Commercial radio reaches 12.4 million weekly listeners in Australia
GatesAir has expanded its GatesAir Care managed services offering with the launch of AirWatch365, a 24/7 network operations center-based remote monitoring service for broadcasters.
The company says AirWatch365 provides constant oversight of RF system performance, with factory-trained GatesAir engineers monitoring transmitter data, analyzing RF conditions and proactively addressing issues that may affect uptime or broadcast quality. The service supports both air-cooled and liquid-cooled transmitters across FM installations.
AirWatch365 builds on the GatesAir Care program, introduced in 2023, which offers three support tiers — Standard, Signature and Elite — designed to supplement or fully manage a broadcaster’s RF service needs. The program addresses a shortage of skilled RF engineers in many markets by providing scalable support through service-level agreements and preventative maintenance plans.
Through AirWatch365, our experienced, dedicated support staff will provide consistent, proactive and responsive service tailored to each customer’s needs
Raymond Miklius, vice president of technology at GatesAir
Greater complexity
Broadcasters enrolled in AirWatch365 receive direct access to GatesAir engineers based at the company’s Quincy, Illinois, manufacturing facility. After assessing a station’s RF infrastructure, the team sets up customized alarm thresholds for key performance indicators such as power levels and modulation error ratio. Engineers monitor trends, flag anomalies and respond to emerging problems before they impact operations.
Raymond Miklius, vice president of technology at GatesAir, said the service is especially valuable as broadcast infrastructure grows more complex. “That complexity will escalate as we inch closer to the reality of ATSC 3.0 single-frequency networks that will introduce a collective of synchronized low-power sites throughout a market, many of which will still include a central site with a high-power ATSC 1.0 service,” he said. “There is also a greater density of FM sites as more translators and SFNs come to fruition. Through AirWatch365, our experienced, dedicated support staff will provide consistent, proactive and responsive service tailored to each customer’s needs.”
GatesAir says AirWatch365 complements its onsite maintenance offerings, which include scheduled visits, extended warranties, discounted spare parts, and installation and commissioning support. Broadcasters can choose the service tier that matches their operational needs and budget.
You can find more details and service pricing here.
