We use a device called an “importer” to generate additional HD Radio channels at a number of our sites.  These devices are essentially Windows XP based PCs and occasionally require the same maintenance any other PC would.  This time Casper is in need of attention…

Quite a view from Casper Mountain…

Made it to the tower site…

The first step involves re-loading software on the “exporter” which takes the data stream from the “importer” and generates the overall HD Radio data stream.

One issue is that when the “exporter” is out of service the audio processor will not lock reliably to the audio signal from the satellite receiver.  I have set it to use a different audio source in the mean time.

The “exporter” is now back up and running.

Now that the exporter is running again, the next step is to get the importer connected again.  Each of these windows imports a different audio stream for the HD Radio services.

The final step is to align the audio of the analog and digital signals.  This device allows me to measure the difference between the two very precisely.

Nearly zero difference in the values.  They seldom match EXACTLY but it is critical to get them as close as possible since receivers switch rapidly between the two under poor reception conditions.

The delay in this case is set to 7.48975 seconds.

Another day, another project off my plate.  What’s next?