An automatic transmission system (ATS) is an automatedsystem designed to keep a broadcast radio or television station's transmitter and antenna system running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods. Such systems are occasionally referred to as automated transmission systems to avoid confusion with the automatic transmission of an automobile.
Traditionally, radio and television stations were required to have a licensed operator, technician or electrical engineer available to tend to a transmitter at all times it was operating or capable of operating. Any condition (such as distorted or off-frequency transmission) that could interfere with other broadcast services would require immediate manual intervention to correct the fault or take the transmitter off the air. Facilities also had to be monitored for any fault conditions which could impair the transmitted signal or cause damage to the transmitting equipment.[1]
Because broadcast transmitters were often at a different location from the broadcast studios, attended operation required an operator to be physically located at the transmitter site. In the 1950s and 1960s, remote control systems were introduced to allow an operator at the studio to power the transmitter on or off.[1] At the same time, an early remote control system, the Automon, was developed by RCA engineers in Montréal that included a relay system that automatically detected if the transmitter was operating outside of its allowed parameters. The Automon could send the studio an alarm if the transmitter was out of tolerance and, if contact to the studio was lost, it could automatically power down the transmitter.[2] A similar system was developed in 1953 by Paul Schafer in California, using a rotary telephone to raise or lower transmitter parameters remotely.[3]
As technology improved, transmitters became more reliable, and electromechanical means of checking and later correcting problems became commonplace. Regulations eventually caught up with these advances, to allow of unattended operation via an ATS.[1] During the 1970s, the BBC made widespread use of automated systems on its UHF television network to switch from main to standby transmitters in the case of a fault, as well as to alert engineering staff to problems.[4] In 1977, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission loosened operation rules to allow stations in the United States with ATSes to automatically monitor transmitter operation and allow the ATS to automatically adjust modulation or shutdown the transmitter if operation was out of tolerance,[1][5] although the specific rules have continued to evolve with changes to the Emergency Alert System and the introduction of digital radio.[6]
Theory of operationedit
An ATS monitors conditions such as voltage, current, and temperature within the transmitter cabinet or enclosure, and often has external sensors as well, particularly on the antenna. Some systems have remote monitoring points which report back to the main unit through telemetry links.[7]
Advanced systems can monitor and often correct other problems which are considered mission-critical, such as detecting ice on antenna elements or radomes and turning on heaters to prevent the VSWR (power reflected from a mismatched antenna back into the transmitter) from going too high. High-power stations that use desiccationpumps to put dry nitrogen into their feedline (to displace moisture for increased efficiency) can also monitor the pressure. Generators, batteries, and incoming electricity can also be monitored.[7]
An ATS can also be used to automate scheduled tasks, such as lowering an AM radio station's transmission power at sundown and raising it at sunrise to meeting license requirements for different propagation patterns at day and night.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeHallikainen, Harold (1996). "Regulatory History of Operator Licenses and Transmitter Remote Control" (PDF). The NAB Guide to Unattended Station Operation: How to Run Your Transmitter Without an Operator. Washington, D.C.: National Association of Broadcasters. ISBN0-89324-247-0. OCLC 41334048.
^Potts, Lyman; Norton, Robert (2003). "Unattended Transmitter Operation — The Automon". History of Canadian Broadcasting. Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
^Stine, Randy J. (June 1, 2016) [2002-04-10]. "From the Archives: NAB Honors 'Father of Automation'". Radio World.
^"The Unattended Operation of U.H.F. Broadcasting Transmitters". BBC Engineering. No. 85. January 1971. pp. 2–3 – via Internet Archive.
^"Unattended Operation of Radio and Television Stations". Federal Communications Commission. December 13, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
^Stimson, Leslie (July 4, 2007). "FCC Looks at Changes to Rules Covering Unintended Operation" (PDF). Radio World. p. 3 – via World Radio History.
^ abcHallikainen, Harold (2007). "Transmitter Remote Control and Monitoring Systems". In Williams, Edmund A.; Jones, Graham A.; Layer, David H.; Osenkowsky, Thomas G. (eds.). National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Handbook (10th ed.). Burlington, Massachusetts: Focal Press. ISBN978-0-240-80751-5. OCLC 858995417.
automatic, transmission, system, confused, with, automatic, transmission, automatic, transmission, system, automated, system, designed, keep, broadcast, radio, television, station, transmitter, antenna, system, running, without, direct, human, oversight, atten. Not to be confused with automatic transmission An automatic transmission system ATS is an automated system designed to keep a broadcast radio or television station s transmitter and antenna system running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods Such systems are occasionally referred to as automated transmission systems to avoid confusion with the automatic transmission of an automobile Contents 1 History 2 Theory of operation 3 References 4 See alsoHistory editTraditionally radio and television stations were required to have a licensed operator technician or electrical engineer available to tend to a transmitter at all times it was operating or capable of operating Any condition such as distorted or off frequency transmission that could interfere with other broadcast services would require immediate manual intervention to correct the fault or take the transmitter off the air Facilities also had to be monitored for any fault conditions which could impair the transmitted signal or cause damage to the transmitting equipment 1 Because broadcast transmitters were often at a different location from the broadcast studios attended operation required an operator to be physically located at the transmitter site In the 1950s and 1960s remote control systems were introduced to allow an operator at the studio to power the transmitter on or off 1 At the same time an early remote control system the Automon was developed by RCA engineers in Montreal that included a relay system that automatically detected if the transmitter was operating outside of its allowed parameters The Automon could send the studio an alarm if the transmitter was out of tolerance and if contact to the studio was lost it could automatically power down the transmitter 2 A similar system was developed in 1953 by Paul Schafer in California using a rotary telephone to raise or lower transmitter parameters remotely 3 As technology improved transmitters became more reliable and electromechanical means of checking and later correcting problems became commonplace Regulations eventually caught up with these advances to allow of unattended operation via an ATS 1 During the 1970s the BBC made widespread use of automated systems on its UHF television network to switch from main to standby transmitters in the case of a fault as well as to alert engineering staff to problems 4 In 1977 the U S Federal Communications Commission loosened operation rules to allow stations in the United States with ATSes to automatically monitor transmitter operation and allow the ATS to automatically adjust modulation or shutdown the transmitter if operation was out of tolerance 1 5 although the specific rules have continued to evolve with changes to the Emergency Alert System and the introduction of digital radio 6 Theory of operation editAn ATS monitors conditions such as voltage current and temperature within the transmitter cabinet or enclosure and often has external sensors as well particularly on the antenna Some systems have remote monitoring points which report back to the main unit through telemetry links 7 Advanced systems can monitor and often correct other problems which are considered mission critical such as detecting ice on antenna elements or radomes and turning on heaters to prevent the VSWR power reflected from a mismatched antenna back into the transmitter from going too high High power stations that use desiccation pumps to put dry nitrogen into their feedline to displace moisture for increased efficiency can also monitor the pressure Generators batteries and incoming electricity can also be monitored 7 If anything goes wrong which the ATS cannot handle it can send out calls for help via pager telephone voice message or dedicated telemetry links back to a fixed point such as a broadcast studio Other than possibly listening for dead air from the studio transmitter link an ATS does not cover the programming or the studio equipment like broadcast automation but rather only the transmitter plant 7 An ATS can also be used to automate scheduled tasks such as lowering an AM radio station s transmission power at sundown and raising it at sunrise to meeting license requirements for different propagation patterns at day and night 1 References edit a b c d e Hallikainen Harold 1996 Regulatory History of Operator Licenses and Transmitter Remote Control PDF The NAB Guide to Unattended Station Operation How to Run Your Transmitter Without an Operator Washington D C National Association of Broadcasters ISBN 0 89324 247 0 OCLC 41334048 Potts Lyman Norton Robert 2003 Unattended Transmitter Operation The Automon History of Canadian Broadcasting Canadian Communications Foundation Retrieved October 30 2022 Stine Randy J June 1 2016 2002 04 10 From the Archives NAB Honors Father of Automation Radio World The Unattended Operation of U H F Broadcasting Transmitters BBC Engineering No 85 January 1971 pp 2 3 via Internet Archive Unattended Operation of Radio and Television Stations Federal Communications Commission December 13 2015 Retrieved October 30 2022 Stimson Leslie July 4 2007 FCC Looks at Changes to Rules Covering Unintended Operation PDF Radio World p 3 via World Radio History a b c Hallikainen Harold 2007 Transmitter Remote Control and Monitoring Systems In Williams Edmund A Jones Graham A Layer David H Osenkowsky Thomas G eds National Association of Broadcasters Engineering Handbook 10th ed Burlington Massachusetts Focal Press ISBN 978 0 240 80751 5 OCLC 858995417 See also editBroadcast automation and central casting Broadcast translators and repeaters Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Automatic transmission system amp oldid 1159187388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
