KRVS Tech

Output Power Issues

2011-09-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

As of today, Thursday, Sept. 29th we at 10% power output. It looks like I have a failing final output tube. This will speed up my efforts to install the new solid state transmitter we took delivery of yesterday. Please bear with us. Over the next week our signal will be weaker and probably next weekend we will get the new system installed. Thanks in advance for your understanding. These upgrades will help us in the future.

Future Upgrades, Outages and Changes

2011-08-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

In the next 3 months expect some hiccups in our broadcast signal as we make upgrades for hardening our main and backup transmitter sites. Here is a quick synopsis.

1. We have a new transmitter building for our backup in Duson. As of now I am moving all things into that building.

2. In the next few weeks I will turn off the HD signal so that transmitter can be moved to the backup site and then put in the analog mode so it can run as a backup while a new transmitter is installed into the main site in Maxie.

3. After a new main transmitter is installed in Maxie then I will move the old analog transmitter to the backup site in Duson.

4. All this should take a few months and you should expect no downtime on the analog signal, but the HD signal will be down for a while.

5. Please be patient as this will improve reliability overall for the future.

Podcast Issues and Network Outage

2011-05-31T11:57:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we had a campus wide network outage for a few hours which interrupted our stream. That is why the stream was not available.
Then Sunday morning the computer I use for podcast recordings and uploads retired unexpectedly. It was 8 years old and I revived it many times in the past but it finally gave up.
Today another computer takes its place. We'll try to get as many podcasts as we can back on line.

Analog Full Power Reliability and HD Woes

2011-02-06T18:22:00.000-08:00

Finally got the correct parts to bring full reliability to our analog transmitter. So full power should be strong and solid. The HD transmitter however, still has issues. I am awaiting return of our HD encoder from the manufacturer. Once received I will get it installed as quickly as possible.

We are awaiting arrival of our new transmitter shelter for the backup site. Once that is done then I will be ready for a new main transmitter. Look for good things ahead for KRVS.

Low Power Operation Temporarily

2010-12-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning surprised me with an off air situation. I had us back on the air within an hour but we're limited to around 10% power. That will not cover Lake Charles and cause the radio reading service to be noisy. I need to replace a relay and a contactor which I can order on Monday 12/27 and then install on Tuesday 12/28. Please be patient and we'll be back up to full power soon.

Back Up to Full Power

2010-06-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Just finished and now KRVS is back up to full power at 4:40pm CDT. This morning began the job of replacing the cooling blower motor for the transmitter. The low power backup was used since 10:30am this morning. I removed the motor/blower assembly and made a trip to Judice Electric where I obtained a replacement motor and they installed it for me onto the blower housing.
Thanks to Blair Gee for the muscle. So today I saved lots of $$$ by doing this job through a local parts outlet. I'll have a little more tinkering in the next day or two but expect greatly reliability in the future for KRVS.

HD Transmitter Off Air

2010-03-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

The KRVS transmitter for the HD radio signal is off air due to an encoder issue. The has been returned to the manufacturer for repair. Still no date for signal restoration but I am anxiously awaiting the equipment return so we restore the HD signal.

Off Air Troubles 12.24.09

2009-12-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

KRVS' transmitter facility located near Maxie, LA. was in the area of a tornado touchdown around 7am. Maxie is 8 miles north of Crowley, LA. A tornado demolished several and damaged many homes about 2 miles south of the transmitter. There was no damage at the site but power was interrupted. Our normally reliable generator did not start so I quickly headed to the site to repair the problem. Driving to the site was quite hazardous and upon arrival I sheltered inside my truck until things slowed down. Quickly I identified a dead battery on the generator motor. Several tries with a jump pack and jumper cables did not help. A trip into town for a new battery then installation of the battery yielded positive results. A total of about 3 hours of downtime is all we suffered. All the while our stream stayed running. Other tenants at the transmitter site suffered some T1 circuit interruptions but all in all we fared well.
Another day and another lesson learned...

Stream Issues?

2009-11-23T13:10:00.001-08:00

KRVS has not changed anything with our stream other than installing a new streaming encoder pc and that was done on Tuesday Sept. 15, 2009.
There has not been any issues or hiccups yet. I have seen some reports about people having streaming issues using Windows 7 operating system. It seems Win7 comes with Windows Media Player version 12. I do not have a Win7 machine nor WMP v.12, so I cannot test these as of now.
Please note that we have not changed anything.
If you are having issues then re-check your settings or try a different media player.
Feel free to call me at the radio station and I can try to talk you through some things.
Karl

Stream Interruption Monday or Tuesday

2009-09-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

On Monday 9/14 or Tuesday 9/15, whenever I get the new streaming encoder our stream will be down for a few minutes. As I install the new system there will be a temporary outage.
I will try to do it at the least listened to time.
Karl

Bad Reception in Lake Charles

2009-08-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

The last few days has been giving the listeners in Lake Charles, Louisiana the blues.
High pressure systems in Texas are pushing KUHF 88.7FM in Houston our way.
This causes some radio listeners around the lake area to lose KRVS and then their radio is taken over by KUHF.
I sympathize with all those who lose Medicine Ball Caravan, The Blues Box, Cajun and Zydeco music to the news/classical format.
We here at KRVS are still considering how to best improve signal to the lake area.
I will let you know when we work out the details and funding.

HD Radio back on the air

2009-08-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

As of Tuesday 8/4/2009 at 5pm the HD Radio Transmitter is back on the air.
A bad power supply was the culprit. Now all is well.

HD Transmitter down for a while

2009-07-08T09:18:00.001-07:00

The KRVS HD Radio transmitter has motherboard issues. I am sending in for repair to the manufacturer. I will have it back on the air upon my return from vacation after July 19th.

KRVS Tech Created!

2009-07-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

KRVS has created this blog to let all listeners know the status of KRVS technical details.
If you have any technical questions then post them here. I will try to answer all in a timely manner.
Any suggestions are welcome too. Please be civil and considerate.
thanks,
Karl Fontenot, chief engineer
KRVS-FM 88.7

HD Transmitter Down

2009-07-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

Hey all, as of Friday 7.3.09 the HD radio transmitter has been off air. The issue is RAM memory in the HD encoder or possibly RAM slot on motherboard of HD encoder. I've order RAM and should be back up and running in HD by Tuesday PM.