[BC] Re: Radio Is Not what it Used to be

[Xmitters@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/30/05 3:04:47 PM Central Daylight Time, 
broadcast-request at radiolists.net writes:

<< Several people told me that.  Any theories about why it's not as much
 > fun?  I know in some cases, owners have changed or there is more pressure
 > on an engineer or he/she is expected to maintain a cluster of stations...
 > but I'd think it would be somewhat easier to do the work these days-- 
 > aren't some pieces of equipment easier to fix than they used to be years
 ago? >>

Radio is not as fun now as it once was. For me, one reason is that all of the 
equipment that's my responsibility is scattered all around northern Illinois. 
It is not at all uncommon that I have to drive 140 miles round trip to push a 
button. Now to me, this is not fun and it happens more times than I would 
prefer. This situation frustrates my efforts to get projects done, because I 
can't be in two places at once. for some reason, travel time does not seem to 
"count" as something that eats productivity. I think lots of managers fail to see 
this part of an engineer's schedule for the burden that it truly is. Travel 
time apparently is not considered when consolidating or determining the required 
technical staffing.

Back in 1980 this station was all on site, one station, one transmitter, 
everything in one place. Now 20 years later, we have two studio sites, four 
transmitter sites, one translator and one site where all of my STLs are located. I 
spend more of my time traveling than anything else. 

Back in 1980, I hired students as my assistant engineers. They would do 
studio, reel to reel, cart machine and even transmitter maintenance (I was always 
present for transmitter stuff). Nowadays, I would have rocks in my head to hire 
students. Reason being, it is a lot easier nowadays to cause a lot of trouble 
by making a stupid move. In 1980, the worst problem was the student screwing 
up the head alignment on a reel or cart machine. No big deal, we had plenty of 
spares. 

Nowadays, a young kid could take down the AudioVault by accidentally deleting 
one file. Carelessly connecting his/her laptop to the AudioVault network 
could cause a virus infection that would corrupt three AV systems here. I don't 
have the work appropriate for someone learning the business that I did in 1980. 
I also don't have the time to teach a young kid, because I'm on the road. 
That's the time I would spend mentoring back in 1980. Nowadays it is much easier 
to really screw up the radio station's automation system and the final air 
product by making a mistake. I do not remember a situation where a student 
engineer took the station down back in 1980. I can think of a lot of ways that a 
greenhorn could kill the station these days that would not have even been possible 
in 1980.

The _biggest_ problem is finding someone interested enough to even apply for 
the position. Once they find out computer knowledge is required, they decide 
they can make more money someplace else, only dealing with computers. This lack 
of interest is another thing that makes radio unfun these days. It lacks the 
Oh, wow factor these days compared to other available technology that competes 
with radio.

I have done very little component level troubleshooting now than five years 
ago. I really loved bringing a dead piece of equipment back to life. It was 
also fun looking over the schematics learning how the equipment worked. Not much 
stuff comes with schematics anymore. To me, component troubleshooting and 
circuit analysis was fun. Even transmitters are becoming repairable only at the 
module level. I wonder how long it will be before transmitters do not come with 
schematics? When that day comes, I will then retire probably.

I make every effort not to become a "grumpy old man" by comparing everything 
to what it used to be, and remain open minded about new technology. I think 
human nature is responsible for all of us establishing a personal comfort zone. 
When new equipment goes beyond that comfort zone I think that's when some 
people criticize it to death and thus cause a lot of personal dissatisfaction. 

I must admit, I have a comfort zone with regard to the first transmitters, 
consoles, processors, RPU, etc. I learned about on a detailed type level. I 
understand the modern stuff to the point where I'm very proficient with keeping 
them working and I'm not intimidated by them at all. However my 317C-3 and/or 
FM-20H3 manuals invariably put a smile on my face when I see them. The newer 
stuff does not seem to have that emotional response that those original 
equipments do, but I like the new stuff and have a different kind of respect for it. So 
this situation would also be responsible for taking a certain amount of the 
fun out of the business. And thankfully, I can put my emotions aside and make 
the appropriate decision with regard to equipment replacement based on business 
and performance factors. Different does not always equal bad. different is 
just, well, different. It's really up to you if different equals bad.

I am basically happy doing what I'm doing and I don't think any other job 
would have enough less frustrations to justify the adjustments needed to make a 
career move. I dare say that if you talked to anybody that's been doing the 
same thing for 25 to 30 years, they will have similar frustrations to ours, due 
to the same human nature and comfort zones I just discussed. My wife started in 
nursing the same year I started radio. Her frustrations are very similar to 
mine. She especially hates the computerization and the attendant problems thus 
caused at the hospital compared to 20 years ago. Fewer nurses taking care of 
more patients. Sounds just like our complaints about fewer engineers taking 
care of more radio stations, doesn't it?

It's all about money.


Jeff Glass, BSEE CSRE
Chief Engineer
WNIU WNIJ