ENG MW SELECTOR

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ENG MW SELECTOR

I am assuming that I will not be sued over this section. The reasoning is simple: All my stuff was ripped out in 2006. And none of this equipment exists anymore. I am assuming that if equipment no longer exists then it can not be considered "sensitive". I alone created the concepts, and I alone implemented them.

Here is yet another example of my system controlling a piece of gear that was located in a broadcast environment. There are so many isolated devices that are critical to the smooth running of a broadcast station. And my system incorporates all these diverse devices effortlessly.

ENG PIC16C73B CHIP PINOUT

A PIC16C73B controled the frequency of an ENG microwave receiver. My system changed the channel frequency upon an operator request from Chico, Cohasset, Tuscan or Redding.

Old dos picture:
about 1997

The present channel is channel one. It has a zero signal strength. The operator is preparing to change to channel five. After hitting return the analog bar display will shift to also channel five. The bar graph goes up and down and changes color according to signal strength. The display stays for one minute without receiver activity. The screen was part of one larger control program found on master control computers.

The screen was a visual feedback of signal strength and channel.

Audio feedback of signal strength...
In addition the Remote Van could request (by radio touch tone) a VCO tone be sent back by radio to the Remote Van to indicate signal strength. The operator could then pan the dish for maximum signal strength by listening to pitch change of a tone. The operation required only one person. The final task required the operator to call in to master control by radio or cell phone for final video and audio checks. (My system could not do that.) My technique was used every day for several years.

At times, the technique decidedly had mixed results. The technique has limitations.

If the remote van operator is going to get in with a strong signal, then there are no problems. There will be one major lobe: Great for in the fog, rain, or at night, and as a result alignment is simple.

However if the van is far away or if obstruction exist, then the signal strength is subject to multipath and fresnel losses, and all with very low signal levels in general. Also under these conditions the signal strength may vary --- all by itself --- with no panning. The operator has no choice but to call in and get another person to help with decisions that only a human can decern.

I invented the hardware and the software, and is yet one more example of something of mine that was used reliably every day: day in day out.

ruler