This is the best arrangement for broadcasters lucky enough to have one location suitable for both the studio and the antenna. When the transmitter is outside the station's offices, the STL becomes a distinct factor in planning the station. For runs of less than 40 m, audio or coaxial cable is still fine for program delivery, though monitoring the transmitter's condition becomes a problem once it is out of view. It is possible to broadcast without constantly watching the transmitter. The most serious risk is an electrical or mechanical problem that escalates undetected into a loss of service.
Malfunctions getting that far are apt to be costly to repair.
As a preventative measure, most stations install extension cables for the transmitter's meters, and control circuits leading back to the station for remote supervision. When the STL is more than 30-40 m from the studio, several things happen. First, the signal strength decreases as the distance grows. The rate of loss can be looked up in charts describing the performance of various cable types or calculated with simple formulas. The losses with phone line-type wires are normally very small, even when the line is several km long.