TWiRT 513 - A Lifetime of Achievement with Mark Persons

In fifty-six years the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) has awarded only ten John H. Battison Awards for Lifetime Achievement. This tenth and most recent one was just bestowed upon Mark Persons, CPBE, CBNT, AMD. Since Mark got started in radio and had an engineering curiosity from an early age, we wanted to know about his early experiences that have informed his career as a broadcast engineer. Mark takes us through his early years and military duty, and describes how he “never had a Plan B”.  Also, AES Past President, John Krivit, tells us about the 7 Audio Wonders of the World Tech Tour. 

Show Notes:
From the SBE: Society of Broadcast Engineers Presents John H. Battison Award for Lifetime Achievement to Mark Persons
Radio World article: Mark Persons Receives SBE Lifetime Achievement Award
Mark Persons’ Tech Tips - A huge collection of tips learned from a lifetime of engineering
Thirty years of broadcast engineering articles by Mark Persons
Chris Tobin’s Tip: NanoVNA-F Portable Handheld Vector Network Analyzer
Kirk’s Tip: Telos Alliance Support page for generating SDP files for AES67 stream subscriptions

Guest:
Mark Persons - M. W. Persons & Associates

Hosts:
Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT 513 - A Lifetime of Achievement with Mark Persons

TWiRT 512 - Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming with Paul Montoya

Preparing for winter is a time-honored ritual in most temperate climates. Most of the USA - indeed most of the world’s population - fall in temperate zones, and that means winter weather is likely or possible. The “business end” of broadcast equipment is often exposed to winter weather. Paul Montoya, Director of Engineering at Wyoming Public Media, oversees operations and maintenance at transmitter sites that are difficult to access and exposed to harsh conditions while being considered “critical infrastructure”.  Paul joins us to discuss preparing for winter’s harshness to stay on-the-air - and to stay safe.

Show Notes:
Wyoming Public Radio
Wyoming Public Radio Coverage Map
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) explainer video from Matt Risinger
When in Laramie, Wyoming, we recommend you stay at Vista de la Luna B&B

Guest:
Paul Montoya - Director of Engineering @ Wyoming Public Media

Hosts:
Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.
Angry Audio - your source for StudioHub cables and adapters, plus audio Gadgets and Gizmos. Audio problems disappear when you get Angry at AngryAudio.com.
Nautel - keeping you connected with your community, and offering informative webinars at Nautel.com/webinars. 
And MaxxKonnectWireless - Prioritized High Speed Internet Service designed for Transmitter Sites and Remote Broadcasts.

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TWiRT 512 - Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming with Paul Montoya

TWiRT 511 - FM Antennas from Theory to Practice with Bill Harland

To most radio broadcast engineers, FM transmitting antennas are both slightly mysterious and rather fascinating.  There are several fundamental designs plus differences in materials, testing, placement, and operational maintenance.  Bill Harland from Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) provides a wealth of information and photos to point out key concepts with FM antennas. This episode is packed with information that every radio engineer should know!

Show Notes:
Antenna Planning Tools
Antenna System White Papers
ERI “Rototiller” Antenna - Name controversy? [YouTube video]
TWiRT coverage of the Engineer's Seminar & Tribute to the FM Master Antenna
Video about ERI from the Economic Development Coalition of SW Indiana

Guest:
Bill Harland - Vice President of Marketing at Electronics Research, Inc.

Hosts:
Chris Tobin, IP-Solutionist
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.
Angry Audio - your source for StudioHub cables and adapters, plus audio Gadgets and Gizmos. Audio problems disappear when you get Angry at AngryAudio.com.
Nautel - keeping you connected with your community, and offering informative webinars at Nautel.com/webinars. 
And MaxxKonnectWireless - Prioritized High Speed Internet Service designed for Transmitter Sites and Remote Broadcasts.

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TWiRT 511 - FM Antennas from Theory to Practice with Bill Harland

TWiRT 510 - Automated TV Worth Watching with Stan Walbert

Automated live video production is now arguably as good as human-directed switching - at least for “visual radio”. Stan Walbert, President of Multicam Systems, has created an AI (artificial intelligence) video switching engine that emulates the best decisions of human video technical directors. Stan and Mary Ann Seidler are here with real-world examples of AI-controlled vision switching, along with advice for radio broadcasters wanting to add visual radio or improve their current systems.

Show Notes:
Multicam Systems for Radio
Full-length, real-world Multicam Studio demo in diverse venues
Backdrop: Virtual Production Using AR

Guests:
Stan Walbert - President at Multicam Systems
Mary Ann Seidler - Owner at First Light Broadcast, LLC

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.
Angry Audio - your source for StudioHub cables and adapters, plus audio Gadgets and Gizmos. Audio problems disappear when you get Angry at AngryAudio.com.
Nautel - keeping you connected with your community, and offering informative webinars at Nautel.com/webinars. 
And MaxxKonnectWireless - Prioritized High Speed Internet Service designed for Transmitter Sites and Remote Broadcasts.


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TWiRT 510 - Automated TV Worth Watching with Stan Walbert

TWiRT 509 - Critical Generator Maintenance with John Bisset

What good is a backup power generator if you can’t depend on it, 100 percent? None, really. After analyzing dozens of generators and what makes them not run, John Bisset offers poignant tips and advice to ensure that your backup generator runs when you need it. 

Show Notes:
The Mice vs. the Generator
Radio World articles by John Bisset
Klein Tools Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Semi-Rigid USB Endoscope for under $11 from Amazon
4 inch magnetic parts dish from Harbor Freight

Guest:
John Bisset - Director, Western US Sales at Telos Alliance and Author of the “Workbench” column in Radio World magazine.

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.
Angry Audio - your source for StudioHub cables and adapters, plus audio Gadgets and Gizmos. Audio problems disappear when you get Angry at AngryAudio.com.
Nautel - keeping you connected with your community, and offering informative webinars at Nautel.com/webinars. 
And MaxxKonnectWireless - Prioritized High Speed Internet Service designed for Transmitter Sites and Remote Broadcasts.

Subscribe to Audio:
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TWiRT 509 - Critical Generator Maintenance with John Bisset