another facet for the Linda Baun, who was the association’s vice president at
WBA approach: reaching out to high school students and the time. She organized an annual WBA Student Seminar,
encouraging them to consider careers in broadcasting. where attendees came from around the state for a day of
He said WBA has cultivated a relationship with training, discussion and networking.
SkillsUSA, which partners students and professionals and Engineering remains a passion of Baun’s. “That’s where
focuses on skilled trades. The organization is known for my heart is,” she says. She is an SBE Fellow who continues
its competitions; when Geissler attended one, he was to promote engineering as a profession, carrying on the
impressed with the enthusiasm he saw. work of her late husband Terry. She said he believed
“They have several competitions that are related to strongly in the importance of education and took a learn-
media, in which high school students compete. It’s a by-doing approach, including giving people permission to
great opportunity to get those students interested in make mistakes.
broadcasting [and] connected with our members.” She sees WBA seminars as valuable in providing
WBA held a student forum in February at the famous opportunities for engineers to brainstorm and learn

26
 Engineering Careers

new things.
But while the
broadcast veterans
quoted in this article
are excited about the
programs and seminars,
they acknowledge the
challenges.
Pay for engineers is
still low, and Linda Baun
notes that over the
years, engineering often
has not been accorded the respect that other broadcast several others told us that stations may be hesitant about Above
disciplines have. And even with the expanded outreach, internships and apprenticeships perhaps in part because of A group at last
year’s Duke Wright
finding new engineers is challenging. concerns about liability. Media Technology
Steve Brown recently retired as director of broadcast But Bill Hubbard believes that media technology is a Institute, held in
engineering for Woodward Community Media. Brown rewarding profession and that it has a bright future. conjunction with
the Wisconsin
says his company had to do a lot of local and national “It’s open to anyone, male or female. You just need a Broadcasters
advertising over an extended period before identifying curiosity about how things work.” He and his colleagues will Association
a good replacement. Broadcast executives around the continue to take that message all around the state. Summer
Conference.
country often make similar comments to Radio World As Linda Baun put it, “We’re not just talking. We’re doing.
about the difficulties of filling technical positions. We’re providing the education, so that students can learn
Brown feels that the WBA and Wisconsin state about media technology. And we’re putting out good
government “are on the right track” but believes there opportunities for growth to occur.”
is more to do. For example, while he likes the idea of Donna Halper is an associate professor of communication
on-the-job training, “we need to get to the next step now, and media studies at Lesley University, former broadcaster and
and that is actually finding and placing students in these radio consultant. She also writes for the Society for American
apprenticeships.” Baseball Research. She is an inductee of the Massachusetts 27
And that has been slow to occur. Linda Baun and Broadcasters Hall of Fame and recipient of its Pioneer Award.

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

28

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Contract Engineering

skynesher/Getty Images

The best contract is none at all

Writer
Barton A. 29
Jones
CET
Don’t ask me to sign an agreement with stipulations that apply to employees

M
ichael Baldauf wrote in Radio World Baldauf mentioned that one large group is attempting in
recently about “The Thorny World of a multi-page contract to address the following issues. These
Contracts for Consulting Engineers” [at may make sense for full-time employees but most do not
radioworld.com search keyword “thorny”]. apply to an independent who works with multiple stations
I am one of those guys out here in and groups.
“fly-over” country who is relied upon to Requiring the contract engineer to not disclose proprietary
keep all sizes of radio stations on the air. I do this full-time information — We engineers all talk freely with one another
for more than 40 stations under at least 12 ownerships, all anyway, you can’t stop it. Besides, you have NOTHING
competing with one another. secret in the engineering world. Everybody has the same
So, what is the best type of contract? Absolutely none black boxes hooked up the same way, and we’re all waiting
whatsoever. for the next super-black box to come out. If I happen to
I am proof that a good engineer can do a professional job overhear something that would be considered proprietary,
for whoever requires my services. I don’t pick favorites, and I would keep it to myself as a matter of being professional.
I don’t sign contracts or agreements of any kind with any I’m not going out blabbing “Station Q is going Z-Rock in 2
corporation. weeks!” because that’s not my business, and I don’t care.
I don’t even like the term “contract engineer.” I do not If the engineer develops new solutions or improvements,
work for ANY radio station; I work for myself, providing they are intellectual property of the station group. Bull! This
service as any professional services “contractor” would, just makes me angry. If I come up with a new way of doing
like a plumber or HVAC technician. something, it is MY intellectual property, and I will share it
Any independent engineer should be considered a free with whomever I wish to sell it to or share it with. If anyone
agent, available to any station in need of service. We are must sign that kind of contract, they’re not a contractor,
valuable — and very hard to find these days. Many of us they’re an employee.
are also a bit grouchy (well I am, anyway), so don’t get Insurance coverage, liability, etc., are the responsibility of the
pushy. Don’t upset us. engineer — Of course. That’s just good business practice. I

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

 Contract Engineering

hold a $2 million policy on my engineering business, and if

a client requires more for any specific project, I tell them to
Readers’ Forum
pay for the extra coverage.
Limits — I make sure to have the “money man” for each
station on speed dial. I don’t play games with corporate
ladders. If I go into a transmitter site that is off the air, I The ongoing value
will evaluate it, make a quick estimate, and call “The Man.”
My rule of thumb is $1,000. If it is 1K or less and I have the of shortwave
parts in stock to fix it, I’ll fix it. I enjoyed Kim Andrew Elliott’s commentary “Why We
Those “legal minds” who are attempting to refine an Need Shortwave 2.0.” He’s exactly on target.
“engineering contractor’s contract” are wasting time and I’ve said that the brass at VOA thought the people of

“
money trying to fix problems that don’t exist (...what they Djibouti had laptops and high-speed internet when in
do best…) fact they were living in houses made from four sheets
The HVAC contractor doesn’t sign an NDA to fix the of corrugated roofing iron — one for a roof, a half-sheet
heat. The plumbing contractor doesn’t sign any contract for the left end, another half for the right end, one for a
to fix a leaking toilet. I don’t sign contracts to come fix your rear wall, and a front wall with a large notch for a door.
transmitter, or even install a new studio. Gerhard Straub and I were rebuilding the shortwave
and two medium-wave stations for local broadcaster
RTD, Radio Television of Djibouti. One piece of

I don’t pick favorites,

equipment arrived in a wooden shipping crate made of
quite nice wood, and I asked the RTD technicians to take

and I don’t sign

it apart and build some shelves for the back room.

”
But one man became very upset. He told me he’d

contracts or already had “dibs” on it for an addition to his home. I

said it was OK, we didn’t need the shelves that badly.

agreements of any kind with I’ve always been proud to be an American. After I was
in Djibouti, I was glad to be an American.
30
any corporation. David R. DeSpain, P.E., W0BCG

Those darn wall-warts

Mark Persons wrote recently about “Those Darn Wall-
The BEST contract is NONE at all. Do the work requested, Wart Power Supplies.”
bill by the hour, plus mileage. Send an invoice upon A few years ago, a friend stored his motorcycle at my
completion of the work. If the station is a “known problem,” house, connected to a battery trickle charger with wall wart.
demand cash up front. The station will send you a Form I soon forgot about the charger but eventually I noticed a
1099-NEC at the end of the year. If you sign any kind of beeping sound coming from my AM radio. It was like Telstar,
contract for guaranteed money such as a monthly retainer, beeping away all over the dial, even on shortwave.
you are an employee, not a contractor, and they can I disconnected anything in the house that might be
control you. interfering, took a portable radio and walked around the
Here’s how you know if you’re an independent house. I didn’t find anything inside, so I tried outside, and
contractor, or an employee: sure enough, at the power box, the beeping grew louder.
Do you rely on the station’s van and use company tools So I went to the front yard power pole. Beeping increased
and test equipment? Then you are an employee. How to again, so I concluded (erroneously) that it was a neighbor.
Do you have your own transportation, tools, test submit Weeks went by. I finally got mad enough to check one
equipment, and perhaps an inventory of parts? Then Radio World more time with a portable. This time it dawned on me: I’d
you are an independent contractor. Don’t sign contracts. welcomes
never pulled the battery charger wall-wart. So I did, and the
comment on
Send invoices. all relevant beeping immediately stopped. I looked at the wall-wart to
And in answer to the question: “If there is a hole in the topics. Email see if this was some sort of cheap imported thing, and what
roof of the transmitter building, shouldn’t it be possible to radioworld@
do I see but a logo from the Canadian version of our FCC,
futurenet.com
get it fixed without permission?” with “Letter assuring me that the device will not interfere with radios.
That’s not my problem. I’m a broadcast engineer, not to the Editor” Ever since then, I’ve hated switching supplies.
a roofing contractor. Call “The Man,” let him know, take in the subject
Duke Evans
field.
photos, send them to him, then leave. KBBF(FM), Calistoga, Calif.
Come back when the roof stops leaking.

radioworld.com | April 24 2024

9000