The World Series on Channel 9! How Did He Do That?

[LeslieDEN]

Capt. Hutch, I gotta ask about that dang radio in the cockpit. When I was flying to Denver Saturday evening, the captain put the World Series game on channel 9 so all of us Denverites could get our hopes crushed. (I'm sure he didn't intend that ...)

It got me wondering how he did it. I remember reading that pilots have multiple radios up there but it never occurred to me that one could be tuned to a local radio station and then broadcast over the entertainment system for the passengers. Is that something unique to channel 9 or could any pilot on an airliner with an entertainment system do it?

Thanks for any insight.

[spiffyone]

Speaking of that...

:dance::dance::dance:

YAY RED SOX!!

[tusphotog]

It got me wondering how he did it. I remember reading that pilots have multiple radios up there but it never occurred to me that one could be tuned to a local radio station and then broadcast over the entertainment system for the passengers. Is that something unique to channel 9 or could any pilot on an airliner with an entertainment system do it?

Thanks for any insight.

I have no idea how they would route the radio over the Channel 9 system (which is SO cool, btw), but it's very easy to tune into an AM radio station in the cockpit. Without getting too technical, one of the nav radios, the ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) receives on (I think) 200 Khz to 1700 Khz. AM radio broadcasts 540 Khz to 1700 Khz. Hence, if you have a station (AM 740), it's just a matter of tuning the radio to 740, and telling the radio to broadcast the audible signal coming over the frequency. All Nav stations, be it ADF, NDB (non-directional beacon), VOR etc broadcast a morris code identifier. The advantage to the ADF is it isn't line of sight, rather it follows the earth's curves. And like all nav radios, the needle points in the direction of the broadcast location. The ADF needle will point to where the radio station is.

Capt. Hutch, I'm sure will give a much more detailed explanation, and probably correct something in my explanation. :tongue:

[scottr0829]

ESPN Radio did have the rights to the World Series, and most affiliates are AM based, so tusphotog's explanation makes sense from the radio point-of-view (i.e. it would have been broadcast via AM). I am sure Sirius also broadcast it via satellite radio.

Leslie - do you remember if there were and commercials or other promos during the game? Just wondering so we can try to narrow down the source.

[LeslieDEN]

Leslie - do you remember if there were and commercials or other promos during the game? Just wondering so we can try to narrow down the source.
No sleuthing needed! It was AM 850 KOA. They kept saying it over and over.

Thanks for the explanation, Tusphotog.

[tusphotog]

Thanks for the explanation, Tusphotog.

You're welcome. Here's a nice little explanation about how this works. http://airplanepilot.blogspot.com/2007/09/in-flight-entertainment.html

[LeslieDEN]

Thanks, Tusphotog. That's pretty interesting if a little disturbing. It's no fun to think of pilots trying to keep their eyes open.

[Captain Hutch]

:)Sounds like you guys got the radio problem solved. We have an ADF radio in our cockpits of our 737-300's and 400's but not channel nine, so although I've tuned into some of the local stations while flying by, I have no idea how one would send it over the PA other than in my case holding the PA mike close to the speaker. But, as that blogger on that other site mentioned, it is quite difficult to find a clear station and then it doesn't last that long.

Hey sorry about the Denverites, they got close though!

Hutch

[LeslieDEN]

Thanks, Capt. Hutch. I've been on other flights where the first officer used channel 9 to talk directly to passengers listening in, so maybe it's set up for multiple uses. I will try to ask a United captain how they did it.

It was pretty static-ridden and difficult to understand. When the FA announced it, she said they were hoping reception would get better as we got closer to Denver, but it never did.

Just as well I guess. The way that game went, good reception probably would only have increased the pain. :)

[Passenger Mark]

Hey Leslie,

When you ask and find out... let us know. I have been following this thread, and my curiosity is peaked!

[tusphotog]

I'd be real interested how they do this as well. I suspect that the radio channels are "rebroadcast" in the cabin, but I have no idea how.

That's the best part about flying United...I wish more airlines did this.

[LeslieDEN]

Hi, Mark and Tus! I did a search on FlyerTalk's United forum and found part of an answer, but it's mostly a repeat of what Tus and Capt. Hutch said. Back in 2005 somebody asked if UA captains would be broadcasting the World Cup (what the heck is THAT? :lol:) on ch. 9. A UA pilot replied that he did it but he didn't say how:

I have put various sporting events on CH 9 (with Captain's permission of course) be it the Super Bowl or World Series, etc.....even the World Cup when flying across the Atlantic.

You need an ADF (basically an AM radio) or if you have the HF radios (all ETOPS airplanes- some overwater ones) you can get it that way also. Of course you are subject to the normal radio interference/reception difficulties. Just have to remember what are good freqs for certain part of the country/ocean or do a search until you find one broadcasting.

And most passengers seem to enjoy and thank us for putting the game on.

PS the Airbii dont have ADFs installed, though there might a few due to overwater configs but not sure.

So anyway, my quest continues. I'm glad you are interested! It will give me a good excuse to meet the captain the next time I fly. I will report back on the answer!