The Blare Blog
Center
of the Bla Bla Galaxy
The Thick of Things
October
2021
Sunday October 31, 2021 11:10 AM CDT -- Messed Up Morning --
We
opened shop at 3:30 AM in the middle of the night so we could reset the
entire website and radio station for the return of Standard Time, but
came to realize that next weekend is when the change takes place. Well
good. So we went through the startup procedure to put the radio stream
on the web but were hearing no audio. Double and triple checking it
appeared that our Wi-Fi STL (Studio Transmitter Link) was not
funtioning, and backup gear is put away somewhere and would
require an extensive rewiring, so we starting eating what would be
three breakfasts. The shortest distance between two points is a
straight line but there've been no straight lines today.
Sunday October 31, 2021 5:16 AM CDT -- IMPORTANT CORRECTION !! --
Standard Time returns Sunday November 7th at 2 AM (not Sunday October 31 as previously reported).
Friday October 29, 2021 5:01 PM CDT -- Sun Day Halloween Solar Flare --
Another solar flare alert.
Friday October 29, 2021 4:40 PM CDT -- From the Observatory --
Dark
and rainy with sirens all day but we don't know what's up. Are you
having sirens in your town and if so, do you know what the problems
are? Being a news station you'd think we'd have some facts but part 15
low power radio stations are not known for up to date information. We
come very close to being a source of information and do a fair job of
reporting on shortcomings.
UPDATE
on all the sirens... A four-alarm fire took place north of here and a
number of municipalities responded passing nearby.
Friday October 29, 2021 4:38 PM CDT -- 5G Interference to Airliners --
Friday October 29, 2021 2:14 PM CDT -- Traces of Art Bell --
An
absolute radio man and originator of the popular Coast-to-Coast AM show
Art Bell was also a HAM operator and station owner in Pahrump, Nevada.
Thursday October 28, 2021 6:45 PM CDT -- Alec Baldwin and KDX --
For
eight years KDX carried New York Philharmonic Broadcasts hosted by Alec
Baldwin and more recently we've heard some of his regular public radio
series titled "Here's the Thing", the latest edition recorded October
12th with guest Dr. Anthony Fauci, to be on the KDX Saturday schedule
coming up. Most sadly and tragically the fatal shooting incident took
place one week ago today and investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Thursday October 28, 2021 5:33 PM CDT -- 16" Transcription Disks from the 1930s --
About 1,000 electrical transcriptions from the back shelves of the National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan.
Thursday October 28, 2021 2:03 PM CDT -- Hear by Listening Here --
Presenting a combined Blare OnAir and Low Power Hour done together in one
program packed with radio material not found anywhere else. It's the
best show we have ever done.
Thursday October 28, 2021 6:08 AM CDT -- Transmitters Put Out --
Low
power AM transmitters of the variety known as "intentional radiators"
in FCC rules Part 15 are usually designed with non-standard output
impedances thereby requiring antennas customized for individual models.
The discussion is somewhat moot by the reality that quality low power
AM kits are no longer available and the more upscale certified
transmitters solve the output situation by including proprietary
optimized antenna systems. Regardless of reality we are pursuing
antenna development experiments utilizing three SSTran
units, once the premium choice for self-builders. The FCC
rules permit self-built transmitters and in our fixed and inarguable
opinion kits qualify as literally self built despite disagreement of
many interpretors. Ours is an academic exploration in search of as
yet undiscovered possibilities.
Thursday October 28, 2021 5:23 AM CDT -- As I See It --
I
I I we we we. "We" find ourselves referring to our self as "we" instead
of "I" but why? It might have something to do with early parental
guidance teaching "us" to be humble and self-effacing, yet being
confident enough to write as if "one" were an entire committee. Seems
to all of us including me that "we" in this situation is known as
the "editorial we", and I myself think we know what that means, but
I'll have to look it up sometime to bolster our confidence. Actually
there's a small amount of authority gained by being an entire assembly
all behind one pen. We all agree on that.
Frequently articles
about mind, brain, consciousness and the like are noticed during a
day's scroll, and I have a few thoughts about it. We read that "brain"
and "mind" are not the same thing, and I tend to believe that the brain
is a biochemical mechanism capable of generating mind which is an
economical way of saying "thoughts". An analogy might be to compare the
brain to a furnace, which is a mechanism that generates heat. Heat is
the product of the furnace and mind is the product of the brain. It
actually seems obvious, but many writers dicker about it. To recognize
the place of "consciousness" in the whole thing we could say
that consciousness is the carrier generated by the brain upon
which thinking is modulated. We further contend that consciousness
harbors a switchboard between other biological functions plus external
stimuli and "the will" which is a sub-system that determines what we do
next is always at play as a driver of physical action. For example
right now our will has us working on this essay while a competing
message has us considering a coffee break. There were a few other ideas
we planned to attach along the line but radio station KDX is about
ready to sign on and I need to download a newscast from RT America.
Steve Gibson's Picture of the Week - TWiTtv
Wednesday October 27, 2021 6:59 AM CDT -- Loose Ends --
Standard
Time returns as soon as halloween dawns. CORRECTION!! Daylight Time Ends/Standard Time Resumes 2 AM SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7th!! The Nano VNA device may not have
any value for part 15 low power radio because it has no accuracy when
measuring very high impedances. And we have two food questions: Is
peanut butter actually food as long claimed, or is it just
tasty grease? Is honey really beneficial to good health according to
legend or is it just sticky sugar? With cooler weather arriving we'll
be advised to calk and seal the house to block cold
air drafts and heated air leaking out, but here's what
they never say... in a tightly sealed house the oxygen level drops as
inhabitants breath and the resulting stale air will cause everyone to
become sleepy and groggy as cold viruses thrive and spread.There is no upside and it's unlikely there ever will be.
Tuesday October 26, 2021 2:56 PM CDT -- Jessica Rosenworcel Now Permanent FCC Chair --
Tuesday October 26, 2021 6:34 AM CDT -- The Analysis of an Analyzer --
Since
first blogging our interest in an SSA-2N Nano VNA V 2.2 we have been up
late at night viewing many YouTube videos about the device and become
already trained on possible lab applications for it, but a key
question remains before we can be sure that special part
15 requirements are served. Because a prime use of interest is antenna
analysis we know that the VNA specializes in 50-ohm readings, the
standard impedance of antenna networks, but it remains that part 15 low
power transmitters are idealized at a non-standard impedance owing to
the short antenna restrictions imposed by FCC rule. The
SSA-2N has flexibility and can be calibrated for 75-ohms, the impedance
norm for cable systems and home video equipment, and also over
a range of impedances, but the upper and lower limits are unknown but
make the difference whether this VNA would be useful for our work.
Monday October 25, 2021 1:39 PM CDT -- Forums Reconsidered --
We're
not talking about the popular NPR program. When we say 'forum' we have
in mind the social web sites known by that description and offering
two-way communication on designated topics, our field of interest being
low power hobby radio. We have long criticized the few such forums for
various reasons but haven't put our money where our mouth is by
starting a better forum, although we recurringly talk about it.
At this point we could post our reasons for staying clear of such an
endeaver but what we'd rather see is the right dedicated and
progressive person come along and do it properly so we can enjoy participation
without being being stifled by stunted moderators.
Monday October 25, 2021 1:35 PM CDT --
If we could relive the past we would miss out on the future.
- Carl Blare in turning down a return to bygone days
Monday October 25, 2021 12:26 NOON CDT --
As much as we live in the world we also live in our heads.
- Thom Hartmann, The Thom Hartmann Program as heard on KDX
Monday October 25, 2021 11:33 AM CDT -- Our Onion is Safe --
A serious onion recall was sent out by the Center for Disease Control.
Of
course we set about checking our onions. We had one big fat white onion
purchased about a month ago, and a pack of three red ones from last
week. The white one was completely unmarked nor did the store receipt
give any details, while the red bunch was marked "Grown in USA" whereas
the bad onions were grown in Mexico. While at the grocer stocking for
the storm we asked a shelver if she knew about the onions but she
hadn't heard of any recalls, but luckily another shelver overheard us
and peeked around the corner to say that the recall did not affect
their stores. We returned to finish out our days with a good healthy
onion.
Monday October 25, 2021 9:10 AM CDT -- Weather Attack --
Yesterday afternoon with temperature at 80o
Farenheit a tornado watch was declared across several midwestern states
with two separate storm fronts approaching at different angles. The KDX
preparedness team rushed an unscheduled grocery trip to be sure we'd be
well stocked with snacks down in the sub-cellars beneath the Internet
Building, being sure to park the official mobile unit out of reach of
the tall tree to improve hopes of emerging with secondary shelter in
the form of a hatch back car. We waited but the storm didn't start so
we plunged into a sleep so deep that all thought of danger
extinquished entirely and when we later regained consciousness the
temperature had dropped to 52 with a chilly wind stirring in
the dark so we mixed a hot chocolate and contemplated the flimsiness of
home construction materials, vulnerable as we are against elements
determined to devour us. A few nearby locations were not so fortunate
as tornadoes demolished sections of several towns in at least two
states, not managing to injure or kill any people making this a humane
weather event.
Sunday October 24, 2021 8:49 AM CDT -- Shortwave Broadcasting --
Far
less talked about with regard to low power broadcasting is the
shortwave spectrum between 1.7 and 30 MHz and there are at least two
reasons for this. For one, most individuals who take an interest in the
low power hobby seek to replicate their own experience of having found
AM FM formats attractive with little or no earlier awareness of
shortwave. Then there's the fact that no certified and hardly any other
decent shortwave transmitters exist and most radio hobbyists lack the know-how to
design and build something as exotic as any kind of transmitter.
A lot can be learned about the past and present state of shortwave radio in the U.S. by visiting the website of
KDX
Worldround Radio would like to see the FCC authorize a set of shortwave
frequencies in the 6 to 7 MHz region especially for hobby
experimentation at perhaps 1 Watt with no antenna restrictions.
Saturday October 23, 2021 10:04 AM CDT -- All the Same --
Saturday
programming on KDX Worldround Radio delivers some mighty good listening.
Al Franken on his Al Franken Program said, "It's easier to be an evil
genius than it is to be a genius". And Seth Andrews on his 'The
Thinking Atheist' ran through a list of ancient superstitions that
continue to exist with no sign of letting up, such as triskaiddaphobia,
the fear or avoidance of the number 13; The belief that certain things
come in threes marked by the sacred triangle; and All Hallow's Eve, the
evening before All Saints Day when demons, devils and the dead wreak
havoc, to name three continuing superstitions. Humans retain these
beliefs and certain practices
that grow out of them without ever growing or advancing, a form of
persistent retardation that repeats in annual cycles through simple one
act scripts. We've already mentioned Halloween when everyone
voluntarilly masks up and threatens mischief preventable only by petty
ransom payments, and there's Christmas, the birthday of Christ where
Christ is always a baby but gifts are given to everyone except the
little Celebrant of Honor. Also not to forget Thanksgiving which, not
formally a religious holiday, none the less calls for 'gratitude'
amidst what we've taken from indigenous people while administering their
genocide
and marked by warmly given meals for the homeless during the one day
when we're not trying to get rid of them.
We should be creative
and finally invent some new variant superstitions by including radio in
the mix. Let's say that all broadcast stations with the number 13 are
going off the air faster than any other category. AM stations between
1300 and 1390 kHz are dropping like flies, TV channel 13 is emptying
fast and even CB channel 13 has been DXing voices of dead radio
pirates.
How about one more silly situation. So, you're driving on the
road at exactly midnight of a very dark night while on the radio George
Noway is doing the annual ghost edition of his Shore-to-Shore show.
Just as he mentions 'black cat' you see a black cat sitting in the
middle of the road staring at you. In a state of fright you veer
abruptly to avoid hitting the cat and find yourself in a rain saturated
corn field with tires sunk in the mud. A beautiful woman appears from
the stalks well illuminated and tells you, "I am the farmer's daughter
and I've been waiting for you." Your fear instantly dissipates as you
become certain that you are having good luck. Day's later your car is
found but no one ever knows what happened to you. And now back to The
Blog.
Saturday October 23, 2021 7:20 AM CDT -- You Can't Say That --
Those
of us who haven't been cowed by robotic accusations of 'conspiracy
theorist' consider ourselves aware that 9-11 was in fact and truly a
pre-arranged attack on the U.S. by larger agencies than a few rag-tag
do-it-your-selfers. In the interest of caution we've stopped short of
naming names, even though you can find such disclosures elsewhere. The
Blare Blog is not posititioning itself as another WikiLeaks, although
we'd surely be better informed if Jamal Khashoggi, Jullian Assange and
Edward Snowden hadn't been forced out of the picture. So, here we are
again with 'official' versions of the COVID Pandemic crumbling into
another self abuse war story likely based on a lab leak of weaponized
virus under joint development by the U.S. and China, maybe
intentionally released, but certainly again resulting in further
crack-down on liberties and democratic values. The same conservatives
that consider abortion taboo are loyal to mass culling of established
adults leaving more of the earth's dwindling resources for the
de-populated survivors. The human race may side-step extinction by
achieving survival of the stupid.
Saturday October 23, 2021 7:16 AM CDT -- I Can See Us Having One of These --
Might be just the thing for our antenna development.
VNA = Vector Network Analyzer
Saturday October 23, 2021 3:56 AM CDT -- Reflections on Decision Making --
Decisions
are made by individuals, family/friend teams or committees and I
personally like to employ all three when possible, and have recognized
a fourth decision-making approach comprised of fictitious characters.
Sole
decision makers are humitarian if they are empathic and rule for the
common good, referred to as benevolent dictatorship. But the
authoritarian dictator by comparison is a tyrant, as we've seen in the
hostile takeover of the short-lived Association for Low Power
Broadcasters (ALPB) wherein an ex-chairman ignored all the carefully
crafted bylaws of the membership and seized control. Fortunately the
renegade behavior of the ex-chair is not the focus of this brief essay,
only serving as an example.
Consulting with family members and
close friends is done by most of us when pondering a decisive choice,
although after considering all the input we alone make the ultimate
decision. Probably this approach pertains mainly to personal affairs in
which the consultants have a stake.
Assembling a board of
directors or committee opens the way for gathering educated advice by
which to make a final decision or can be empowered to themselves render
an outcome. Again we use the example of the ALPB which, in its short
existence, called on members to cast votes on issues brought to the
table. When their invested effort was overridden by a rogue
ex-chairman, it was up the them to stand as the higher authority and
use their own bylaws to expell him for behavior detrimental to the
organization, but they chose instead to scatter and disband. But again
I digress.
Now the meat. Over time, and inspired by radio
actors and good novelists, I have found that fictitious characters can
be infused with traits and varying personalities such that they
constitute a virtual committee able to sort out issues put before them
leading to outcomes as suitable as by real persons. Only recently my
imaginaries reached consensus in approving an approach to manual labor
which I've followed: When faced with a pending chore the question is...
can it be done tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a very busy day.
Saturday October 23, 2021 3:27 AM CDT -- Radio Phvern Website --
Friday October 22, 2021 3:04 PM CDT -- Radio Phvern On the Move -
Member David Holden leaving town by the back way:
Carl:
Hope you're well! So Radio Phvern, my ham stations, and
my businesses, are all moving. Selling off all my urban properties
and buying a small farm. Might sell my cafe, don't know. Just sold
my house.
Must be gone by 3/31/22. Don't know where I'm moving
just yet. We're about to find out
if the station will cover the acreage.
It's good to keep you in the loop, Carl. You've always been
helpful and I appreciate it. I don't want to lose touch as I recall
I don't hear from you on the boards. Of course I'm hardly there
myself.
That was e-mail no. 1, and The Blog sent a return message asking about farming plans. Livestock? Crops?
Yes on farming. Small cattle like goats or alpacas
are on our minds. Lots of
suitable places to move to. I'm guessing we'll go back to chickens
too but on a slightly larger scale from urban living. I'd like to
have geese too (great omelettes!). This past summer we grew about a
1/3 of all our veggies urban. Our first year out we plan to go for
1/2, then all by year 3. Oh, and solitude with no neighbors
close by on 30 acres is of high esteem.
So any radio other than listening to a scanner has
not been in play lately. Keeping up with noting it on a website has
been low priority. It really wasn't our plan to leave now, but the
city is disintegrating. It's quite dangerous. When I bought here 20
years ago I had no plan to ever go but I stumbled across a cash
buyer. So we go. - D - Radio Phvern
Monday October 18, 2021 5:46 AM CDT -- What is That Tall Thing Over There? --
Monday October 18, 2021 5:24 AM CDT -- Antenna University --
Steve Rossiter on behalf of GatesAir deliveres a mighty webinar on the subject of broadcast antennas.
Saturday October 16, 2021 3:22 PM CDT -- Boing Boing is as On Top Of It as Any of Them --
The
Blare Blog has never met in person with Boing Boing-dot-Net but we feel
a kinship because they tend to link things that we'd link, and often do,
thanks to them. Here's one that comes really close to home. This past
week we carried Sophie & Co from RT America because it promised to
look seriously about what death is, and it did, and I'll have more to
say on the subject as I have more time, but here's a sampler:
Saturday October 16, 2021 2:53 PM CDT -- It's As If It Never Existed --
An
enthralled William Shatner having seen the wonder of earth from the
infinity of blackness he reported seeing everywhere else allows the
rest of us to be vicariously inspired by what he describes, but what we
also are losing. We're not pulling out of the deathward plunge human
life is costing but, philosophically speaking, does the earth's fragile
beauty depend on an observer to exist? At least some of us have had the
chance to be one of the observers. And perhaps the ability to see and
recognize wonderment and beauty is the most important contribution our
species is able to bring to existence. It seems like a genuine equation
to me: beauty and its observer. Very many have devoted themselves to
expressing what beauty they find through works of art including
literature and music and the rest of us become each others audience to
appreciate what the artistic have produced. But is an artistic creation
of any value if no one discovers or appreciates it? While Shatner is
concerned about the planet we are in the process of losing, I have
always felt moved to spread the word about the great music and
tremendous written works someone devoted themselves to composing, but
have been disappointed by the dull indifference and lack of receptivity
demonstrated by average people. The majority of our population will
live and die with no inkling of what they have ignored. Whether it's a
universe or a symphony, if no one observes it, it's like it never
existed.
Saturday October 16, 2021 8:33 AM CDT -- The Arch Between the Beginning and the End --
In
1974 Jerzy Semkow, Polish born orchestra conductor, directed a
performance of Symphony No. 5 by Sergei Prokofiev and I was present
with complimentary tickets owing to my place as a classical music radio
host. The Prokofiev 5th was known to me and well liked, but the Semkow
interpretation was absolutely spell binding and shook me up so much
that I attended the two additional performances that weekend. What
Semkow had revealed was the arch connecting the work together from its
beginning to its ending, and that ending came by shear surprise at a
point when the music seemed lost in frustration and confusion. The last
minute of the work entered a whole other universe and managed to be
what the entire preceding movements were so earnestly seeking but
then reached an abrupt end leaving us with only a glimpse of what
it was all about. You had
to be there. I bring it up now because this morning I learned that
Maestro Semkow died in 2014 at age 86.
Friday October 15, 2021 6:43 AM CDT -- Adam Curry Guest with Megyn Kelly --
Adam
Curry and John C. Dvorak host the twice weekly 'No Agenda' as heard on
KDX Worldround Radio. Adam was Megyn Kelly's guest on her show.
Thursday October 14, 2021 2:37 PM CDT -- Things I Think --
One
benefit of having a blog is the opportunity to say what I think. It's
never necessary to ask permission or apply for a license, although it
would be handy if we had a legal department that could advise as to the
risks involved with being too candid, but it would have to be pro bono
since blogging earns nothing except feelings of accomplishment when
something smart gets thought and expressed. I think we'll very much miss the
Mischke Roadshow, a rare and original program that's announced its
final phase from now through the end of the year. We've talked about
Tommy D. Mischke before, in the Blog, on the Low Power Hour, and within
the Blare OnAir program. It was by accident that one night I was trying
to hear something, anything, somewhere on the radio dial that was
better than the sports & religion we're exposed to in the home
town, and WCCO Minneapolis was beaming in on 830 kHz with a guy venting
frustration because a guest had failed to show up due to a scheduling
blunder. The host started throwing objects at the studio wall and
storming a little bit over his awkward
situation having 2-hours to fill by himself. It
may seem peculiar that throwing pencils and staplers at the wall was
what pleased me, but local radio is really that bad. It was an
introduction to the only creative talent in America on that night, and
when he announced his departure from the CBS station my hope for radio
was clouded in dismay. At the time I had my own hobby station and threw
my own items at the wall which gave some relief, but things perked up
when word arrived that TD Mischke was going to do a podcast from his
car driving around America! I e-mailed and was granted permission to
carry The Mischke Roadshow on KDX, but now at Episode 139 finality is
again in the air with the last Roadshows having been announced. I think
he'll again do something creative, and I think I'll be watching closely
with hopes of involving KDX in whatever it is. There's thinking to be
done.
Thursday October 14, 2021 1:53 PM CDT -- All the Other Vinyl Records --
Whether
it's a yard sale, a thrift shop, or an estate sale, there are places
where strange LP records turn up, stuff we've never heard or heard of.
The one man who has made it his mission to explore all the old
boxes and shelves is DJ Frederick, also known as Moe Frederick. He is
known for several radio programs including the Radio Thrift Shop,
presenting the prime finds from his rummagings. But there is a deeper,
dustier part of the basement and the garage where the real odd stuff
resides and now you can dig around thanks to DJ Frederick's sub-series
called Radio Thrift Shop: Bargain Basement. Here's the door code:
OK, once you're at Radio4all's Search Page enter the words - 'bargain basement', and you're in. Wear old clothes.
Thursday October 15, 2021 9:29 AM CDT -- William Shatner Returns to Earth --
He saw Mother Earth from 63-Miles Away.
William Shatner is heard every Saturday on KDX-Worldround Radio on his RT program 'I Don't Understand'.
Thursday October 14, 2021 6:08 AM CDT -- Before the Beginning --
KDX
Worldround Radio first began streaming on the internet in June of 2007,
but had a before-life existence dating back 25-years earlier. Cable
Radio Station KDX-FM was first registered as a division of Terrestrial
Broadcasting Service, Incorporated, on January 25th, 1982, in
anticipation of what we had reason to believe would be a futuristic
radio service opening in our area in the form of a second FM band
available to cable TV subscribers. A tour of the Little Rock, Arkansas,
radio market provided an early demonstration of cable FM, delivering
stereophonic sound for prime TV channels Showtime and HBO, plus
radio services including BBC from London, National Weather Service ,
and cable-only independent FM stations able to lease time to operate
commercial or noncommercial radio services to cable subscribers.
According to Broadcasting Magazine cable FM was a potential growth area
that would merit magazine space but right at that time the FCC
authorized stereo audio via television and cable FM was discontinued.
No matter, because when internet streaming became possible we simply
repurposed Cable Station KDX-FM and once more lived up to our slogan -
Ahead of the Future!
Wednesday October 13, 2021 10:39 AM CDT -- Fair Use --
Very
small non-commercial streaming radio stations might wonder whether they
can dodge the expense of copyright royalties by a claim of "Fair Use",
referring to a special provision of copyright law, link to be provided
after a few more words. It would be our unlawyerly opinion that the
answer would be "no" based on the common style of popular music
programming practiced by average stations. Without elaboration we
suspect there are unconventional ways of constructing music programs
which would qualify under the Fair Use Doctrine but the typical micro
station would find such an undertaking beyond their know how.
Tuesday October 12, 2021 10:30 AM CDT -- Radio
Radio.
Monday October 11, 2021 2:56 PM CDT -- GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING --
Monday October 11, 2021 11:48 AM CDT -- No Mail Today --
KDX
Worldround Radio and this website were fully offline for awhile earlier
while an electrical storm moved through the area. When calm returned
the website came back but there's no radio stream because we're on
standby alert with continuing storm activity in a large portion of the
vicinity. As we watched the Lightning Map and followed the National
Weather Service outlook we noticed the use of the term 'Columbus Day'
and recalled that President Biden had said something about "Indigenous
Peoples' Day", but no official change having taken place the thing of
main importance is that there'll be no mail delivery.
Monday October 11, 2021 7:21 AM CDT -- The Ground Floor --
The
informal definition of 'ground floor', according to
thefreedictionary.com, is "The beginning of a venture, especially
regarded as a position of advantage", as - "In on the ground floor".
There are several ways the expression applies to part 15 low power
radio hobbyists. Those who were impressed by the age of personality
disc jockeys found that fond memories of the time can be replicated
by building and programming personal radio stations, and others
who were literally employed in the broadcast industry during earlier
times when radio and television were local and creative also discover
that the romance of those times can be rekindled through the radio
hobby. Perhaps broadcast engineers find an even deeper meaning in the
proximity to earth of the "ground floor", pun included. Those ground
floor days seemed to exist at their height somewhere between the 1940s
and early 1970s, and are being preempted now in the bright glare of the 5G
world of Wi-Fi wireless and online media which render "legacy"
broadcasting as a holdover in search of new definition. The last voices
of the original ground floor are fading fast by way of empty forums and
unread blogs but things are not yet ready to go in the ground, pardon
the morbidity.
Sunday October 10, 2021 1:18 PM CDT -- One's Own Art Critic --
Each
day's broadcast from the Blare OnAir archive has me sitting here
keeping notes as to the copyright status of each program as determined
by occasional use of cuts from our record library. I've noticed a
general pattern unconsciously employed as we did these improvised hours
of talk. They tend to start with a kind of spastic lurch into
whatever's on our mind at the time, sauntering into multi-directional
threads of ever more tangled chaos until, as though breaking through
into a realm of astounding insight, we reach the summit of spoken
oration where the program would rank amidst the highest achievements of
fine art were it not for the audience having tuned away by that point. It's a good lead in to a snack break.
Sunday October 10, 2021 6:45 AM CDT -- DIY Electricity --
So
much attention has gone into operational minutia that we've postponed
the bigger objective of building a self-sufficient power plant that
will keep things warm when winter storms take down the power grid. For
several years we've observed the off-grid experiences of TUC Radio in
the woods of northern California where Maria Gilardin has constructed
and maintained an ultimate solar electric system, providing an
inspirational example. Because KDX resides well within the grid we have
reliable electricity most of the time but winter outages can be so life
threatening that we want to have a plan for survival. What we envision
is a battery storage capacity the same as found in solar installations,
but with this difference: rather than charging via solar collection,
we'll keep the batteries topped-off with energy straight from the grid,
and when the grid goes down we'll have battery power in whatever amount
designed into what we build. Power outages in the middle
of population areas like ours are usually under a week, so that's
at least how long we hope to be self sustaining. Backups can be added
to backups and adding a power generator will contribute to further
security.
Friday October 8, 2021 3:05 PM CDT -- Visitor from Another Blog --
Major
media stars make the rounds of high profile talk shows, and low power
radio personalities appear on the blogs. Artisan Radio, both a person
and a radio station, took time away from the Artisan Radio Blog to pay
a visit here on The Blare Blog:
I'm still pondering the best way to program my newly conceived
station.
Between audiobooks (short stories mostly, trying to keep them under
an
hour in length), Blare on Air, and other talk programs I hope to
find
(mainly in the areas of arts and science), I see Artisan Radio as
a
modern version of Golden Age Radio. Not just one dimensional
entertainment.
I really have to disagree with Boomer's comments re music in your
latest
blog entry. Music is the easy thing to do, both for licensed
and
unlicensed radio, but does it really touch the potential that
radio
still has? IMO, no. If I wanted to listen to just
music, I can go to
any number of online services to get exactly what I want, not just
what
the radio station programmers want me to hear.
Yes, you can get all that Artisan Radio (and KDX for that matter)
will
offer online as well, but it's much more time consuming, and you
have to
go to multiple places, never mind find the stuff. Plus, I think
there's
an art to programming all this in a meaningful fashion, an art that
just
isn't present in music-only formats (except maybe the totally
eclectic,
which few stations do).
Not
intending to gang up on Boomer, I also like to point out that
enumerable free ways to find any music exist for the general public,
including YouTube, Pandora and the public library, therefore putting it
on radio serves no one. However, we must back off and realize that a
transmitter sale is what matters most.
Thursday October 7, 2021 6:35 AM CDT -- The Past Never Goes Away --
The author of the Knightkit website is radio engineer Jim Addie, guest on
Wednesday October 6, 2021 11:56 AM CDT -- Somebody Should Tube When You Doesn't --
A
positive impression was given when we found faucet rebuilding and
string-trimmer reviews and tutorials on YouTube, but other areas seem
to be very skimpy and barely represented. We happened to get in a
router state of mind and wanted to expand our education on the subject,
but as we scrolled though available router videos we found little more
than brief promotionals by manufacturers for various models shown very
hastily with only basic instructions: plug it in, hook it up. And while
we're in complaint mode why can't YouTube contributors learn how simple
it is to hook up a microphone so their voice gets heard properly.
Depending on the onboard camera mic results in terrible audio very
unpleasant to the ear.
Tuesday October 5, 2021 8:06 AM CDT -- Empty Carrier --
It
is likely that we at KDX are no different than other station operators in
certain ways. By that assumption we suppose that you leave carriers on
the air even when no programming is taking place. That's what is meant
by "empty carrier". You can hear empty carriers sometimes when local
licensed stations have transmitters on the air while their automation
system is down and nothing is being sent out. And yes, we typically
leave a carrier 'live' during hours when we consider ourselves
off-the-air and off-duty, such as overnight sleep time. Memo to self:
From now on no day is complete until we double-check to make sure that
all carriers are turned off. Failure to comply with this order shall
result in immediate demotion.
Monday October 4, 2021 7:40 PM CDT -- Music to Come --
Since
I've been critical of so many small radio stations specializing in
music alone and no other programming I don't get invited to many
parties, but I'll tell you something... there is a kind of music I
think about programming and sometimes secretly do slip in late at
night... I'm talking about future hits! There's a whole realm of
experimental, electronic, ambient music being produced and some of it
is very fascinating! So, instead of music of the past, KDX slips in
some music of tomorrow. And it's free through Creative Commons! If I
had any money I'd be able to keep it!
Monday October 4, 2021 7:32 PM CDT -- Word from Jacksboro --
We
blogged about Graig F's participation in one of our Blare OnAir
programs from the TeamSpeak Open Room, and I think we linked to Craig's
website to see that he's on the air, we sent a hello e-mail and here
comes a response!
First let me apologize for not responding sooner. I read your
email
and intended to respond, but got distracted with other things this
week.
Yes, I am still going, my little Hamilton Rangemaster is still
going.
The internet side of things thru Live365 carries the majority of
my
listeners, which is still pretty low. But, as you and I know, we
do
this mostly for ourselves!
I attribute the low listenership to the high quality music
programming I do.
One thing this of interest, I get the occasional email from
someone
that has passed thru town and heard the little station. I will
occasionally get an email from them complimenting my efforts. In
one
particular case, I offered advice on how to set up a similar
station
during the Covid mess last year.
I don't have much time to do live shows these days, but it
would
appear that I am re-instating one syndicated show that has been
offline for a while. They sought me to see if I would air it....
well
hell yes!!
Hope you are well.
Part 15 is still alive here!!
from the center of the universe in beautiful downtown Jacksboro,
TX...
craig f
Don't
you just feel a little bit guilty sometimes that we're so happy with
our radio stations while the rest of the world is sinking deeper into
depression because of all the calamities and disasters? With radio
we're on top of it! They can't turn us off!
Monday October 4, 2021 6:16 AM CDT -- Hit Carl with some music --
Message Booming in:
Hi Carl,
Hit Music seems like the most popular and normal format for small
stations to run. I wasn't surprised when a new station would come
in to the groups and talk about his format being 1960s to '90s
hits. They feel that is what radio 'sounds' like.
What does puzzle me is why more alternative type programmers
haven't joined Part 15 ranks I used to know many music freaks, cult
music fans and vinyl fanatics, who would listen to the tiny
stations at the ends of the radio dial for unusual music, and they
wanted to tell you all about it. I'd think they'd be first in line
to want to broadcast on Part-15, their own ideas on their own
station.
I think hit music satisfies most people, and much of the blame
should be taken by the music industry and radio stations for
herding listeners toward only the most popular and inoffensive
music with the broadest appeal, rather than try to cultivate and
push listeners' musical tastes to a higher level, as the long
game.
Each time it's been tried it's the same thing. A new type of
broadcast space gets established, then pioneers try a new kind of
programming that starts to get popular. Station brass sees they
might have something, or a bigger broadcasting company buys the
station, then they start to get rid of the DJs and songs that could
put people on edge and the format becomes bland.
Hey, where are Brooce from Dog Radio's pictures? He used to send
his studio pictures, but I haven't seen any of those photos lately.
Now you're all set to optimize photos for the Blog, and they're not
there.
I hope you get to work with some loop antennas. Techlib has a loop
antenna transmitter I've wanted to try:
http://techlib.com/electronics/amxmit.htm#Unfair%20Radio%20Transmitter/
What about a loop like that, but fed at one end only?
Not much to show here, I've been working on my SDR software radio
receiver most of the time, working on the antenna. I like SDR, it's
even helped to improve my station's transmission quality, since I
can see and measure various aspects of the signal going out. My hit
music sounds incredible, I've gotten several compliments.
I want to try a new audio processor, and it's software also. Some
stations don't want to use software, but I've found it to be
excellent, and reliable, and it keeps the number of parts down in
the system.
- Boomer
Looping
back to what you said about the Techlib loop, a system like that made
from copper pipeing could also carry water for self-cooling and if
infused with salt would improve the conductivity which would magnify
the "loop effect" and make the station sound biglish. As far as
Brooce's pictures are concerned, the latest ones would look like old
furniture.
Monday October 4, 2021 5:53 AM CDT -- Bruce Hears Self --
On
the last day of September we linked a Blare OnAir from 2016 in which
correspondent Bruce (Brooce) phoned the show. Upon hearing himself again, Bruce
writes:
Hi Uncle Carl!
I listened to the Blare On Air from 2016 and it was
great!
It's been really crazy here.
And there are radio things happening but they are
happening very slowly.
I'm working on some old vacuum tube radios and a
reel to reel machine.
It takes a long time to order parts. I'm
going to get a replacement 6V6 audio tube for my Hammarlund
HQ-140X. The audio has been distorted but it can be delt
with. (You can sort of just ignore it. Sort
of.)
If you don't remember what the HQ-140X looks like
you can Google it. It's a beautiful receiver from about
1954. All of the RF sections are working perfectly.
The radio set-up in the cellar is physically
blocked by furniture. We got a bunch of new furniture -
therefore - the old stuff is in the only place it can go. And
it's blocking the radios and other electronics. However I
will eventually find a new place for the old furniture after
switching a bunch of things around.
I am getting another very nice large table for the
radio gear. Very much looking forward to that.
The reel to reel machine is a Sony TC-366. I
am putting a new motor "run capacitor" into it and see what
happens. There is a good chance it will work.
Right now the motor runs but it is sometimes too
slow and sometimes too fast. If this reel to reel can't be
fixed, sooner or later I will find another one somewhere. I
just seem to have to have one.
ANYWAY I hope you're doing OK.
Very Best Wishes
- Brooce
We never get new furniture here at the Internet Building and
yet the equipment is blocked anyway. And I also miss the reel-to-reel
days.
Sunday October 3, 2021 1:07 AM CDT -- Talking Radio --
We have seen the news (Artisan Radio Blog Oct. 2)
that Artisan Radio is opening a talk format to the world from Canada.
This is a sigificant contribution to the quality and diversity of
programming available across the streaming spectrum as well as the low
power radio service where stagnant music programming has tended to
dominate.