We now have tracks on the new WPR utility vehicle! Still no cab but that will come shortly. At least now I can access a couple of sites that have desperately needed attention for the past few weeks!
A nice view of the scenery from Beaver Rim.
www.broadcastengineer.org
One Broadcast Engineer's blog…
Lingle
Posted in January 29th, 2013
I had received a call from my Lingle transmitter site that the transmitter was running at low power. I made a trip up to the site to check it out. Fortunately this site was an easy drive. I decided to take a new (to me) vehicle–a 2005 Dodge Durango. It was a very enjoyable drive.
My new “chariot”–My Ford F250 work truck is still my first choice but this will do the job when it isn’t available (or for shorter trips).
Snow Vehicle
Posted in January 18th, 2013
At long last I received approval to go ahead and purchase a reliable utility vehicle that I can use during the winter to access my transmitter sites. The vehicle is a 4×4 Polaris Ranger Crew Cab. It will comfortably haul up to 6 people and a bed full of cargo. Towing capacity is up to 1 ton! With a track kit and heated cab this will be quite nice for accessing snowbound sites. We purchased a trailer to go with the vehicle as well. The tracks should arrive next week but I took it out for a quick spin after picking up the trailer and vehicle.
One brand new trailer to tow behind my trusty work truck, UW88…
Pinedale
Posted in January 17th, 2013
After the work in Afton we went to Pinedale to investigate a reception issue. Everything turned out to be OK but the remote control is giving some strange readings. I will have to come back once I have a snow vehicle.
The view from my hotel room in Pinedale
Afton satellite signal issues
Posted in January 16th, 2013
Today’s travels brought me to beautiful Afton, Wyoming. Shortly after I had received the report of the Rock Springs outage I received additional reports that Afton was off the air as well. Once again, I suspected satellite receiver issues but had no way to positively confirm it without an Internet connection to the site.
The road to Afton from Rock Springs involves a pretty snowy mountain pass…Clearly this part of the state got even more snow than Laramie!
Rock Springs Satellite Receiver Failure
Posted in January 15th, 2013
I received a message earlier this morning that both of my Rock Springs stations were off the air. All indications were that the satellite receiver had failed. This was not an uncommon issue in the past with these receivers but it had not happened recently. The first challenge was getting to the site…
Interstate 80–Lots of blowing snow!
Fort Washakie
Posted in December 11th, 2012
I’d like to welcome the newest station in the Wyoming Public Media network, 90.9 KUWW in Fort Washakie. This station was recently transferred to WPM by another broadcaster. I visited the transmitter site recently to install some additional equipment and ensure FCC compliance.
Once again UW88 stands waiting at the building inside the fence. This is a very nicely built transmitter site.
Gillette Blower Motor Failure-Part 2
Posted in October 16th, 2012
Yesterday I had driven up to my Gillette transmitter site and discovered a failed blower motor in the air conditioning system. I was able to find a replacement and have it shipped overnight to my hotel.
Callie and Leo wait patiently with me at the hotel until the parts arrive…
Gillette Blower Motor Failure-Part 1
Posted in October 15th, 2012
I had received an alert of high temperatures at our Gillette transmitter site…A (not so short) drive up to the site later and I found the issue…
Here’s the problem…The blower motor had stopped running. I quickly worked to find a replacement and have it sent overnight. To be continued…
Work on Pilot Hill
Posted in October 14th, 2012
I’ve been doing work for another broadcaster recently–a large Christian radio network based out of California. Since engineers are so hard to come by, I told them I’d give them a hand by checking on their sites once a month (at least those closest to me when they aren’t snowed in). One of these sites happens to be on the same local hill as my own Laramie transmitter site. They mentioned that the site was running at low power and that the remote control was not responding properly. I went to check it out.
Leo looks on as I inspect the equipment rack…(Yes, the blur is normal with him–it’s tough to get him to sit still long enough for a good picture!)
