Top Broadcast Interview Questions Part – 2
What Is A Mhz?
MHz :
MHz is an abbreviation for MegaHertz, mega taking the meaning of 1 million. So 1,000,000 Hertz = 1 MHz.
What Are Qsl Cards?
QSL Cards :
QSL cards are usually postcards with a station’s call sign and data. These are sent to listeners who report receiving a station. Some stations will actually send a letter on station letterhead, others will send various combinations of information and maps.
What Is Rpu?
RPU – Remote Pick Up :
An RPU system is used by radio and television stations to get programming back to the studio from a “remote” broadcast. This may be a news story, sports event, or “personal appearance” at a clients business. RPU frequencies normally run in the 160 or 450 MHz band, TV in several GHz bands.
What Is Simulcast?
Simulcast :
A simulcast is when two stations run the same program at the same time in the same city. This was common practice in the early days of FM, when stations tried to save money by running the same material on AM and FM.
In an effort to reduce the spectrum waste and promote variety of programming, on October 15, 1965, the FCC made a ruling demanding that at least 50% of all programming on each station be “original.”
The practice has been revived in recent years as station groups try to use multiple stations to cover some growing markets. WTOP in Washington, DC, for example bought an AM and an FM in the suburbs to carry their signal. (According to some reports, the simulcasts can reach more people than the original station!)
What Was Eas?
EAS :
In November 1994, the EAS (Emergency Alert System) was approved by the FCC, with operations to begin January 1, 1997. Using digital signaling, the EAS was to permit sending more than an alert, actual information could be sent, printed out, and rebroadcast on command.
What Was Ebs?
EBS :
To replace Conelrad, the EBS (Emergency Broadcast System) was put into place in 1963. Originally as outlined, stations were to test weekly. They were supposed to set off “carrier detect” receivers by the following sequence (As Conelrad receivers operated on the “loss of carrier” principle, they were still used for that purpose with the EBS program.):
turn their transmitters off for 5 seconds.
turn their transmitters on for 5 seconds.
turn their transmitters off for 5 seconds.
turn their transmitters on.
broadcast a 1000 Hertz tone for 15 seconds to alert other stations.
broadcast a “test” message so the public understood what was going on.
What Was Conelrad?
CONELRAD :
Conelrad (CONtrol of ELectronic RADiation) was set up in 1951 to provide warnings to the public during the Cold War. Upon alert, most stations would go off the air.
Each remaining station was to move to either 640 or 1240 kHz, and alternate with other such local stations, supposedly so no enemy Direction Finding equipment could lock onto locations in the US. Or course, most stations were not really that far apart, in air miles, so it was not a very useful system. Actual activations were apparently very few.
What’s This About A “wandering Call Sign?”
The story is how KYW went from Chicago to Philadelphia to Cleveland and then back to Philadelphia. In 1934, with the government quota for stations in the Chicago area full, Westinghouse was forced to move to Philadelphia in order to keep the clear channel frequency. Total mileage moved: around 1400.
Later, a swap between Westinghouse and NBC sent KYW to Cleveland for nine years, but it returned to its original Philadelphia facility in June 1965 after several court cases.
Another interesting story is how WTOP started its life in Brooklyn as WTRC, changed calls to WTFF and moved to Virginia, then finally landing on 1500 in Washington, DC, 215 miles away.
In 2013, the FCC granted moves for Channel 3 in Ely, NV to Middletown, NJ (2159 miles, more or less) and Channel 2 in Jackson, WY to Wilmington, DE (about 1828 miles) under order from the US Court of Appeals, citing a 1980s law that guaranteed VHF licenses to TV stations relocating to states without them.
Side note:
We ought not forget the Portable Stations, a special class that existed until 1928. Some were used as demonstration purposes by manufacturers. C.L.Carrell had a half dozen or so portables, which he took to different cities and state fairs in the midwest. The FRC finally ruled that all portables had to become “fixed” in one location or lose their licenses. Most ended up in midwestern towns.
What Are Some Famous “k” Calls And Their Meanings?
Detroit KOP Detroit Police Department
Los Angeles KFWB Warner Brothers
Los Angeles KFSG Four Square Gospel (Aimee Semple McPherson)
Phoenix KOOL “It’s Cool in Phoenix”
Phoenix KTAR Keep Taking the Arizona Republican
San Diego KGB NOT owned by the Russians….
San Francisco KFOG (Where else?)
Tucson KVOA Voice Of Arizona
Tucson KOLD “It’s Cold in Tucson”
What Are Some Famous “w” Calls And Their Meanings?
Atlanta WSB Welcome South Brother
Boston WEEI Edison Electrical Illuminating
Chicago WGN World’s Greatest Newspaper
Chicago WLS World’s Largest Store
Davenport WOC World of Chiropractic
Hartford WTIC Traveler’s Insurance Co.
Hartford WHCN Harford Concert Network
New York WMCA McAlpin Hotel
Nashville WSM We Shield Millions
Norfolk WGH World’s Greatest Harbor
Rochester WHAM (no meaning, just sequential)
Tampa WSUN The Sun … but slogan: Why Stay Up North?
What Does The “am” In Am Stations Mean?
Contrary to popular belief, AM does *not* mean “Ancient Modulation.” It refers to the method of modulating the amplitude, or strength of a fixed frequency carrier to allow detection of the program matter. The Standard Broadcast Band (using AM modulation) in the USA runs from 540 kHz to 1700 kHz in 10 kHz steps. In other regions of the world, there are different spacings (often 9 kHz).