Listen
 It
is important to listen to your station frequently —
especially on the edges of your coverage area. You want to
know, as soon as possible, if your range has decreased or
if you've gone off the air entirely, so you can take care
of the situation.
If you travel through the desired
coverage zone daily, try tuning in to be certain that your
system can be heard. If you don't regularly pass through
it, make a point of doing so (or have someone else do so)
periodically, once a week, for example just to ensure your
station is on the air and functioning. For an accurate
assessment and because car radio receivers vary, use the
same vehicle each time you listen. Also, listen at roughly
the same location and be certain not to monitor in areas
where interference may be present, such as, under power
lines, bridges, inside parking garages or behind large
structures. If you are hearing the system up close,
let's say a ½ mile at best, but then the signal drops
off; or if you do not hear anything at all, you'll need to
take a look at your system's transmitter. Call ISS, and we
will talk you through some troubleshooting steps.
While verifying the range of your
system, pay attention to the messages themselves. How's
the modulation (or level of the audio) in the broadcast?
If your message is faint, soft and difficult to hear, the
transmitters audio output may need some adjusting. If
you have the Model TR20 Transmitter, the modulation
adjust is a blue disk oriented vertically near the top of
the main circuit board. With the TR6000, adjust the dial
on the right side, labeled "Mod. Adjust."
If you're listening, and your
reception is quiet, meaning there is not any static, there
may be a problem with your recording device. Do you have
messages recorded on the device? Has a playlist been set
up? If the recording device has lost its memory, you'll
need to reprogram it.
 (If you have an AP55 Digital
Message Programmer, you may be interested in
programming
tips.)
Many systems are affected by
skywave.
If yours is one of them, nighttime monitoring may be
difficult.
Measure
Most stations have a memory battery for the AP55 Digital
Message Programmer. Voltages, when not under charge,
should be above 12 volts — or 24 volts, if you have 2
batteries connected in series. If you do not have a memory
battery, and you are using the AP55 Digital Message
Programmer, you may find a small 9-volt battery located on
the recorder itself. Consider replacing the 9-volt with
the latest 12-volt memory battery, which includes an AC
charger to maintain memory during power outages. Contact
ISS for more information about memory batteries.
ALERT AM and ITS6000 Transmitter Systems have operational
batteries in addition to memory batteries. Voltages, when
not under charge, should be above 12 volts each.
RoadRunnRs have operational
backup batteries. Voltages, when not under charge, again,
should be above 12 volts each. Check voltages on each
battery in your system. If the positive lead going to the
battery or battery pack has an in-line fuse or breaker,
first remove the fuse or turn off the breaker to isolate
the batteries from the charger system that maintains them.
If there is no fuse, just slide the positive lead from the
positive terminal of the battery to accomplish this.
Test each battery individually
with a volt-ohm meter set to measure DC voltage. Your
batteries had standing voltages of about 12.8 volts when
new. If healthy, they will show a charge greater than 12
volts when tested, as described above. Replace promptly
batteries that do not meet this test, or system operation
and message integrity may be compromised.
(Go up to next
paragraph.)
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Look
Inspect the transmitter, recording device, power supply
and batteries (if applicable).
Is there physical damage to the
system or lightning damage to the antenna and other
external components? Look for dark marks or other obvious
damage, cables or wires that may have become damaged,
loose or corroded at connection points. Replace or
reconnect and use silicone to prevent weathering.
Does the site have power? Unless
you're operating a RoadRunnR portable system, 110-volts of
AC should be present to operate your system. Check any
circuit breakers or surge arrestors, if power is not
available. If power is present but the transmitter is not
operating, check the transmitter's power fuse. With the
TR.20 the fuse is located next to the slide switch. With
the TR6000, the fuse is located at the top of the unit.
It is best to check the fuse with a volt-ohm meter to be
certain the fuse is in good condition. The TR.20 has a
large heat sink on the side of the unit. When operating
properly, this heat sink should be hot. If it is cool,
turn off the transmitter's power using the 
slide switch and check the fuse on the amplifier board
located on the circuit board to your left. Using a
wattmeter,
determine the health of your transmitter and antenna.
Contact
ISS, if
your radio station does not include a wattmeter for system
diagnosis.
Clean
After shutting the system down, clean dust and dirt from
the surfaces of panels and components with a damp cloth or
spray cleaner. If insects or other pests have found their
way into the cabinet, check for holes/entryways and seal
them with silicone, or duct seal.
Renew
Do you know when your FCC license expires?
ISS
can help you determine when and help you renew when the
situation warrants.
Would you like to add an
Emergency
Alert System/National Weather Service receiver
to your
system? Ask ISS what would be involved, based on your 
current setup.
Download
an easy-to-use radio station maintenance checklist. |
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