If it's March, spring can't be far away and that means it must be time to mess with the clocks. This year's "Spring Forward" into Daylight Time happens this coming Sunday morning at 2am. You'll want to double check your automated systems and clocks to make sure you're ready to handle the change.

One thing that can get overlooked is EAS equipment. For many systems, you have to change the time, the time zone AND the UTC offset. Remember, when we're on DAYLIGHT time, we're 6 hours behind UTC. Which setting you use, plus 6 or minus 6, will depend on your system. Checking ahead may save you that middle of the night phone call from the control room.

With every rule, there is a confusing exception and this one is for the guys on the radio side of the house. If you're responsible for an AM directional array, the FCC expects your pattern change to happen at STANDARD time, not Daylight Time. This should be listed on your license. So there is at least one clock you get to ignore and one less to change back in the fall.

Good luck.


Mike Snyder, CPBE, KB0MJW
SBE Chapter #34 Chairman
Assistant Chief Engineer
Citadel Broadcasting Company-ABQ
500 4th Street, NW-Fifth Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-767-6763
mike.snyder@citcomm.com