JFK Preamp Failure

[dave]

Signal loss on all JFK receivers due to suspected failed preamplifier - will try to get it bypassed tonight and replaced soon.

[notaperfectpilot]

Thanks Dave, I was sorta wondering what was happening there...I thought about asking if something was wrong but then thought, nah, dave will figure it out and tell us when he gets a chance...lol thanks for your hard work

[n660575]

any update on this...

[dave]

Feeds will be down until at least 9pm.  Can't get on-site help until then.

[dave]

Restoration may be delayed further (to 7pm tonight).  Will update this thread and Twitter as news becomes available.

[dave]

JFK update : system failure - replacement system should be in Monday night, feeds will be down until then

[sonnycol]

JFK update : system failure - replacement system should be in Monday night, feeds will be down until then

We're grateful for the JFK tower feed(s). It might be the most pleasant thing, maybe anywhere on the web, to have cooking along in the background around the house. NY's controllers, the air crews, Port Authority, all of 'em, good people doing good work and doing it professionally. It makes for a good show, and educational, too.

Sorry the 'tronics went south on you... thanks for fixing them.

[notaperfectpilot]

JFK update : system failure - replacement system should be in Monday night, feeds will be down until then

We're grateful for the JFK tower feed(s). It might be the most pleasant thing, maybe anywhere on the web, to have cooking along in the background around the house. NY's controllers, the air crews, Port Authority, all of 'em, good people doing good work and doing it professionally. It makes for a good show, and educational, too.

Sorry the 'tronics went south on you... thanks for fixing them.

I second that
Thanks so much Dave for what you do!!! I understand if it takes a while to get this feed back up

[jerry814]

No, No, No!

Unless you are using a tower-top DC amplifier, just get some adapters and join all the receivers.  There WILL be signal losses due to this, but it is better than nothing.

[dave]

No, No, No!

Unless you are using a tower-top DC amplifier, just get some adapters and join all the receivers.  There WILL be signal losses due to this, but it is better than nothing.

The preamp was going to be bypassed but we discovered a computer issue as well...could have been a power surge or something that caused some damage.  Unknown as it is a remote installation and I have to rely on remote hands to help.  So the reason for the extended downtime is computer-related, not receiver related.

I will know more when the new system is in place, hopefully Monday night.

[jerry814]

Dave, I understand remote receiver sites.  Some require a Law Enforcement Officer to escort you to the remote site.  Seems some sites are truly remote.

My site is not.  But I have been to many sites in 39 years, just did not realize a Liveatc feed would originate in such a site. Just what internet feed is available at sites you do not control?

Best guess here: Ham Radio.

Sorry, but I deal only with Public Safety Motorola systems, not amateur radio.

[dave]

Dave, I understand remote receiver sites.  Some require a Law Enforcement Officer to escort you to the remote site.  Seems some sites are truly remote.

My site is not.  But I have been to many sites in 39 years, just did not realize a Liveatc feed would originate in such a site. Just what internet feed is available at sites you do not control?

Best guess here: Ham Radio.

Sorry, but I deal only with Public Safety Motorola systems, not amateur radio.

No, not a ham radio site.  It is a home site, but there are many LiveATC feeds in places you would not guess or believe.  I have unique access to some locations that even Motorola techs do not. 

[jerry814]

Indeed you do!
What I was getting at is that to offer an ATC audio feed requires an internet connection.  They are generally not free. At least, not in Cincinnati, Ohio.

There are obviously others that are. Some University's offer this up to their Ham Radio Club.

There may be others as well, like at the KJFK feed site.

Last post here.  Good luck!

[dave]

Hoping to have the feeds back online this evening - system arrived and will be installed tonight.

[dave]

Most of the JFK feeds are back online.  Turns out the preamp was OK after all.

Notes:
1) Tower is only 119.1 until a site visit tomorrow.
2) New York Approach/ROBER (125.7) will be back tomorrow as well.

If anyone is aware of any new frequency changes in the JFK environment please let me know.  The old setup with Tower on separate receivers is likely going away - back to both Tower frequencies scanning on one receiver.

[muzyck]

Most of the JFK feeds are back online.  Turns out the preamp was OK after all.

Notes:
1) Tower is only 119.1 until a site visit tomorrow.
2) New York Approach/ROBER (125.7) will be back tomorrow as well.

If anyone is aware of any new frequency changes in the JFK environment please let me know.  The old setup with Tower on separate receivers is likely going away - back to both Tower frequencies scanning on one receiver.

I wasn't gonna ask about ROBER, just had my fingers crossed.

Thanks Dave!

[notaperfectpilot]

Dave-
I actually liked the tower on separate frequencies-I will miss it if that's what you are going to do. Thanks again for your hard work and keep it up!

[dave]

Dave-
I actually liked the tower on separate frequencies-I will miss it if that's what you are going to do. Thanks again for your hard work and keep it up!

Most listeners didn't "get it."  I did it as an experiment and, in the end, I consider it not worth the trouble.  Some listeners want to hear everything, even though they don't realize they're missing some transmissions when one frequency is blocking another. 

The biggest issue, though, was the experimental combined feed - because we don't have the ability to synchronize streams, that caused no end of confusion when Tower was simulcasting on both frequencies - time delays caused echo (at best) and "double transmissions" (at worst).  My conclusion is that it isn't worth trying to explain it to listeners - so we go back to the old setup - frees up a scanner for use elsewhere, too. 

[notaperfectpilot]

Dave-
I actually liked the tower on separate frequencies-I will miss it if that's what you are going to do. Thanks again for your hard work and keep it up!

Most listeners didn't "get it."  I did it as an experiment and, in the end, I consider it not worth the trouble.  Some listeners want to hear everything, even though they don't realize they're missing some transmissions when one frequency is blocking another. 

The biggest issue, though, was the experimental combined feed - because we don't have the ability to synchronize streams, that caused no end of confusion when Tower was simulcasting on both frequencies - time delays caused echo (at best) and "double transmissions" (at worst).  My conclusion is that it isn't worth trying to explain it to listeners - so we go back to the old setup - frees up a scanner for use elsewhere, too. 

Dave-
I agree with your decision-I guess I just liked the ones separate especially the 119.1 feed. I understand what you are doing-good idea