Update and bump: The many great comments about the SBE certifications got me thinking about what a Broadcast Engineer actually does. I remember typing something about it quite some time ago, thus, I dredged up this old post originally from August 8, 2009 out of the archive.
Enjoy:
The other day, the NTR (Non-Traditional Revenue) person came to me and said “Great news! We hired a new web guy, he knows all about engineering too!”
Really?
So I spoke to the new Web Master/Broadcast Engineer for a bit. As it turns out, he knows how to do things like reboot the XDS satellite receiver, and reboot an Audiovault server, he has been to a transmitter site a few times to take meter readings. I suppose these days, that is what counts as being a broadcast engineer. Someone with this level of experience could get by for a bit until something really bad happened.
Sadly, I think (my former employer) upper management and ownership believe that this guy could do my (old) job. To them, I am an employee number, with a salary and benefits package worth X. If they can replace me with someone that makes <X, that would represent savings. Plug that guy into this spot, everything will go on as it did before.
I don’t think they understand exactly what a Broadcast Engineer does. On any given day, I may:
- Program an automated computer
- Change the battery on a backup generator
- Change the battery bank in an 18 KVA UPS
- Clean a transmitter
- Aim a satellite dish
- Troubleshoot a DS-1 Circuit
- Troubleshoot a T-1 MUX
- Repair a microwave transmitter or receiver
- Take a set of monitor points
- Repair a tower light flasher circuit
- Install a console (analog, digital, IP routing, TDM routing)
- Repair a CD player
- Troubleshoot a transmitter RF module
- PM a generator
- Work with a tower crew to place an antenna on a tower
- Install an RF connector on 3-inch transmission line
- Wire an air conditioning unit at a transmitter site
- Repair lightning-damaged ATU
- Troubleshoot an AC unit
- Aim an STL antenna
- Repair an RPU transmitter
- Design a computer network
- Troubleshoot and repair an FM transmitter
- Wire a new rack room
- Coordinate a complex format change
- Install a translator
- Program and wire a new satellite receiver
- Wire a transmitter remote control
- Hike to a transmitter site after a natural disaster
- Troubleshoot an audio hum
- Pass an FCC inspection
- Install and program an EAS unit
- Wire a new studio
- Design a tower light monitor circuit
- Fix a studio phone system
- Install an audio router
- Match an AM transmitter to a new tower
- Wire an ethernet patch panel
- Program a wireless access point
- Install an IP router
- Manage a new tower project
- Install a new transmitter
- Re-install an old transmitter
- Make NRSC measurements on an AM transmitter
- Repair a corrupt OS
- Replace a hard drive
- Reboot a server
- Fix a reel-to-reel machine
- Install a computer program
- Clean a console
- Pass an inspection by the fire marshal
To name a few. In other words, there are a lot of complex systems at a multi-station radio facility. Some of this can be learned at various schools and colleges. A lot of it is experience. There is no substitute for an experienced veteran broadcaster who has seen almost everything and can think on his or her feet.
I have had this discussion with the market manager, and he gets it. I know that he understands and knows more about the ins and outs of all of our studio and transmitter sites. Things like, where is the water shutoff, the handle is broken off of the toilet on the second floor. Of course, I know it is downstairs in the furnace room next to the fire sprinkler system.
I know where the skeletons are buried. I have the inside numbers for the utility companies and the phone company. I know the code enforcement officer for most of the municipalities where we own buildings and property.
Yet, the only thing they see is X.
