After building major systems like the State of Oregon Emergency Alert System, rewiring a classic truck or a hotrod is fun stuff.

I was destined to be a radio man... my birthday is on October 4th. That's 10-4!!

We've also done quite a bit of wind and solar powered systems on radio sites. I've also converted a couple of generators to run on propane fuel. It's interesting stuff to play with! The unique thing about remote radio sites, is dealing with giant Black Widow spiders. I've always looked for the 'Widow who seems to be hanging above the entry door, ready to drop on my neck. We've also noticed that there's usually only one "queen" of the site. Any other rival spiders just get eaten, we suppose.

Some job links from our radio Service Company website:

The City of Kennewick Traffic Light Telemetry System
Each traffic light control box has a UHF radio which "talks" to the main radio site on top of a mountain. The control signals are then beamed down a T-1 microwave link into a main frame computer at City hall. The computer coordinates all the lights at once. There are also cameras above some intersections, and software looks for moving vehicles (otherwise known as pixelated "blobs") and adjusts the timing cycles accordingly. This system is still being installed, and we've been working on it for months. There's well over 60 intersections in this system.

The Oregon State Emergency Alert System (TAR stands for Tone Alert Radio)
Ever been listening to music, then hear a funny sounding buzzing on the radio followed by a loud tone, then: "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system..." The buzzing is a set of FSK (Frequency Shift Key) tones called a FIPS code that opens weather monitors in certain areas, and other alert radios such as schools and hospitals have for emergencies. The obnoxious tone that follows the buzzing noise is 1,000 hz and 1,400 hz mixed together, and is designed to be noticed even if your radio or TV is turned down. This system has several radio site which all link together via microwave and UHF. Four dispatch centers in Oregon state are able to take over control of the NOAA weather radio system and Emergency Broadcast System in the event of "an actual emergency." At least we can hope all we ever hear are tests!

The Emergency Dispatch Center in Pendleton Oregon
The little "shed" at the base of the tower, is actually made of 3/4" thick steel plating. It's about the size of a typical garden/lawnmower shed, but weights over 30,000 lbs.! That big battery with the orange top, would run your boat's trolling motor for about 6 months! It's 40 inches long, and weights over 600 lbs. This new jail/sheriff station/dispatch center is at the West end of Pendleton, Oregon.

Benton and  Franklin County Transit System
A fleet of city transit buses that have data terminals. Each driver chooses a "canned" message from a selection in the data terminal. The dispatchers can keep track of each bus on big 21" monitors. A printer logs all incoming messages from buses. If the driver needs to talk to the dispatcher, he/she pushes a "voice request" and when it's granted, picks up and uses a telephone handset. Route information is also sent to each bus via the data terminals. This system all but eliminates voice use on the radio channel. Dial-A-Ride units are used mostly for handicapped people, and are sent directly to homes and places people need to go, much like a taxi service. Click on the 'Installations' button for pictures of the buses and installed data radios.