In 2006 Lightner Electronics has taken over the technical support for the EMnet system for the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.  Company president Matt Lightner is taking an active role in personally working with the broadcasters, the PAB, PEMA and other state agencies to update and maintain the EMnet system, coordinating events such as monthly tests and updates/upgrades, and keeping the broadcasters informed of important information.

FCC Readiness Inspections
Lightner Electronics conducts the PAB FCC Readiness inspections for the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.  If you would like to have your station inspected, please contact us at 814-239-8323 to schedule an inspector.  Our expert staff and state of the art equipment will personally conduct the inspection.

EMnet
We provide telephone support as well as restoration of terminal software and hardware repair.  In working closely with Comlabs, Lightner Electronics petitioned for a software upgrade to version 2.0 of the Comlabs system for all state terminals, as well as a 256MB RAM upgrade for the terminals at most broadcast facilities in the state. 

If you are a Pennsylvania Broadcaster and are having difficulties with your EMnet terminal, please contact us at 814-239-8323, or eas@lightnerelectronics.com 

If you are having a problem with your terminal, or do not receive periodic messages such as monthly tests or weather alerts we can often help over the phone.  In severe situations where a virus or an accumulation of spyware has infected the terminal we can re-install the operating system and all software to its original state. 

If you EMnet computer does not function, please ship it to us at

EMnet Repair Division
Lightner Electronics
1771 Beaver Dam Road
Claysburg PA 16625

Be sure to include your shipping address so we can return the computer to you, as well as a contact name, phone number and email address so we can reach you if there are any problems.  On a case-by-case basis hardware support, replacement and repair is provided, please contact us before sending a computer with damaged hardware.  Satellite equipment issues should also be reported to us at 814-239-8323 before sending any equipment.  Please Note: We DO NOT RECOVER OR RESTORE ANY DATA from the terminals when they are sent in for repair.  All data is erased from the terminal immediately upon delivery at our repair center.  BACK UP ALL DATA THAT YOU MAY NEED.  This includes any Word or Excel documents, Internet bookmarks, email messages, end-user installed hardware drivers or documentation that did not come with the system.  We only install the following software:  Microsoft Windows 2000 (including all Service Packs and Windows Updates), the latest version of the Comlabs software, and Symantec AntiVirus (as covered under the PAB license) including all updates.  No other software installation is available at our service center.  Any word processor or office suit products, audio editing products, or any other software that may have been installed will not be re-installed

To check the status of your EMnet computer, you should look in the Windows system tray (at the bottom right corner, next to the clock).  If you see a blinking green dish, then the system is working normally.  If you have red or yellow dish, hover the mouse over it for a few seconds, and a message will appear explaining the problem.  If the message is related to connectivity, open a web browser to verify internet connectivity.  Please navigate to a page that features frequently updated content, such as msn.com or yahoo.com.   If the computer is unable to load the page, you have connectivity issues, and need to contact your IT support.

If you have a message referring to trouble communicating with the satellite, then check your Westport Research satellite receiver.   If you aren't sure what it looks like, here is a picture:



Check the EbNO: number, if it is less than .5, but not 0, there is a good chance the RF module in the receiver has problems.  Contact Lightner Electronics for technical support.  If you have a good signal level (7.0 or higher) the problem is likely in the network connectivity between the computer and the receiver.  On the front panel of the Westport Research receiver, press the down arrow key until the display reads IP Address then press the Enter key.  Write down the IP address as shown on the screen.  On the EMnet computer, click on Start, click on Run, type cmd and click OK.  Next, a black and white DOS box should pop up.  Type ping and then (as space first) the IP address of the receiver.  If you get a Request Timed Out error, then there is a communication issue.  Trace the CAT-5 cable from the back of the receiver to the network hub or switch.  Verify on the switch that the link light is lit for that port.  If not, check the cable to make sure both ends are tightly inserted into the end.  It is possible that the ends could have come loose or disconnected.  If the cable is disconnected or missing, connecting it to the network should correct the issue.

If the dish is red, corruption to the Comlabs software may have occurred.  Contact Lightner Electronics support at 814-239-8323 immediately to obtain authorization for return information.

In most cases we will have you ship us the receiver for repair.  In some cases, the satellite dish may have been knocked off of the satellite, particularly in the case of ground-mounted dishes, where lawn crews, vandals, or animals could have altered the pointing of the dish.  Most radio stations receiver news from the Associated Press or Metrosource, you can use that receiver to test the EMnet signal, as they reside on the same satellite.  Conversely you can split the feed from any receiver with the same satellite (Sat info below).

EMnet satellite information:
Satellite – AMC-1
Orbital Position – 103.0° W
Polarization – HORIZONTAL