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Workbench
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by John Bisset
Radio World salutes John Bisset, author of Workbench, for his selection as the Society of Broadcast Engineers Educator of the Year.
An industry classic, Workbench provides "hands-on, in-the-trenches" tips -- by and for "hands-on, in-the-trenches" engineers. John Bisset, a chief engineer, contract engineer and industry equipment representative with almost four decades of experience, has compiled thousands of technical tips from readers around the industry, and adds his own special insights. Submissions for this column are encouraged and qualify for SBE recertification credit.
Until our new data system is fully integrated, please
click here
for articles prior to September 1, 2006.
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Ceiling Tiles and Transmitter Keys
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Another Solution to Fishing Cables in Ceilings
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by John Bisset, 5.07.2008
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I guess what you have on hand and that solves the problem is the proper tool for the job.
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Stop VSWR Trips With a Funnel
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Also, Health Hazards From an Unexpected Source
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by John Bisset, 4.23.2008
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Heavy rain can wreak havoc with any AM array.
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Rack Shelf Adds a Second Pair of Hands
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Also, Here’s a Wireless Video Security System That Can Help Keep Your Site Secure
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by John Bisset, 4.09.2008
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Police respond faster to a crime in progress.
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What’s Inside Box #1?
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by John Bisset, 3.26.2008
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Tearing into the building’s electrical system, he found a large unfamiliar box in the middle of the AC feed to the transmitters.
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Greenies Stick, and Greenlee’s Fish Stix
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by John Bisset, 3.12.2008
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The rods flex nicely, and the set comes with a tip for tying on a pull string or a hook for blind fishing down walls.
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Gremlins Lurking at the Transmitter?
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by John Bisset, 3.01.2008
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If you were to list the most common trait among broadcast engineers it would be our unending quest to learn more.
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Tips on Punching the Right-Sized Hole
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by John Bisset, 2.13.2008
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RW contributor Buc Fitch had an e-mail discussion with an engineer who wanted to make holes in some electrical project boxes. Despite searching the Web and various hardware and supply stores like Lowes, TrueValue and Tractor Supply, he came up empty-handed.
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Zero In on RF Hot Spots
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by John Bisset, 2.01.2008
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What better way to celebrate Groundhog Day than with a resolution to commit to furthering your education?
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Who Let the Smoke Out, Uh, Uhhh?
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Our Caption Contest Drew Hundreds of Entries. Here Are Some of the Best
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by John Bisset, 1.16.2008
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I’m grateful for the hundreds of captions readers sent for our contest a few months back. You have again demonstrated that this column is one of the industry’s best read. Thanks for taking the time to show off your ingenuity.
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Deedleheads Are Wiry & Scrappy
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Also, How a Rain Drop Can Take Your Station Down
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by John Bisset, 1.02.2008
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This collection of 25-pair CAT-5 Deedleheads lives on the desktop of Meg Buenting, a producer for the network’s syndicated “Greg Knapp Show.”
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Microwave Oven Tester Evaluates WAP Operation
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Device Has a Use Beyond Your Station’s Kitchen
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by John Bisset, 12.19.2007
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Ed Dulaney is the market engineer for Crawford Broadcasting’s Denver cluster. He writes that for several months he’s had some old 2.4 GHz Wireless Access Points (WAPs) lying around in storage. From all outside indications they seemed to be functioning perfectly.
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Lubricant Can Be Your Enemy
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And a New Way to Put LEDs to Work Around Your Station
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by John Bisset, 12.05.2007
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The beauty of LEDs is that they are solid-state devices that offer high shock and vibration resistance. The LED mat is the ideal safety item for station remote vehicles, vans and trucks. Use an LED mat to drive traffic into a remote site.
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Eliminate Pesky Peromyscus Leucopus
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So Cute, and Such a Pain
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by John Bisset, 11.21.2007
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Peromyscus leucopus is the white-footed mouse, which seems to love nesting in phasors and tuning networks. These cute varmints can wreak havoc in any station setting.
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Tackle the Cell Phone Interface
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Hack Some Hardware, Fix a Problem
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by John Bisset, 11.07.2007
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Darren admits to a certain amount of pleasure in hacking apart and/or destroying anything related to cell phone “technology,” but the efforts paid off.
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Fiber Optics Provides Site Safety
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Also a Custom Automatic Controller to Build
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by John Bisset, 10.24.2007
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The module senses a break in the fiber optic loops, which would be cut when the thieves attempt to remove the ground bus or other equipment. Interruption of the fiber optic loop triggers an alarm condition and siren.
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Clip and Save: NOTAM Info You Can Use
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by John Bisset, 10.10.2007
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Greg Muir of Cherry Creek Radio offers additional links regarding the new FAA Automated Flight Service System (AFSS). This service recently was taken over by Lockheed Martin with respect to tower light outage reports.
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Ducting Isn’t Figment of Engineer’s Mind
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Visit Web Site for a Little Tropo Relaxation
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by John Bisset, 9.26.2007
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Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks I experienced as a chief engineer was trying to explain to my manager that the interference to our FM signal during morning drive was not our antenna or the transmitter, but rather tropospheric ducting.
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Keep Racks Organized, Toolboxes Dry
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And What to Do When Calling in a NOTAM
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by John Bisset, 9.12.2007
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Last issue Mark Ward offered a warning to broadcasters to check the phone number of the nearest FAA Flight Service Station.
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Trees Don’t Improve AM Propagation
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And a Bose Noise-Canceling Headset Comes to the Rescue
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by John Bisset, 9.01.2007
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An important reminder to have the transmitter field mowed regularly. Even if this area were cleared, a new ground system probably is warranted because the shrub and tree roots could not be removed without destroying the buried ground radials.
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Simplify Satellite Audio, Control Wiring
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by John Bisset, 8.15.2007
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Marc Mann of San Diego read our tip to keep A/C condensate drain line traps clean to prevent flooding and finds it timely.
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