See the
important Net Cue notation below. Click
here.
8/24/10
Sports (Game) Distribution:
Please refer to the
suggested setups below for
game/coaches show distribution.
Also refer to the
Audio Port Usage for Specific Programs document
for guidance.
Note that the "Gator Football Report"
appears as a separate (and schedulable) program that will be
fed at 6AM ET Monday-Friday beginning August 30th.
8/24/10 FNN Election Returns:
Stations authorized for FNN News programming on port A are
now authorized for a program called "FNN Election Returns".
Please click "add all" when scheduling this program.
It will insert the election returns at :15 and :45 past the
hour on Tuesday evenings between 7:15 and 11:45 PM Eastern
time. This will be used on primary election night,
August 24th, and on General Election Night, November 2nd.
7/28/10 Special Notice to
affiliates who have scheduled FNN newscasts, sportscasts,
business news, and special reports:
At your earliest
convenience please access your program schedule in your XDS
receiver and make the following change:
From the
homepage at
http://myxdsreceiver.xdigital.com click "Programming and
Scheduling", choose "WXXX Port A" and click OK. Click the
"Program List" tab and select the newscast, sportscast,
business news, or special report element you've scheduled
and click OK. On each newscast, sportscast, business
news, and special report element click the "edit" link on
the right.
In the dialog box that pops up find the
check box labeled "use complete feed" and check it then
click the "modify" button at the bottom of the window.
Repeat this for every newscast, sportscast, business
news, and special report element you've scheduled. In
many cases it might be easier and faster to click "delete
all" and then re-enter the elements. Once you've
completed this, click the "Commit Schedule to Receiver"
button at the bottom of the page.
Always go back
to the homepage and check the "steer my audio ports to match
my program schedule" box and click "update".
The ComStream satellite system
has been shut down. Tiernan/ComStream ABR 200/202/202a
receivers will no longer receive FNN programming.
If you have not done so, please fax back the
authorization letter included with the XDS receiver (it has
the FNN logo on it).
Authorizations will be done
during business hours only.
Quick Links:
Receiver Login |
Quick Start Guide |
XDS Manual
| Authorization
Letter |
FNN News
Schedule for XDS Receivers |
Audio Port Usage for Specific Programs |
XDS Net Cues
|
XDS Receiver Discovery Tool
Important Notes:
- All receivers have
been shipped and should have arrived at all
affiliates.
- When you get
the receiver, you must fax back the
authorization letter
ASAP (if FNN provided the receiver). The
receiver cannot be programmed until you do this
since we have to authorize the receiver from the
uplink first. Receiver authorizations will be
done during normal business hours and we will
email you as soon as your receiver is
authorized.
- Note that the
feed schedules on the XDS system vary slightly
from that of the ComStream system:
- Newscasts will no longer repeat at :55
past the hour
- Inside Motorsports
will be fed once at 6:25AM ET
-
Florida Roundtable will be fed once at
12:06PM ET Fridays |
|
- Note that when you
change programming in the receiver, you should
always click "Commit Schedule to Receiver" and
then click "Configuration", check the box next
to "Steer my audio ports to match my program
schedule", and click the "update" button. This
will send your changes to your receiver at the
top of the next hour.
- If you manually tune
your receiver to a channel via the front panel
or direct IP connection, then you will need to
execute the "Steer my audio ports to match my
program schedule" function above before the
receiver port will respond to your schedules.
- When your receiver
is authorized, all programming will be
authorized to all ports
except the news network which will be
authorized to port A only.
- Media Alert
stations click here
for setup information.
|
Below is an on going list of
frequently asked questions regarding the rollout.
Sports Network Distribution:
Sports network distribution will be
handle a little differently than regularly "scheduled"
programs like "Better Lawns & Gardens" and "FNN News". These
networks are designed (and contracted) only to be carried
live. So they will be set up on "open" channels named
"FNN 1R..", "FNN 2L & 2R...", and "FNN 3L & 3R...". For
simplicity, these names match the verbiage used on the old ComStream system (in technical reality, channels 1R, 2L, 2R,
3L, and 3R no longer exist). All receivers are
pre-authorized to receive these "open" channels.
We suggested scheduling these "open" channel
programs 24/7 on one or more audio ports to cover all
eventualities.
Suggested Setups:
FNN News, FNN
Sports, Florida Business News
Gator Network
FSU Network
UCF
Network
USF Network
-------------
Q. What will I need to do when I get the new XDS Receiver?
A.
You will need to fax back the
authorization letter so that we may properly authorize your
receiver from the head-end before you can start scheduling
programs.
A "Quick Start
Guide" will be included with the new unit. In the guide, ignore
all references to "StarGuide" receivers and the "Pro4-SG".
The receiver you will have is a "Pro4" model. You
will need to have the receiver physically installed in the
rack by your engineer with connections for audio, closures
(where applicable), data (where applicable), RF, internet,
and power.
You will then need to set up the receiver
and schedule the programs you will be taking and choose the
ports/pins for audio output and contact closures.
----
Q.
Why in the world are you swapping out your satellite
receivers?
A. Our current "Tiernan/ComStream"
system has served us well for more than 15 years. But the
system is beginning to show its age and the receivers are
becoming difficult and costly to repair.
----
Q.
Who is buying the receiver?
A.
| If
you are an affiliate of: |
The the receiver will be
purchased by: |
| FNN News |
FNN |
| Better
Lawns & Gardens |
FNN |
| Florida
Roundtable |
FNN |
| Gator
Network |
FNN |
| FSU Network |
FNN |
| USF Network |
FNN |
| UCF Network |
FNN |
| Media Alert
(and nothing above) |
Media Alert |
| Lex & Terry
(and nothing above) |
You |
----
Q.
I need to buy a receiver. What
do I do?
A. You
can purchase a receiver by visiting
http://www.clearchannelsatellite.com/collections/receivers
or by contacting Monty Dent at Clear Channel Satellite Services at
(303)925-1708 or via email at
montydent@clearchannel.com.
----
Q.
I need more than one receiver. What do I do?
A.
FNN is providing one "Pro-4" receiver per physical address
at no charge. This receiver is the equivalent of 4 Tiernan/Comstream
receivers, since with 4 audio ports (4 stereo channels or 8
mono), you will have the ability to take all of our feeds at
the same time on one unit. This should service all radio
stations in your facility. If you have an extenuating
circumstance, you can purchase another receiver by
visiting
http://www.clearchannelsatellite.com/collections/receivers
or by contacting Monty Dent at Clear Channel Satellite Services at
(303)925-1708 or via email at
montydent@clearchannel.com.
----
Q.
What is the "XDS
Receiver Discovery Tool"?
A. This is
a Windows PC utility that you can install on a computer
that, when run, will "discover" any XDS receivers on your
local network and allow you to log into them directly for
administration (as opposed to going through the affiliate
website interface). NOTE: This utility requires
.NET framework version 3.5 or above. The XDS
receiver and the PC running this utility must be on the same
side of your computer network's firewall. For more
information on the tool click
here.
----
Q.
How can I get my hands on the "Quick Start Guide" or manual
ahead of time so I can prepare for the installation?
A.
Click
here for the "Quick Start Guide". Click
here for the manual.
----
Q.
I am affiliated with the Bucs
Network. How will I get these games?
A. At least
for now, you will keep the ComStream receiver and continue
to receive Bucs programming on it.
----
Q.
I am affiliated with the "MJ" morning show. How will I get
this programming?
A. At least
for now, you will keep the ComStream receiver and continue
to receive this programming on it.
----
Q.
I am affiliated with the "Lex & Terry
Morning Show". Do I need to buy my own receiver?
A. If you
are already getting a receiver from FNN for another reason
(see "Who is buying the receiver?"
above) then you do not need to buy a separate receiver for
Lex & Terry. If, in the future, the "Lex & Terry
Morning Show" elects to distribute their programming through
a different satellite vendor, then you may be required to
purchase your own receiver. You can purchase
another receiver by visiting
http://www.clearchannelsatellite.com/collections/receivers
or by contacting Monty Dent at Clear Channel Satellite Services at
(303)925-1708 or via email at
montydent@clearchannel.com. We recommend the X-Digital
Pro-1 receiver for stations only needing the Lex & Terry
feed.
----
Q.
When do I need to have the new receiver hooked up?
A. As soon as
possible after it arrives at your station. We are
discontinuing the old Tiernan/ComStream satellite signals on July 9th,
2010 at Noon EDT. However we need to be sure all receivers are installed,
working, and any and all technical issues resolved well before that
deadline.
----
Q.
What capabilities will the new system have?
A. The XDS satellite
system has, what is known in the industry as, "store & forward"
capabilities. The receiver has a flash drive installed that will
store audio. This will allow you to delay broadcast most programs
fed on the network without the need for external recording systems.
The receiver
has 4 audio "ports". Audio on these ports is
determined by how you program the receiver.
Before using the receiver you will need to configure the
audio ports for the programs you wish to take.
Instructions will be included as to how to do this.
You will also need to program any automation closures (now
referred to as "Net Cues") you
wish to use. Neither audio nor closures will work
until you fax back the authorization letter and then configure the receiver.
See a list of available net cues
here.
----
Q.
Will this change
the way you feed network programming?
A.
Yes. The programming schedule will differ from the
current one in that we will no longer "refeed" programming.
For example, our newscasts that have been fed at :30 past
each hour and repeated at :55 will now JUST feed at :30.
You, as an affiliate, can schedule playback of the newscast
at any time after it is fed. The new program schedule can be
viewed
here.
----
Q.
What will I need to have in order
to use these extra features.
A. You will need to
have a internet/LAN connection (ethernet) for the receiver in order to
administrate the record and playback functions of the unit. The
internet connection also helps us (the network) diagnose the health of
your receiver.
----
Q.
I have an XDS receiver that I use
for Premiere or ABC. Can I use it to pick up FNN?
A. Unfortunately no.
Each receiver is authorized specifically for a certain satellite carrier
and there is no crossover between Premiere, ABC, and FNN. You can,
however, continue to use the same coaxial feed from the satellite
antenna's LNB that feeds your Premiere and/or ABC XDS receivers for the
FNN XDS receiver.
----
Q.
Do I need to do anything to my dish,
cabling, LNB, etc?
A. In most cases, no.
If your Tiernan/ComStream receiver was working, so should the XDS. No
changes are necessary to the rest of the satellite downlink system at your
station. Note that, by default, the receiver does not
provide LNB voltage. This is changeable by the user.
----
Q.
Is this going to cost me anything?
A. FNN is footing the bill for the
receiver. It is the station's responsibility to install
the unit. If you contract for engineering services
please arrange for your engineer to install the unit on his or
her first scheduled visit following receipt of the receiver (as
long as it is well before July 9th). This should avoid any additional cost to you. FNN is not
responsible for the physical installation of the receiver.
----
Q.
How much space does the new receiver utilize?
A. The XDS receiver
takes up two rack spaces. Depending upon the model, the Tiernan/ComStream
receiver takes up one to two rack spaces. If you are using the separate
thumbwheel switch for the Tiernan/ComStream, that also takes up one rack
space. Therefore you should be able to replace both units with the
XDS without eating up additional territory in your rack.
----
Q.
How do I hook up the audio to the new
receiver.
A. Although the
audio connector on the back of the XDS looks the same as the audio
connector on the Tiernan/ComStream (the the connector actually fits into
the XDS), the pin-outs are different. So you cannot simply unplug
from one unit and plug into the other and expect it to work properly.
Wiring instructions are included with the new XDS receiver and are also
posted as part of the "Quick
Start Guide". Audio pin outs are described on page 5.
Except for
the "Lex & Terry" network, left and right audio channels are
always used independently in a "dual mono" configuration.
----
Q.
How do I hook up and program contact closures?
A.
The XDS closures appear on a male 37 pin D-Sub
connector on the back of the unit. Wiring instructions
will be included with the unit. We will also include a
Broadcast Tools COA-37
XDS Adapter that will break out the 37 pin Relay A connector to
four, eight position removable screw terminals for connection to
the 16 normally open dry relay contacts.
NOTE: The XDS receiver, by default, will
not be programmed to fire closures. You will need to
follow the instructions to properly "map" any contact closures
to the desired pins before the relays will work.
For a complete list of current network
cues that can be mapped to contact relays click
here.
----
Q.
What do I do with the old FNN-owned Tiernan/ComStream receiver?
A. If you are
not affiliated with the Bucs Network or the "MJ"
morning show, the old receiver should be shipped to our offices at 55
Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203. NOTE: DO NOT
SEND THE RECEIVER TO OUR MAITLAND, FL OFFICE. Newer model Tiernan
receivers will fit into the box the Pro-4 receiver came in. Older
ABR 200 units will not fit into the Pro-4 box. If you need a box for
it, please contact
Jeff Batten at
jeffbatten@clearchannel.com
(preferred) with your shipping address and contact information, or if you
must, via telephone at (800)346-9467.
----
Q.
When we plugged in the receiver, the wrong call
letters appeared on the display.
A. Please let us know
if this happens. It won't affect the operation of the receiver,
however it will help us keep our records straight and prevent issues later
on.
----
Q.
I am affiliated with
Media Alert and nothing else. What do I do?
A.
You should contact Media Alert and see what they have
decided about your particular situation. In most cases
they will provide an XDS receiver for you.
Media Alert Setup
Once your receiver has been
authorized:
Pro-4 Models: To receive the
Media Alert Data service, you must manually tune the
service to one of the four audio ports by accessing
the receiver via its IP address with a browser. The
username is "tech" password "radio". Under "Audio
Ports" click the "Select Programming" button. Under
the audio port you wish to dedicate, click the drop-down and
choose "Media Alert" and click "Select".
Then,
1)
From a
command line prompt enter - telnet [IP address] [2000].
Example:
telnet 168.192.1.22 2000
2)
Login as
tech by entering
login tech,radio at
the Hudson prompt.
3)
Enter the
baud rate of the terminal equipment by entering PAD
BAUD,[port],9600.
Example: PAD BAUD, D, 9600
4)
Enter PAD
PGM,[port],305.
Example:
PAD PGM, D, 305
Once you have chosen the audio
port, you can wire out the data using the "PAD" port
on the back of the unit. If you chose to use port A
use pins 1(TX) and 5(gnd), if port B use pins 2(TX)
and 5(gnd), if port C use pins 3(TX) and 5(gnd), and
if port D use pins 4(TX) and 5(gnd).
Pro-1 Models: Telnet to the
IP address of the receiver using port designation
2000 (from a command prompt type "telnet
XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX 2000" press enter). Enter the following command:
PAD PGM, A, 1106
The pins to use on the Pro-1 PAD
port are 1(TX) and 5(gnd).
Note that there is NO audio
associated with Media Alert, however the program
must still occupy an audio port - this is the way
the system is configured. You will not be able
to use the assigned port for any other purpose so
plan accordingly and avoid
scheduling any programming to that port. Pro-1 receivers used for
Media Alert will be unable to utilize the receiver
for anything else. You do not need to wire
anything to the audio port connector for Media Alert
- just the "PAD" port.
The baud rate is still 9600, 8,
N, 1.
----
Q.
How will I
pick up Steve Berrey's Friday night scoreboard show?
A. Steve
Berrey's High School Scoreboard show will be fed on "FNN
3L & 3R..."
as a special event.
----
Q.
This FAQ sucks! I still need help
installing or configuring the receiver. What do I do?
A. If this
FAQ does not address something with which you need
assistance, please contact us via one of the following
methods:
| via phone: |
|
| Florida News
Network (business hours) |
(888)407-4376 |
| Clear Channel
Satellite Services NOC (24/7) |
(303)925-1708 |
Please provide your call letters and
receiver serial number when emailing or calling.
----
Suggested Setups:
FNN News, FNN Sports, Florida
Business News:
- Log into the affiliate website (http://myxdsreceiver.xdigital.com).
- Go to "Programming and Scheduling"
and choose Port A* of your receiver.
- Click the "Program List" tab
- From the "Please select a program to
view its network feeds and scheduled show times"
dropdown box choose the program you wish to air. Click OK
- You will be sent to a page that
lists all the feeds of the program you selected. You can
add them one at a time by clicking the "Create a new
station schedule using this feed...", or add them all as
live broadcasts by clicking the "add all..." link in the
upper left. If you add them one at a time you will be
presented with a dialog that allows you to schedule the
program live, or delay it to play at a later time.
- The "add all" option above prompts
you to set the program's priority. This simply
determines which program will play in the event of a
schedule conflict.
- If the receiver detects a schedule
conflict while you are creating a one-at-a-time schedule
it will ask you to prioritize the program through a
drag-n-drop method.
Notes:
-
When scheduling any of the
aforementioned programs you will see "(L or R)" as part
of the program description. This indicates that
the program will appear in mono on both the left and
right audio outputs of the port. You should use one or
the other. Using both simultaneously is not necessary or
recommended.
-
The main news channel schedule for
XDS receivers differs from the ComStream feeds in that
there are no program repeats. Please download the
latest XDS Receiver main channel news schedule
here.
-
The receiver will allow you to delay
newscasts, sportscasts, and business news for whenever
you wish to play them back. However, due to the
time sensitive nature of content of these products we do
not recommend delaying them for more than 60 minutes.
-
If you are not seeing a program you
have contracted for in the program selection drop-down
menu, please contact FNN at (888)407-4376 or email
help@fnnonline.net
during normal business hours.
-
Note that "FNN Special Reports" are
only produced in the event of breaking news events such
as hurricanes. We reserve a time at :20 past each hour
24/7 on the main news channel (1L) for 2:30 in duration
for these reports. You may choose to schedule these in
your receiver ahead of time or wait until they become
active.
-
Note that FNN News Network
programming (news, sports, business, etc.) is only
available on port A by default. If you need this
moved to another port, please call us.
----
Gator Network:
Gator Network programming (by contract with IMG/Fox and the
University of Florida) is designed only for live broadcast.
Therefore Gator programming in the XDS receiver is not setup
for delay broadcast.
To enable your receiver for the
Gator Network:
- Log into the affiliate website (http://myxdsreceiver.xdigital.com).
- Go to "Programming and Scheduling"
and choose the receiver and port you wish to use and
click OK.
- Click the "Program List" tab
- From the "Please select a program to
view its network feeds and scheduled show times"
dropdown box choose "FNN 1R". Click OK
- Click the "add all" link in the
upper left
- From the "Add All Program Feeds"
dialog box, choose the option that best fits. If
you are using the port for other feeds and you want
those feeds to take priority over the Gator Network then
choose "Add new schedules with lowest priority".
Otherwise choose "Add new schedules with highest
priority". When done click the "Commit Schedule to
Receiver" button at the bottom of the page.
- From the port connector on the back
of the receiver, audio from the Gator Network will
appear on both left and right channels (in mono).
Take either left or right (taking both simultaneously is
not necessary nor advised).
- Under "Relay Mappings" determine
which DB37M relay connector and pins (on the back of the
receiver) you wish to use and map "FNN0105" for local
commercial, "FNN0106" for station ID, and "FNN0107" for
end of broadcast.
FSU Network:
Same as above except choose "FNN 2L & 2R..." from the
programs dropdown. You will take audio ONLY from the
Left audio channel of the port connector and map relays
"FNN0108" for local break, "FNN0109" for station ID, and
"FNN0110" for end of broadcast.
UCF Network:
Same as above except choose "FNN 2L & 2R..." from the
programs dropdown. You will take audio ONLY from the
right audio channel of the port connector and map relays
"FNN0112" for local break, "FNN0113" for station ID, and
"FNN0114" for end of broadcast.
USF Network:
Same as above except choose "FNN 3L & 3R..." from the
programs dropdown. You will take audio ONLY from the
left audio channel of the port connector and map relays "FNN
0115" for local break, "FNN0116" for station ID, and
"FNN0117" for end of broadcast.
Note that all of the above sports distribution is done in
"dual mono" and on only the left or
right audio channel of the port. Do
not use left and right audio channels
simultaneously.
In all cases, we suggested scheduling these "open" channel
programs 24/7 to one or more audio ports to cover all
eventualities.
Steve Berrey High School Scoreboard:
Schedule the program "FNN 3L & 3R..." and take audio ONLY
from the right audio channel of the port.
Important Note: Net Cues are
NOT assigned exclusively to a specific network. For
example, the Lex & Terry Net Cues are also used for the
Steve Berrey High School Scoreboard show. Please make
sure you set your automation equipment to accept relays ONLY
during the broadcast you are using.
