[BC] Copper program loops

[Xmitters@aol.com]

Hello:

I have one of those rare situations where I actually have access to telco 
copper from my studio over to my STL center/backup satellite RO, a mile and a 
half away. Who makes program quality repeat coils and program equalizers anymor
e? 
Tell Labs still around?

I could do this shot fairly easily with a wireless LAN or unlicensed 
microwave solution, but that's rather expensive. Plus I do not want to depend o
n 
unlicensed microwave solutions for program transmission.

However, I would be interested in looking at an economy T1 solution if at all 
possible. This is a backup circuit between my studio and backup satellite 
receiver for CPRN classical music service. I also need to get relay closures fr
om 
the satellite RO back to my studio. I'm considering a BT touchtone encoder 
and decoder on a separate pair from the audio for that. I can use this for othe
r 
signaling needs as well.

Now if I could find some T1 equipment that could do stereo audio plus the 
contact closures and not cost two grand, that would be great and much more 21st
 
century. Anything out there like that or should I go the old fashioned way and 
use the telco copper? NIU TV Center has a dish I can use plus access to fiber! 
Are there inexpensive fiber solutions?

BTW I should point out that this is for a backup system to our studio located 
satellite RO. We had a situation this week where we had to replace the studio 
RO. The contractor had a trailer mounted dish to keep us on the air. We had 
high winds overnight that quite literally, blew us off the air. My old RO at my
 
STL center is one of those old Andrew dishes that NPR used back in the early 
80's, and it ain't going anywhere due to wind. However, it quite likely is not 
a two degree compliant dish, our manual for it is long-gone so don't know. 
That site was in fact equipped with one satellite receiver that kept Morning 
Edition on the air during our wind-outage. The classical station had to be 
programmed manually and locally.  Not good when you have an "automation sized" 
staff.

So this backup won't be used a lot, but it's gotta be decent. The studio RO 
dish is used 24/7/365, feeds five radio stations and little down time available
 
for peaking, crosspole adjustment and dealing with the inevitable failed LNB 
replacement, and to do it right, the crosspole should be optimized with the 
replacement LNB. Right now we don't have much choice but to plop in a new one 
and if it works, sign back on and call it a day. I don't like that approach; we
 
need the time to do it right.

Jeffery E, Glass, BSEE CSRE
Chief Engineer
WNIU WNIJ
Northern Illinois University

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