{"id":443,"date":"2009-10-28T08:38:07","date_gmt":"2009-10-28T12:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/?p=3928"},"modified":"2023-07-09T08:43:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-09T12:43:27","slug":"am-transmitter-site-maintenance-check-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/2009\/10\/am-transmitter-site-maintenance-check-list\/","title":{"rendered":"AM transmitter site maintenance check list"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As promised, here is the AM transmitter site maintenance checklist.\u00a0 This is for a generic directional AM station with a backup transmitter, generator, and an RF STL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Broadcast<\/a>
Broadcast Electronics AM6A transmitter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Usual disclaimers apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

AM site Maintenance checklist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekly Maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.  Visit site, Check following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Check critical transmitter values against last logged value<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Check forward\/reflected power on main transmitter<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Check and reset any overloads<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Check signal strength on STL against last logged value<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Check generator fuel level<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. General check of building, look in all rooms, inspect for damage from vandalism, Leaking roofs, obvious signs of trouble, take steps to correct.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Monthly Maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    B.  Visit site, Check following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Do a full multi-meter log, (includes tower phase angles, loop currents), run backup transmitter into dummy load.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Start and run generator for 5 minutes, check block heater, hoses, belts, oil and antifreeze levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Calibrate remote control meters with transmitter meters, log it*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Check all tower fences for integrity and locked gates*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Complete Items 3, 4 and 5 under weekly maintenance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Quarterly Maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      C.  Visit site, Check following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Complete 1 through 5 under monthly maintenance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Check all air filters, clean or replace as needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Check frequencies of all transmitters, STL receiver, and log.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Complete quarterly tower lighting and painting inspection*<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Bi-yearly Maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        D.  Visit site, Check Following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Complete 1 through 5 under quarterly maintenance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Conduct monitor point readings for all directional antenna patterns*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Check base current readings for day\/night towers.  Ratio.*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Clean backup transmitter<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Place backup transmitter on air and clean main transmitter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Yearly Maintenance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          E.  Check all licenses and authorizations for accuracy. Make sure that all renewal cards etc are in public file and are posted at control point.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          F.  Visit site, Check following<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Complete 1 through 5 under Bi-yearly maintenance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Equipment performance measurements (NRSC, Harmonics, frequency)*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Complete service of generator<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Complete Inspection of towers, check for vertical and plumb, check guy wire tensions, retension as needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Check property for anything out of the ordinary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Repair driveway as needed<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            General maintenance that is completed on an as needed basis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Re-fill fuel generator fuel tank when drops below 50 percent<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. Empty trash, sweep floors, dust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Cut\/remove vegetation inside tower fences, spray herbicide as needed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            4. Water proof tower fences every 2 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            5. Paint exterior of building<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            6. Replace tower lights*<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            7. Paint towers*<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              *These are FCC inspection items, pay close attention if you do not want a fine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

              That is it, a .pdf version of this file can be downloaded here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              As promised, here is the AM transmitter site maintenance checklist.\u00a0 This is for a generic directional AM station with a backup transmitter, generator, and an RF STL. Usual disclaimers apply. That is it, a .pdf version of this file can be downloaded here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,4],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-maintenance","category-tech-stuff","tag-am-transmitter-site"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12103,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443\/revisions\/12103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.engineeringradio.us\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}