Contents
- Technorama
- Your Station's Tech
- File Downloads
- Studio Acoustics
- Voice over Internet Protocol
- Network Diagnostic Tools
- UPS vs Generators
Technorama brings community radio technologists together. The Technorama Facebook page is a go-to spot for all your tech and broadcast-related FAQs. Keep your eyes peeled for gear exchange and all the latest tech updates.
As a station manager or committee member, it's your job to validate that grant application, make the financial decision on a tech acquisition, fix something in an emergency, and guide the tech team.
If you’re not “tech” inclined, this can leave you feeling in over your head. This presentation, presented at the 2017 CBAA Conference, aims to help you find out what you don't know, and leave you knowing just enough. It covers phones, studios, transmitters, OBs, air conditioning, and a heap more.
See more resources:
File Downloads
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is one method of file download available to stations. It allows stations to:
- Download preferred radio content and news for airplay at any time.
- Automate the download of preferred content at regular time each week or day.
- Time-shift preferred programs to preferred times.
- 'Set and forget'. With static filenames, a combination of automated downloads and playout software keeps fresh programming going to air with minimal fuss.
The Community Radio Network is the CBAA’s program distribution and sustaining service, delivering radio programs in a real-time audio stream via satellite, and making individual program files available on-demand for integration with local playout systems. Over 110 regular programs are available each week to community stations, as well as the National Radio News to subscribers. The Community Radio Network can provide limited support for FTP downloads. Stations will need to have an FTP client on their end - either standalone software, or an add-on client.
Manual downloads
To get started manually downloading files, Filezilla offers an easy, free installation to get underway:
Programs such as Filezilla and WinSCP will provide a degree of automation through queuing when accessing multiple files. Transfers can also be automated through batch scripts and Windows Task Scheduler using some of these programs.
Browsers such as Google Chrome vers. 88 onwards do not allow FTP access through the URL pane. Extensions from the Chrome Web Store can be added to offer limited access.
Automated downloads
Some radio automation packages provide FTP download scheduling functions – check what software already in use at your station may allow when it comes to FTP.
If additional software is required, the Community Radio Network cannot guarantee the serviceability of any particular client, however we are aware of the following being used successfully:
Most FTP clients that offer automation do come with a cost - please use the above links as an index of some options.
When are files distributed?
Community Radio Network programs are uploaded after their weekly initial live playout, usually within two hours of original air time per the published schedule. National Radio News hourly bulletins are available 6 minutes before each hour. State-based bulletins are available weekdays at 17:20 NSW-time.
How are files named?
Whether it's a daily or weekly program, each new edition will replace the previous file of the same name, allowing links and file names to remain common.
This solves the need for station personnel to update their playout software each week with a new set of files, provided the files are downloading to the same location. For example, 'Service Voices.mp3' will update each week with the same filename, as will 'Rural News.mp3' each weekday.
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Studio Acoustics
See Technorama's webinar on studio acoustics.
What you’ll learn:
- General Principles: Focusing on smaller rooms and studios.
- Real Experiences: Sharing both positive and negative experiences in acoustic spaces.
- Isolation Techniques: Methods to prevent sound transmission.
- Acoustic Enhancement: Improving sound quality through managing reflection and resonance.
- Common Issues: Addressing frequent problems like doors and windows.
- Problem Solving: Solutions for external noise sources like planes, trains, automobiles, and adjacent rooms.
- Resources: Recommendations for further information and reliable references.
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Voice over Internet Protocol
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UPS vs Generators
A combination of the two is usually considered. Local consultation: It would be highly advisable for the station to consult a local electrician on the following points which will drastically affect costs.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
- UPSs cover a short fluctuations and brownouts rather than long multi-hour blackouts.
- UPSs might provide up to 30 minutes runtime to the most critical equipment, providing enough time for either:
- ‘Graceful’ shutdown of PCs and electronic devices (either manually or by software) to protect against data loss
- Start-up of a generator to provide longer term power
Generator
Transfer switching
The station will need to consider how to transfer from mains power to backup with little disruption. This can be taken to various degrees:
- As simple as unplugging a devices from mains outlet into a generator outlet.
- A manually operated switch to transfer a hardwired circuit between mains and backup generator power.
- Fully automated startup and transfer from/to mains power on failure and restoration.