Beyond the studio

For our STLs we needed a way to operate out of each facility simultaneously for a seamless transition from the old location to the new studios. We chose to leave the RF STL systems in place at the old facility and to install a combination of reused Harris Intraplex T1 equipment and new Pulsecomm PCAU audio circuits. The PCAU cards had not been used in Cincinnati before and it took quite a bit of convincing with the local telephone company for it to understand and agree to the installation.

We installed a Valmont/Pirod 30' guyed tower on the rooftop of the new building to mount the 950MHz and 5.8GHz RF STL antennas. Once the stations began broadcasting at the new facility the systems were taken down and moved from the old facility. We also installed a new 3.8 meter Prodlein satellite dish on a non-penetrating rooftop mount for our satellite program delivery. Closely monitoring each one of these separate projects and shopping around for contractors helped achieve our budget goals while getting the highest performance out of each system.

Because of our current economy big budget moves are a thing of the past. We must find new and clever ways to build and improve our facilities. With the right attitude and ability to be creative we're able to make anything possible. The future of our radio broadcasting facilities and our capital projects depends on us as engineers to step up to the task, embrace new cost saving technologies and think outside the box.

Radio station 2.0: It's here.

Robinson is regional manager of engineering and IT, Midwest-Central Markets, Cumulus Media. He is based in Indianapolis.

Editor's note: BSI is owned by Cumulus Broadcasting.