[BC] forget the brain dead engineers what about the DJ's?

[Craig Bowman]

Once upon a time, competition was so important everyone was expected to 
be able to turn the transmitter back on and or put the backup on the 
air.  The steps were on the back of the transmitter log clipboard.  
Toady it just does not seem that important.  Now that most of the 
competition is commonly owned it is not the same.

I have computers take meter readings but I also have the jocks take 
readings.  The jock readings are done to keep them friendly with the 
remote control.  The instructions are still on the clipboard.  Since 
everyone knows the phone number by heart and how to enter the channels 
it is easy to do.  Rarely, of ever, do I get a call which does not 
include "I tried to get the transmitter back on but no luck" then I have 
to ask them which channel is what so I can try it for myself.  Unless 
lowering the power to get it to stay on fixes it, I don't have any luck 
either.

Also, the first person they call with a problem, transmitter or other, 
is their program director or GM.  This cuts out a lot of the "the 
internet is down" non emergency after hours calls.

Craig Bowman
Bowman Engineering
Local HDTV, Inc.
989-277-8835

On 4/5/2010 8:46 PM, FrankGott at aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 4/5/2010 2:04:02 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glen.kippel at gmail.com writes:
>    
>> I wouldn't expect the PD to know how to properly operate a Sine Systems remote control and instruct others in its use.
>>      
> But don't most PD's begin their careers doing at least some air work, which at most stations nowadays includes transmitter readings.?  Logic dictates they have basic knowledge of the technical side of broadcasting.
>
>