Automatic transmission system
Encyclopedia
An automatic transmission system (or occasionally automated transmission system, to avoid confusion with the automatic transmission
of an automobile
) is an automated system
designed to keep a radio transmitter
and antenna system
running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods.
, technician
or electrical engineer was required to attend to a transmitter at any time it was operating or capable of operating. Any condition (such as distorted or off-frequency
transmission) which could interfere with other radio services would require immediate manual intervention; facilities also had to be monitored for any fault conditions which could impair the transmitted signal or cause damage to the transmitting equipment.
As technology
improved, transmitters became more reliable, and electromechanical means of checking and later correcting problems became commonplace. Regulation
s eventually caught up with these advances, and radio station
s (both broadcast
and non-broadcast, such as amateur radio
repeater
s) were allowed to run unattended provided that there was such an ATS installed.
, current, and temperature
within the transmitter cabinet or enclosure, and often has external sensor
s as well, particularly on the antenna. Some systems have remote monitoring points which report back to the main unit though telemetry
links, particularly for lower radio frequencies like AM radio where propagation
changes from day to night.
Advanced systems can monitor and often correct other problems which are considered mission-critical, such as detecting ice on antenna elements or radome
s 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 which use desiccation
pump
s to put dry nitrogen
in to their feedline (to displace moisture for increased efficiency) can also monitor the pressure
. Generator
s, batteries
, and incoming electricity
can also be monitored.
If anything goes wrong which the ATS cannot handle, it can send out calls for help, via pager
, telephone
voice message
, or dedicated telemetry link
s 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".
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
of an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
) is an automated system
System
System is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole....
designed to keep a radio transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
and antenna system
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods.
History
In the early days of radio, an operatorOperator (profession)
An operator is a professional designation used in various industries, including broadcasting , computing, customer service, physics, and construction. Operators are day-to-day end users of systems, that may or may not be mission-critical, but are typically managed and maintained by technicians or...
, technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
or electrical engineer was required to attend to a transmitter at any time it was operating or capable of operating. Any condition (such as distorted or off-frequency
Frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
transmission) which could interfere with other radio services would require immediate manual intervention; facilities also had to be monitored for any fault conditions which could impair the transmitted signal or cause damage to the transmitting equipment.
As technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
improved, transmitters became more reliable, and electromechanical means of checking and later correcting problems became commonplace. Regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
s eventually caught up with these advances, and radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s (both broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
and non-broadcast, such as amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
repeater
Repeater
A repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
s) were allowed to run unattended provided that there was such an ATS installed.
Theory of operation
The system monitors conditions such as voltageVoltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
, current, and temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
within the transmitter cabinet or enclosure, and often has external sensor
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
s as well, particularly on the antenna. Some systems have remote monitoring points which report back to the main unit though telemetry
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
links, particularly for lower radio frequencies like AM radio where propagation
Radio propagation
Radio propagation is the behavior of radio waves when they are transmitted, or propagated from one point on the Earth to another, or into various parts of the atmosphere...
changes from day to night.
Advanced systems can monitor and often correct other problems which are considered mission-critical, such as detecting ice on antenna elements or radome
Radome
A radome is a structural, weatherproof enclosure that protects a microwave or radar antenna. The radome is constructed of material that minimally attenuates the electromagnetic signal transmitted or received by the antenna. In other words, the radome is transparent to radar or radio waves...
s 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 which use desiccation
Desiccation
Desiccation is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container.-Science:...
pump
Pump
A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps...
s to put dry nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
in to their feedline (to displace moisture for increased efficiency) can also monitor the pressure
Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
. Generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
s, batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
, and incoming electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
can also be monitored.
If anything goes wrong which the ATS cannot handle, it can send out calls for help, via pager
Pager
A pager is a simple personal telecommunications device for short messages. A one-way numeric pager can only receive a message consisting of a few digits, typically a phone number that the user is then requested to call...
, telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
voice message
Voice message
Voice message refers to a message that could be sent to a destination using voice media. Voice itself could be 'packaged' and sent through the IP backbone so that it reaches its marked 'address'. In a technical sense, the process of sending 'voice packets' is a semi passive way of communication...
, or dedicated telemetry link
Transmitter/studio link
The transmitter/studio link of a radio station or television station is a return link which sends telemetry data from the remotely-located radio transmitter or television transmitter back to the studio for monitoring purposes...
s back to a fixed point such as a broadcast studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
. Other than possibly listening for dead air
Dead air
Dead air is an unintended interruption in a radio broadcast during which no sound is transmitted.The term is most often used in cases where program material comes to an unexpected halt, either through operator error or for technical reasons, although it is also used in cases where a broadcaster...
from the studio/transmitter link
Studio/transmitter link
A studio-transmitter link sends a radio station's or television station's audio and video from the broadcast studio to a radio transmitter or television transmitter in another location....
, an ATS does not cover the programming or the studio equipment like broadcast automation
Broadcast automation
Broadcast automation incorporates the use of broadcast programming technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a broadcast network, radio station or a television station, it can run a facility in the absence of a human operator...
, but rather only the "transmitter plant".
See also
- Broadcast automationBroadcast automationBroadcast automation incorporates the use of broadcast programming technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a broadcast network, radio station or a television station, it can run a facility in the absence of a human operator...
and centralcastingCentralcastingIn terrestrial radio and television broadcasting, centralcasting refers to the use of systems automation by which customised signals for broadcast by multiple individual stations may be created at one central facility.- :... - Broadcast translators and repeaterRepeaterA repeater is an electronic device that receives asignal and retransmits it at a higher level and/or higher power, or onto the other side of an obstruction, so that the signal can cover longer distances.-Description:...
s