Message from the Emergency Non-Broadcast System. If you cannot see this message, it is not working...perfectly. And in a side note, if you are seeing this message: Congratulations, you are indeed prepared for the digital conversion. It is, however, not full proof.
Can you see us now? If you have the network, you got the network. Verizon, Comcast, and Directv HD customers were all still receiving our free local signal. Everyone else got a Cut Back Signal. Transmitter forgot to send out email: On Furlough.
Wha-ha-happened about me? Wha ha happened was a surge. This caused a blip in our digital transmission. A blip that lasted one hundred and ten minutes.
Black to an MC operator is like unexpected brake lights to a distracted driver. Adrenaline rush, exceeded target HR, hands shake and legs turn to rubberbands. Beltway not required. There is nothing that clears a room faster. Co-workers suddenly discover they are late for meetings that don't exist.
Recovery is key. 10 seconds feels like 20 minutes. Think Janet Jackson's nipple. Two seconds a few people would like to get back. Ironically, turns out 110 minutes doesn't feel much longer.
So the HD Air monitor never came back. And someone threw a snowball in my hell. The room squeaked, beeped, and flashed as if we were under full blown nuclear attack. This turned out to be a good thing as I fielded calls from the boss to an engineer flying down 270 to EchoStar, who all concurred, "maybe I let you go".
Next the transmitter monitor failed. Red, ??, and 0 collectively, singly, or randomly=NOT GOOD. And Moseley lit up and flashed leaving me completely blind to all things TX.
15 minutes later, analog went black. "What else you got for me!?"
The generator failed and the back up batteries drained and therefore died. 4010 Cheapeake was going up in smoke and 4100 was unable to get the story to air.
Two words: Gas Battrees.
Happy 13th Anniversary
No comments:
Post a Comment