Development of a remote tending system for analog broadcast transmitters

Whenever a broadcast transmitter is on-air, it is required to be tended by licensed broadcast technicians. Technicians periodically monitor the transmitter performance, record the supply voltage and current at the last stage of the power amplifier and keeps a copy for at least two years. Also recorded are the times the transmitter is turned ON and OFF as well as the times the transmitter shuts down and returns back to air. This paper proposes a system to remotely tend analog transmitters in one central monitoring station. The remote tending of several transmitters in one location is made possible through internet connection. However, the challenge in the proposed system is in the gathering of transmitter data. A prototype of the system was constructed and tested in an FM broadcast transmitter. Test results on the prototype performance show that the proposed system can effectively be used to remotely monitor, record data and control the status of analog broadcast transmitters. The primary feature of the proposed system of monitoring several transmitters in one location will bring cost effective advantages to the broadcast operators. © 2019 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved

Remote tending of modern broadcast transmitters

Once broadcast transmitters are put into operation, regulatory bodies in different countries require the equipment to be monitored, data logged and controlled. Normally, transmitter personnel turn ON the transmitter at the start of the broadcasting activities, and turn it OFF at the end of the activities. They also regularly record the transmitter meter readings on output power, voltage and current as long as the transmitter is on-air. These data must be logged and saved for future references. These procedures are done by transmitter personnel manually. With the advent of internet technology, this paper presents a system to remotely monitor, gather and record meter readings, and a provision to control the turning ON/OFF as well as to adjust the output power of a number of digital transmitters. All these procedures are done in one central location. The system was implemented and then tested using a digital television transmitter. Results of the tests show that the developed system capable of performing the functions of a transmitter technician in monitoring, logging and control of broadcast transmitters remotely. With the use of the system, broadcast networks can reduce operating costs in tending their transmitters but still able to comply with the requirements. © 2019 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved