Thank you to Happysat who has shared with us a useful tutorial that explains how we can run Linux only SDR programs on a Windows 10 system using the Windows Subsystem For Linux (WSL) feature. WSL is a feature available on Windows 10 which is a Linux compatibility layer designed for running Linux binaries natively on Windows 10. This means that no Virtual Machine with shared resources is required, instead the full resources of your system are available.  Happysat writes: Many people using Windows 10 now since Windows 7 is EOL, and WSL is part of the system kinda 'free' so why

The IPG-8T Relay Contact transmitter monitors 8 separate switch contact input signals and sends the status of each switch input via an embedded device server to a matching relay output receiver placed anywhere on the network. Use this unit when you want to send contact switch or relay information over a LAN Local Area Network or on a wireless network transmission path back to a receiver. This contact relay over network system can be used to relay alarm contacts or remote control signals for industrial applications.

The IPG-8T continuously monitors the input switch contact condition of 8 channels A-D and sends a data stream via the network connection to the receiver IPG-8R unit. This unit uses a standard 8P8C network cable for connection onto any LAN or network system. The signals generated will go anywhere on a network using TCP/IP protocol.

The embedded device server uses 10/100Mbit Ethernet protocol, auto sensing, stable, field proven TCP/IP protocol, easy configuration through a web interface or by direct Ethernet cable connection, Password Protection capable and Bi-Color LED indicators for Link status, speed, and activity.

The IPG-8T transmitter can be used on a wireless link to return the contact information to another location to control the relay outputs. This unit will work with any network capable of carrying TCP/IP protocol.

FSN is the world’s fastest-growing broadcast news agency.

For more than 25 years, the company has provided Emmy Award-winning original, customized news coverage that is seen and heard by millions of TV viewers, radio listeners and web users worldwide every day.

FSN RADIO

Give your station a global edge with customized news feeds and our anchored, commercial-free news bulletins.

Eccles:
Here, here, here! What's going on here?

Seagoon:
Nothing.

Eccles:
Oh, I'll clear off then.

//

Bloodnok:
Well now Colonel, I suppose you're wondering why you sent for me.

Chinstrap:
Yes, I... just a minute, just a minute my boy. (Off) QUIET OUT THERE! (Normal) Blasted goldfish!!

Bloodnok:
They should wear slippers, you know.

//

FX:
Door opening.

Eccles:
Here! What's going on here?

Bloodnok:
Nothing.

Eccles:
Ah, I'll clear off then.

FX:
Door closes.

//

GRAMS:
Machine gun fire. Bugle playing advance over. Sounds of battle.

Bloodnok:
Ooooooh oooh! The Waziris are attacking. Oooohh! Ooooooh! Anybody got a hole in the ground?

Seagoon:
Bloodnok, this is a fine time to turn coward!

Bloodnok:
I know. That's why I chose it.

FX:
Cork popping.

Chinstrap:
Gentlemen, we'll drink our way out! I'll lead the way.

Seagoon:
You can't drink your way out of this. These tribesmen are tough; There's only one language these Wazirirs understand - Wazirir.

Chinstrap:
Splendid. I'll address the hoards from the battlements in their own language. (Shouts) I say you Wazaries, Chum jum din pew kin, chinkidy chankin juck, aves spon. They're not answering.

Bloodnok:
What? Let me try Humphrey.

Chinstrap:
Yes, thank you.

Bloodnok:
Ohh. Atora muckin tora char, Bombay biddy boda cha! You're right, they're not answering you know.

Chinstrap:
Perhaps it's half day closing.

Bloodnok:
Yes.

Seagoon:
No. Wait! Wait! Ehehehehehehheiei!

Chinstrap:
Yes, I couldn't agree more.

Seagoon:
What are those lumps at the bottom of the foothills?

Eccles:
Toes!

Seagoon:
Shut up, Eccles!

Omnes:
Shut up Eccles! Shut up Eccles!

Seagoon:
Gentlemen, look! They're hauling 'Thin Tom', their long range cannon into position.

Bloodnok:
They're loading it.

Chinstrap:
By gad, sir, they're lighting the fuse.

Sponley:
They're, they're pointing it at us.

Bloodnok:They're going to fire it.

Seagoon:
I wonder what they're up to.

GRAMS:
Shell dropping

Bloodnok:
Duck!

GRAMS:
Explosion followed by hen clucking

Seagoon:
That's no duck, that's a chicken.

Chinstrap:
By gad, sir, they're firing hens at us.

Bloodnok:
A FOUL trick.

Chinstrap:
EGG-sactly.

Milligan:
We're being SHELLED.

Seagoon:
Stop cracking YOKES!

ORCHESTRA:Tatty chord in C

GRAMS:
Massed rifle fire.

Greenslade:
Through the long night the Waziris attacked, firing their bullets from the hidden position inside their rifle barrels. Then at dawn, good tidings.

OMNES:
Rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb

Hungary Studies DRM Shortwave p12

Mice rodents tips p14

THAT Thing Mic Preamp project p23

Schematic for THAT Thing, a do-it-yourself preamp/electronics project by Curt Yengst, featured in the Jan. 8, 2020 issue of Radio World.

The INOmini 673 is Inovonics’ second-generation, small form-factor FM broadcast monitor for professional applications.

A sensitive and selective off-air receiver for standard analog-FM broadcasts, it has application as a ‘confidence monitor’ or as a rebroadcast receiver in FM translator service. The 673 decodes and displays the most important data from RDS/RBDS data groups as well.

The INOmini 673 gives front-panel and remote alarm indications of program and RDS transmission errors. It can also deliver a high-quality audio feed for program distribution throughout the broadcast facility with adjustable analog and AES digital audio outputs.

Incorporating all the necessary features for station setup, regulatory compliance, and remote monitoring, Inovonics' 531N is the ultimate choice for essential FM signal monitoring. Dependable, direct input and off-air reception lets you keep a sharp eye on your total RF signal performance whether you’re right at the transmitter site or half way around the world.

The high-resolution LED bargraph displays are easy to read, and a "floating dot" program peak marker eliminates any ambiguity in the total-mod measurement. Off-air readings are qualified by Inovonics' exclusive multipath indicator, which also aids in antenna alignment during initial station build-outs. In addition, readouts of signal strength and synchronous AM noise qualify the incoming signal and validate measurements.

Synchronous AM Noise Monitoring – an exclusive with Inovonics.

Rear-panel alarms constantly check for Audio Loss, RF Loss, Multipath and Overmodulation, while advanced notifications alert personnel with e-mail or SMS messaging when any or all of the alarms occur.

This web site was created to be a non-commercial repository of historical information and photos documenting the early years of radio broadcasting in the United States. A substantial portion of the site is dedicated to the history of broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area. Your comments, corrections and contributions are welcome.

John Schneider is a lifelong radio historian, and a Fellow in History of the California Historical Radio Society. He contributes regular articles on radio history to "Radio World" and "The Spectrum Monitor", and is the author of two Arcadia Publishing books, "Bay Area Radio" and "Seattle Radio".

At 75, U.K.’s last public shortwave site provides essential info to listeners globally via analog and digital broadcasts

WOOFFERTON, England — Nestled in the beautiful Shropshire countryside, just a few miles from England’s border with Wales, is the tiny village of Woofferton. That name is synonymous with shortwave radio for millions of listeners around the world as just a short distance from the village itself, lays the United Kingdom’s last remaining public service shortwave transmitting station.
Antenna switches in the field feed the HF curtain arrays.

Now owned and operated by Encompass Digital Media, Woofferton recently celebrated its 75th birthday. Built in 1943, the station has a fascinating history; originally designed to bolster the BBC’s General Overseas Service (now the World Service) during the latter years of World War II, it was later partly funded by the United States and was used extensively by the Voice of America to broadcast into Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during the cold war years. Today, Woofferton transmits programs for the BBC and a number of other international broadcasters, reaching audiences across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

There are 10 high-power HF transmitters at Woofferton. They range from Marconi senders of various vintages, including two BD272 250 kW units that date back to the 1960s, to the more recent 300 kW B6124 solid-state transmitters, and four of the most modern RIZ 250K01 wideband systems, which are also capable of operating in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) mode. In fact, the BBC’s daily DRM transmission for Europe is broadcast from here.

Outside in the antenna field, there are 35 shortwave curtain arrays (aerials) supported by 25 masts. Most of the antennas can be operated in full or half-curtain mode, depending on the coverage required, and can be electronically steered (slewed) to beam transmissions in a variety of directions. This is done by varying the phase of the signal and feed points to the antenna, rather than by physical movement.

Here in the 21st century, it’s difficult to imagine broadcast automation without thinking of computers; you can’t have one without the other. But it wasn’t always this way.

Computers and automation systems have both been around for a long time but the two worlds didn’t begin to merge in a big way until the mid-1970s, when IGM introduced the 750 system with a DEC PDP-8.

Most of the hardware, playback media and terminology of these earlier analog systems is long gone and forgotten. That means it’s time for a ’70s flashback.

FLASHBACK

Let us don our wide-lapeled, burgundy, three-piece polyester suits, set the date for April 1974 and dive headlong into the time machine.

We emerge just in time for the opening of the NAB show of 45 years ago, and we visit the Sparta booth to see what’s new in broadcast automation systems.

Our proprietary content delivery network delivers the highest quality stream in the industry, and is trusted by more than 6,000 stations across the globe. With infrastructure in more than 13 locations around the world, you can count on your streaming audio being the highest quality, efficient, and always-on.

Pira CZ Silence Detector is a freeware application which guards presence of audio signal on recording line or wave output of your PC sound card. If no sound is present for a specified time, pre-defined tasks are executed. This application is a perfect tool for any radio station where continuous audio is important. It's free also for commercial stations.

Even if your broadcast automation system crashes or your radio link gets out, the Pira CZ Silence Detector will make the steps to repair it, switch to backup audio source and inform executive person. Don't be afraid of hours of silence anymore!

Tom's Guide writes about home brew TEMPEST receivers:

Today, dirt-cheap technology and free software make it possible for ordinary citizens to run their own Tempest programs and listen to what their own -- and their neighbors' -- electronic devices are doing.

Elliott, a researcher at Boston-based security company Veracode, showed that an inexpensive USB dongle TV tuner costing about $10 can pick up a broad range of signals, which can be "tuned" and interpreted by software-defined radio (SDR) applications running on a laptop computer.

As our name suggests, most FCCInfo data comes directly from FCC databases. AM, FM, and TV data primarily originates from the FCC Media Bureau's CDBS database. The FCC Wireless Bureau's ULS database is the source of our broadcast microwave and land mobile data. The "Places" data comes from the USGS's list of populated places.

This site is sponsored by Cavell, Mertz & Associates, Inc., which is a private, commercial entity. However, in our capacity as broadcast consulting engineers, we frequently interact with the FCC.

This webinar will review the elements of a building’s wiring and grounding systems (including lightning protection) that pertain to power quality at communications facilities and improve up-time. Proper wiring and grounding, beyond those minimal requirements of the NEC, can greatly alleviate power quality problems in broadcast and public service communications facilities. These improvements can be very cost-effective, usually simple in description, and help prevent costly downtime and equipment damage. The presentation concentrates on actual experiences at broadcast facilities where grounding and lightning protection were of paramount importance in maintaining system availability.

About Your Instructor - David Brender, P.E., National Program Manager Copper Development Association, Inc.

David Brender is National Program Manager for the Copper Development Association (CDA) in New York City. His duties involve directing and managing the electrical programs at CDA, including their power quality, building wire program, telecommunications wire, research and National Electrical Code activities, among others. He has presented several times before to broadcasting technical audiences.He is a principal member of Panel 5 of the National Electrical Code, a Senior Member of the IEEE, and a life member of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Brender holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York University and an MBA degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer in three states.

The opportunity to visit a shortwave transmitter site does not come to me often. It did during the summer of 2009, so I jumped at the chance. Along with friend Bob K5IQ, we visited the WRNO Worldwide transmitter in New Orleans and were guests of Chief Engineer Larry Thom. He kindly showed us the transmitter site, talked of the interesting technical story of the rebirth of the WRNO Worldwide transmitter site and displayed some of his ingenious technical adaptations to create a smooth running plant.

Originally put on the air as the first commercial shortwave station by local New Orleans radio owner Joe Costello in 1982, and purchased by Dr. Robert Mawire of Good News Outreach in 2001, the now non-profit religious station is fed from Fort Worth Texas studios. The transmitter, still in the New Orleans suburb of Marrero, primarily operates at 7505KHz and can be heard evenings from 1200 to 1400UTC (8PM to 10PM EST).

The plant’s main feature is an Electronic Corporation (Elcor) SW50/3S fifty kilowatt transmitter (see Figure 1). Built in Costa Rica, this transmitter feeds a TCI 516-3 log periodic antenna that was a mainstay of the Joe Costello rock and roll days of WRNO Worldwide. The transmitter is plate modulated and uses time-tested circuitry such as vacuum tubes, relay control and crystal oscillators as compared to solid-state modulators and microprocessor control. The system sends effectively a 3 megawatt signal around the world.

ELCOR SW-5 K
5,000 WATTS ELCOR SW BROADCAST TRANSMITTER

• Start - Stop Automatic Remote Control

• High Level Plate Modulation

• Solid State Rectifiers

• Automatic Recycling System

• Harmonics Filter

• Tropicalized

• Permanent protection of all circuits and valves

• Forced air cooling

• 1 4CX5000A

• 2 4CX1500A

History of US Federal Licensing of Radio Operators

Engineers learn early that redundancy is the road to the reliability demanded of broadcast facilities. But is this always true or sometimes even possible? Each layer of the broadcast facility infrastructure (power, IT, environment, interconnect, control, processing, communications, monitoring, command and control, etc.) can be assembled in various configurations, with calculable and predictable impacts on the overall availability of the facility. For every engineer who has ever been asked to plan his/her next outage, or knew intuitively that a spare needed to be budgeted, this tutorial covers how to apply the statistical analysis of system availability to the design, operation, and budgeting of a broadcast facility.