Satellite Scheduling

Setting Up a Satellite Hour

A satellite hour allows the AAE to air audio from an external satellite receiver while using Bridge logic closures to start local commercial breaks, station IDs, and liners. Full satellite scheduling and closure control require an APEX Plus system with a configured Bridge Switcher.

1. Configure the Bridge and satellite receiver

Before creating the schedule:

Open the AAE Setup screen.
Confirm that the correct Bridge serial number and COM port are selected.
Select the appropriate Number of Full Logic configuration.
Connect the satellite receiver’s audio output to the desired Bridge source channel.
Connect the receiver’s logic outputs to the corresponding Bridge connector and pins.
Save the Bridge assignments.

The source channel selected in the schedule must match the source represented by the receiver’s logic connector. Closures from other sources are intentionally ignored.

2. Bridge closure assignments

Go to the Installation and Quick Start Guide, Bridge Hardware instructions on how to setup and verify this.

Preparing IDs and Liners

The AAE creates satellite jock folders under each station’s selected Audio Library directory:

<Audio Library>\Sat\Satellite\Jock 1\ID

<Audio Library>\Sat\Satellite\Jock 1\Liner 1

<Audio Library>\Sat\Satellite\Jock 1\Liner 2

<Audio Library>\Sat\Satellite\Jock 1\Liner 3

<Audio Library>\Sat\Satellite\Jock 1\Liner 4

The same structure is created for Jock 1 through Jock 20. If custom jock names are configured, a folder may appear as:

Jock 1 - John Smith

Place the appropriate audio directly into the ID or Liner folders. These files are not imported as carts and do not appear in the Audio Library database.

Important details:

Supported formats are MP3, MP2, and WAV.
The filename can be descriptive; a cart number is not required.
If a folder contains multiple files, the AAE randomly chooses one when the closure arrives.
Only files placed directly inside the ID or Liner folder are eligible. Subfolders are ignored and can be used to store inactive material.
Avoid creating two folders that begin with the same jock number, such as both Jock 1 and Jock 1 - John Smith.

The Jock Folder selected in the Air Schedule determines which set of IDs and liners will be used during that hour.

Creating the Satellite Clock

Open the Schedule Manager.
Select the hour you want to use while designing the clock.
Clear the Clock column if necessary.
Add one or more Floating Break events at the approximate times the satellite network normally provides local breaks.
Give each Floating Break the proper length, such as 2:00 or 3:00.
Select either Optional or Fill for each break.
Add local spots, promos, or other carts within the time window occupied by each break.
Repeat this for every expected local break in the hour.
Use Auto-Segue if needed to arrange the clock events sequentially.
Click Save Clock, enter a descriptive name, and save it.

A satellite clock commonly consists of Floating Break windows containing local commercials. The satellite feed supplies the programming between those breaks.

Satellite Source versus Satellite Mode

Do not use Satellite Source (Audio Only) as a replacement for Satellite Mode in the Air Schedule. Satellite Source is a clock event that switches to an external audio source for a specified period. Satellite Mode establishes the hour-wide source channel and jock-folder context needed for full closure-controlled satellite operation.

Station IDs and liners triggered by closures do not need to be placed in the clock. They play directly from their jock folders when their closures arrive. Only place an ID or liner in the clock if it should play at a fixed scheduled position instead of being closure-triggered.

Optional and Fill Floating Breaks

Optional

An Optional Floating Break reserves a window in which local material may play. It does not require the scheduled carts to completely fill the window, and the audio plays at its normal speed.

Use Optional when:

The break length may vary.
It is acceptable to return to the satellite feed after the available local material finishes.
Exact timing is not required.

Fill

A Fill Floating Break is expected to contain enough audio to fill its complete scheduled duration.

Use Fill when:

The local break should closely match the satellite network’s break length.
Traffic should provide enough commercials to fill the entire window.
You want Schedule Check to identify an incomplete break.

When the total audio is within approximately four percent of the break’s assigned length, the AAE can make a small uniform playback-rate adjustment so the contents finish at the break boundary. If the difference is larger, the files play at their normal rate. Schedule Check reports Fill breaks that do not contain enough material.

Traffic imports can stack commercial carts into both Floating and Timed Break windows when the traffic position corresponds to the break and the material fits. After loading traffic, always review the break contents and run Schedule Check.

Assigning the Clock in the Air Schedule

For a recurring weekly satellite hour:

Click Assign Clocks.
Select the satellite clock from the clock list.
Select Satellite Mode.
Select the Bridge Source Channel connected to the satellite receiver.
Select the correct Jock Folder.
Click the desired day-and-hour cells in the weekly grid.
Confirm that the cells display the clock name and the yellow Satellite Mode color.
Click Save and Close.

Repeat the assignment for every day and hour that should use this satellite format.

A date-specific Air Schedule entry can be used when a particular date must override the normal weekly assignment. Make sure it uses the same intended source channel and jock folder.

If the Play Schedule is empty when the hour is pulled into the On-Air Playlist, the AAE automatically applies the clock assigned to that hour.

How a Floating Break Operates

The satellite receiver is placed on air using the Source Channel assigned in the Air Schedule.
Automation advances through the satellite clock.
When it reaches a Floating Break marker, the AAE arms the break and waits for the receiver’s Break closure.
The On-Air screen indicates that the Floating Break is waiting.
When the matching Break closure arrives, the AAE switches away from the satellite feed and starts the local carts inside that break.
After the break contents finish, the AAE returns to the satellite source and prepares for the next eligible Floating Break.
If no closure arrives, the break remains waiting during its eligible hour and is dropped when the new hour is reached.

The scheduled position of a Floating Break determines its order and eligible window, but the closure—not its clock time—is what starts it. The On-Air Next button can manually step past a waiting break; it does not simulate the closure or fire the break early.

A Break closure will only work when:

Automation is running.
A Floating Break is armed and waiting.
The closure belongs to the source currently assigned to the satellite hour.

Station ID and Liner Closures

When an ID or Liner closure arrives, the AAE:

Checks the currently scheduled satellite source.
Determines the active Jock Folder.
Selects a random eligible file from the appropriate ID or Liner folder.
Plays the file directly from disk.
Returns to the satellite feed when the file finishes.

These inserts do not advance the playlist or trigger a Floating Break. The satellite receiver should send ID and Liner closures while its feed is on air. If one fires while a local hard-disk cart is playing, that cart may be cut and cannot be resumed; automation will advance after the insert.

Testing the Satellite Hour

Before using the format on air:

Populate or load the test hour into the Play Schedule.
Confirm that the Air Schedule shows Satellite Mode, the correct source, and the correct jock.
Start Automation.
Confirm that the satellite receiver is heard.
Allow the playlist to reach a Floating Break and verify that it shows as waiting.
Use the AAE Setup Sat Break test button.
Confirm that the local break plays and the satellite feed returns afterward.
Test the Sat ID and Sat Liner 1–4 buttons.
Finally, test the receiver’s physical closures.

The Setup test buttons verify scheduling, folder selection, and audio playback. They do not fully test the physical receiver wiring or its source-channel mapping.

Basic Troubleshooting

The satellite audio is not heard

Verify the receiver’s physical audio connection.
Confirm the correct Air Schedule Source Channel.
Check the Bridge serial number, COM port, and source assignments.
Make sure the hour is assigned as Satellite Mode.

The Break closure does nothing

Automation must be running.
A Floating Break must currently be armed and waiting.
Verify that the closure’s source matches the Air Schedule Source Channel.
Confirm the Bridge is receiving closure messages.
Use the Sat Break test button to separate a scheduling problem from a wiring problem.

An ID or Liner does not play

Confirm the correct Jock Folder is assigned.
Check the exact Sat\Satellite\Jock N\ID or Liner N folder.
Make sure the file is MP3, MP2, or WAV.
Ensure the file is directly in the folder rather than inside a subfolder.
Verify that the folder contains at least one playable file.

The wrong ID or liner plays

Confirm the Air Schedule’s Jock Folder.
Remember that one file is selected randomly when multiple files are present.
Check for duplicate folders beginning with the same Jock N name.

Traffic does not appear inside the break

Confirm that the clock contains a sufficiently long Floating Break.
Verify that the traffic event is scheduled near the break window.
Make sure the combined carts fit inside the break.
Reload the traffic and run Schedule Check.

A Fill break is reported as incomplete

Add enough commercials, promos, IDs, or other carts to match the break length.
Review the actual runtimes of the files.
Use Optional instead if the break is intentionally allowed to run short.

Closures work from Setup but not from the receiver

The clock, folders, and playback path are working.
Check the receiver wiring, connector number, pin number, closure polarity, and Full/Partial Logic configuration.
Confirm that the closure belongs to the satellite source scheduled for that hour.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse