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1 week ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
Common methods of weatherproofing Type N or larger coaxial connections include self-vulcanizing or mastic tapes wrapped around the connector. Rural Florida Communications Cooperative electrical engineer Wayne Eckert notes that when working with smaller connectors such as F-connectors or cord splices, you’ll often see electrical tape used to create a “seal.” This isn’t a long-lasting solution, though I guess it’s better than nothing. Wayne recommends double-walled heat-shrink tubing.
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3 weeks ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
There are a lot of new people joining the engineering ranks. They are enthusiastic and eager to benefit from the hands-on experience that many Workbench readers possess. When one of my engineering brothers and sisters mentions a helpful tip, I ask them to submit it for this column.
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4 weeks ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
John Lackness is sales coordinator at RadioGearheads, a company founded last year by Jim Offerdahl. But as a former chief engineer and the current owner of a couple of tractors, John also enjoys doing some mowing at Texas transmitter sites on the side. (Mowing isn’t a job for a station’s full-time engineer, who has more important duties. You shouldn’t be washing the GM’s car, nor should you be mowing the lawn, unless you really want to.
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1 month ago | 
gfqnetwork.com | John Bisset
Home Shows This Week In Radio Tech I Void Warranties with John Bisset
Your browser does not support the audio element. Never miss a chance to talk with John Bisset, author of the Workbench column in Radio World magazine. John joins us along with Chris Tarr to reveal useful tricks and techniques that any broadcast engineer will find helpful.
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1 month ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
As broadcast engineers it often feels like our lives are dictated by time. This is especially true when it comes to computerized audio playout systems. Frequent contributor Dan Slentz writes that in his experience, Windows PCs have a tendency to drift, even with Network Time Protocol time service to lock onto. Dan subscribes to a blog called TheWindowsClub, created by Microsoft MVP recipient Anand Khanse.
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2 months ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
Chuck Bullett, CPBE, oversees Audacy’s San Francisco stations as market director of technology and engineering. With five stations and associated transmitter sites, there’s a lot going on at any given time. Chuck and I talked about ways engineers can manage to keep the lids on multiple boiling pots. Chuck is in the habit of writing a weekly document that he calls the “Pocket Protector Report.” It’s an email that helps him keep staff and management current on projects and any problems.
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2 months ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
We may talk about New Year resolutions, but by early February many of those are probably forgotten! Let’s try to stick to ours, particularly if they involve maintaining AM and FM facilities in 2025. This is a great time to begin your first quarterly tower inspection of the year. And if you are responsible for an AM, remember that you’ll need to take an annual occupied bandwidth measurement. Yes, you have 14 months from the prior measurement, but why not get it out of the way?
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2 months ago | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
Over the years, we’ve shown wall-adapter power supplies labeled with a variety of methods. Systems Engineer Ihor Slabicky in Rhode Island goes a step beyond, writing a label that indicates the voltage and current. He does not note the polarity, since most supplies are positive, so unless the adapter is negative, Ihor and his team do not label for that. But voltage and current capacity are useful.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
This edition of Workbench details the benefits of skateboard griptape. You also can’t have enough power cables and we’ve found a website that has an endless supply. Plus, we give Bill Lear his due for developing the car radio and Frank Hertel gives us a tip on “Faraday fabric.” Get a grip of this skateboardRadio World’s Workbench column was featured recently on Kirk Harnack’s “This Week in Radio Tech.” In discussing useful tips, Kirk shared a sheet of skateboard griptape.
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Dec 26, 2024 | 
radioworld.com | John Bisset
Readers have commented that many stations seem to be upgrading or freshening their studios in the waning days of 2024. For many, this means clearing out everything, including old ceiling fluorescent or track lighting. General contractors are specifying modern-looking LED arrays that are low in profile yet brighten a studio. Two such examples are seen here. The first photo is from WOW Radio in Connecticut, the second is at iHeart studios in Miami.
