LUNCH ARCHIVES

2025

March

Our presenter had technical difficulties with Zoom and will be rescheduled at another time.

February

Our presenter was Fred Engel, CPBE, ATSC3, principal at Fred Engel Technology Consulting shared his thoughts on the ATSC 3.0 transition, use cases, and some of the work he and his teams have pursued, especially as it relates to public safety communications.  He recently “graduated” to a Lifetime Membership for SBE after his retirement from full-time work last year.”

Fred’s Presentation (pdf)

NEW! NEW! NEW!

Meeting summary for SBE 40 Lunch Meeting 26 FEB 2025 (02/26/2025)

Quick recap

The group engaged in casual conversation about weather, video setups, and professional organization membership before discussing Dave’s new car and its charging capabilities. They also delved into the history of radio, the potential of NextGen TV, and the challenges of emergency communication systems. The conversation ended with discussions on the potential of ATSC 3 technology, the evolution of broadcasting, and the importance of adapting to changing times.

Next steps

• Mark to send Fred’s presentation slides to the group.

• Fred to send his presentation slides to Mark for distribution.

• Bill to follow up with the HARP engineer about doing a Zoom presentation on the 9 gigawatt RF system.

• Bill to arrange a presentation on the ACSC 3 satellite project for NASA.

• Steve to contact Mary Jane Peters regarding engineering opportunities in Monterey County.

Radio History and Transmitter Power Bill shares historical radio documents from World Radio History, including a 1940 NABET newsletter cover and a 1939 amateur radio listing for Dick Parks. He also presents scans of General Electric FM promotional material from 1942, featuring a 50 kW low-band FM transmitter. The group discusses various aspects of radio history, including transmitter power and antenna designs. Fred Engel joins the conversation, mentioning his early career at WTTW Chicago, and Bill mentions a potential future presentation about HAARP’s 5 gigawatt HF transmission facility in Alaska. Antenna Infrastructure and Historical Sites In the meeting, Fred discussed the chapter 93 site he visited, highlighting its extensive antenna infrastructure and the unique equipment, including Continental transmitters sourced from the Middle East. He also mentioned the site’s history of being on the brink of closure before being saved. There was a discussion about other sites, including a museum-like site in Cincinnati and a former site in Delano, California, now used by the United Farm Workers. Eric and Dave shared their experiences working on the Christian Science Monitor project and the Delano site respectively. Mark mentioned his experience with the Dayton Hamvention and his work with Harris, which provided a 2 MW solid-state transmitter. The conversation ended with a discussion about the ease of communication with distant locations during the current sunspot cycle. ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV and Communication Fred presents on ATSC 3.0/NextGen TV, sharing his personal experience of how communication breakdowns during Hurricane Helene in 2014 motivated his work in this field. He emphasizes the importance of reliable communication systems during emergencies. Fred introduces himself as a consultant with extensive experience in broadcasting since 1978, starting at WTTW Chicago. He provides his contact information and mentions that his papers and additional information are available on his website. Fred’s Audio Video Industry Journey Fred discussed his extensive career in the audio and video industry, including his work on stereo audio for television, the development of the digital Broadcast Operations Center in Chicago, and the live broadcast with the International Space Station. He also shared his involvement in the creation of the Atsc 3.0 standard and his role in the Advanced Television Systems Committee. Fred mentioned his participation in various groups within the committee, including the Advanced Emergency Information team and the Planning Teams. He also touched on the international adoption of the Atsc 3.0 standard, particularly in Brazil and India. NextGen TV and Educational Projects Fred discussed the potential of NextGen TV, a new broadcast technology, for his small company. He highlighted its benefits, such as better video and audio quality, more interactive content, and better reception in rural and crowded urban areas. Fred also mentioned the work he did at PBS North Carolina, where they created a megawatt test bed in Eastern North Carolina and tested various applications of NextGen TV. He also touched on the Information Equity Initiative, a project aimed at providing educational opportunities for students in homes without broadband connectivity. Lastly, Fred discussed the Resilient Notifications project, which aims to improve communication methods for firefighters and emergency responders. ATSC 3 and Public Safety Data Casting Fred discussed the differences between ATSC 1 and ATSC 3, highlighting that ATSC 3 provides a larger pipe for data transmission and more efficient video coding. He also explained the concept of Physical Layer Pipes (PLPs) in ATSC 3, where each pipe has its own modulation characteristic. Fred then shifted the discussion to public safety data casting, using the example of a kitchen fire dispatch. He emphasized the need for a more efficient system to respond to emergencies, as the current voice-based system can be slow and inefficient. He concluded by suggesting that a better way to handle emergency responses could be through a more advanced data transmission system. Improving Emergency Communication Systems Fred discussed the challenges of emergency communication systems in North Carolina, highlighting the need for a more efficient and reliable system. He introduced the concept of datacasting, which uses ATSC 3 broadcast technology to provide real-time information to first responders. Fred explained that this system could cover the entire state with just 12 transmission sites, significantly reducing response times. He also mentioned the potential for this technology to provide additional information such as hazardous material details at incident sites. Fred then demonstrated how the current system works, emphasizing the need for improvement. He also mentioned a partnership with Device Solutions and Mosaic ATM to develop a system for tracking airborne wildfire assets using ATSC 3 technology. Eric asked about the impact of defunding PBS on the project, to which Fred responded that it doesn’t necessarily have to be on PBS and that they are working to commercialize the technology. Atsc 3 for Commercial Broadcasting Fred discussed the potential of using Atsc 3 for commercial broadcasting, noting that multiple channels could operate in the same market and receivers would switch channels if they didn’t receive the correct data. Mark asked about how Atsc 3 could compete with public safety’s multi-million dollar 480 and 900 Megahertz system, Ebricks, in the East Bay. Fred responded that Atsc 3 is a one-way broadcast device, similar to paging radio systems, and that it has been resilient during disasters like the Paradise Fire. He also mentioned plans to expand Atsc 3 onto a consumer notification system and that it could be used for emergency warning information on cellular phones when the network is down. Jim expressed concerns about terrain issues affecting the reception of Atsc 3 signals in his area, and Fred acknowledged these challenges. Atsc 3 Technology and Broadcasters Fred discussed the potential of Atsc 3 technology for enhancing signal robustness and its implications for broadcasters. He mentioned that the technology could be more effective in areas with more translators and that it could potentially improve the quality of signals in challenging environments. Jim expressed interest in understanding the scale of improvements Atsc 3 could offer. Mark explained that Atsc 3 offers flexibility in modulation theory, allowing for more robust signals or more data to be transmitted. Vince raised concerns about the potential need for special treatment and certification for engineers working on life safety systems, which Fred acknowledged as a valid concern. Eric asked about the interest of major broadcasters like Sinclair or Next Star Thing in the technology, to which Fred responded that they are interested but face bandwidth limitations in the commercial space. Bill cautioned about the potential competition from the FirstNet system, a nationwide 700 MHz system pushed by AT&T. Radio Systems and ATSC 3 Challenges Bill discussed the challenges of radio systems in California, particularly in Alpine County, and expressed concerns about the applicability of ATSC 3 in areas like Paradise. Eric added that some broadcasters in Oregon are considering giving up their translators due to satellite and cable coverage. Fred mentioned his friend’s experience with the FirstNet network in Louisiana after a tropical storm. The group also discussed the potential sunset of ATSC 3, with Mark expressing doubts about its necessity. Fred expressed hope for the FCC’s support for the broadcasting industry, and the group discussed the increasing availability of ATSC 3-enabled TVs. Eric raised a question about potential higher royalties for licensing ATSC 3, which could affect TV set manufacturers. Exploring ATSC 3.0’s Potential in Streaming In the meeting, the team discussed the challenges and opportunities of using technology for various purposes. The conversation touched on intellectual property issues, the evolution of broadcasting, and the shift towards streaming content. They also discussed the potential of using ATSC 3.0 for innovative content delivery. The team agreed that the technology, while not fully developed yet, holds promise for the future, especially in combining broadcast and web properties. The importance of adapting to changing times and the potential of new satellite frequency bands for public safety were also highlighted. Participants Depart, Discuss Ongoing Projects The meeting concludes with participants discussing their departure and ongoing projects. Mark removes an unidentified user named Pete who joined the call without introducing themselves. Several members, including Steve, Larry, Eric, and Vince, announce they are leaving to attend to various personal tasks such as picking up a spouse, finishing home improvement projects, and bathroom remodeling. The group exchanges goodbyes and compliments on the presentation before ending the call. AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.

Summary

Weather Discussion and Professional Dues

The group engages in casual conversation before the start of a meeting. They discuss weather conditions in different locations, with Eric mentioning recent storms and snow in his area. Mark and Eric compare their video setups for the call. Robert is congratulated on obtaining a new certification as a certified broadcast radio engineer. The conversation then shifts to membership dues and renewals for a professional organization, with Dave mentioning he continues to pay dues despite being retired. Finally, they discuss the electrification of Caltrain, with Dave explaining that the last leg to Gilroy remains non-electrified due to Union Pacific ownership.

January

Our presenter was Andrew Scaglione and is in his fourth year as Radio.Cloud’s account director, responsible for global business development with a focus on the US market. Andrew has been in the industry for a decade-plus and is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to Radio.Cloud, Andrew worked for G Networks/Sun Broadcast Group/Envision Networks in Cleveland, and was a TV and radio sports reporter/anchor in Fayetteville, Arkansas for 3.5 years in the mid 2010s.

AI and cloud technology are rapidly evolving as we progress through Q1 of 2025. As an industry, it’s an important topic to keep up to date on. Andrew Scaglione explained during our first meeting of the year what’s already possible to achieve in broadcasting using AI and the cloud, including global case studies.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) summery of our January event below followed by Andrew’s Power Point downloadable or view on webpage.

SBE 40 Monthly Meeting 29 JAN 2025 (01/29/2025)
Quick recap
This meeting covered a wide range of topics related to radio broadcasting, technology, and personal experiences in the industry. Discussions included technical issues with equipment, certifications, cloud-native solutions for radio, AI applications in broadcasting, and the evolution of radio automation systems. The participants also shared anecdotes from their careers, reminisced about old technologies, and touched on current industry trends and acquisitions.
Next steps
• Dave to send the PDF of Andrew’s presentation to the webmaster for posting on the SBE Chapter 40 website.
• Andrew to send the PDF of his presentation to Dave within 5 minutes after the meeting ends.
• Robert Brown to take his certification exam, administered by Mark.
• Dan to explore the shortwave station near Nashville that Mark mentioned during his next visit to Tennessee.
• SBE Chapter 40 to consider having John Bissett present his workshop series at a future meeting.
• Steve to develop and write up emergency program material ideas for when a presenter doesn’t show up, potentially for posting on the national SBE website.
• SBE Chapter 40 to plan the February meeting presentation.
Summary
Technical Issues and Certifications Discussed
Mark, Dave, and Robert discussed various topics, including personal issues, technical issues with equipment, and certifications. Dave shared his struggles with a transformer issue in his audio console and his plans to look for a replacement on eBay. Robert mentioned his plans to update his certification to a certified broadcast radio engineer. Mark shared his experiences with certifications, including his Atsc 3 certification and his struggles with sub-networking. The group also discussed the Atsc 3 committee and the possibility of hosting a seminar on the topic.
Radio Broadcasting Experiences and Issues
The discussion revolves around various experiences with radio broadcasting and equipment. Steve recounts an incident where the FBI investigated a suspected spy, which turned out to be a radio station’s equipment. The conversation then shifts to issues with signal interference between stations, particularly in foggy conditions. Steve shares a story about climbing a tree to cut branches that were interfering with a signal. Paul mentions problems with signal attenuation due to inversion layers over the bay. Mark concludes by explaining the concept of space diversity in microwave engineering to mitigate signal issues.
AI and Cloud Tech in Radio
Andrew Scaglione from Radio Cloud presents on AI and cloud technology in radio. He plans to discuss current applications, share case studies from clients worldwide, and provide a brief demonstration of Radio Cloud’s platform. Andrew, who has been in the radio and TV industry for over a decade, notes that he is often the youngest person at industry events. The presentation aims to show practical applications of AI and cloud technology in radio broadcasting.
Cloud-Native Solutions and Radio Cloud
Andrew discussed the benefits of cloud-native solutions, particularly in the context of radio cloud. He explained that cloud-native solutions are built from the ground up for the cloud, unlike traditional cloud-based solutions that are simply virtual machines in the cloud. He highlighted the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use of cloud-native solutions. Andrew also presented several case studies, including a Houston radio station that stayed on air during a hurricane, a California radio cluster that moved to a new location quickly, and a German news production network that uses a customized newscast engine. He emphasized the role of AWS Lambda in driving these solutions, offering serverless computing and global infrastructure for redundancy and security.
AI’s Role in Radio and Cloud
Andrew discussed the current state of cloud technology in radio, focusing on AI’s role and its rapid evolution. He highlighted the AI voice tracker as a tool for efficiency and time-saving, and its potential for creating localized content. Andrew also mentioned the development of Radio Cloud Assistant AI, which could assist in tasks such as research and content creation. He emphasized the importance of verifying AI-generated content and the potential for AI to enhance radio programming. Andrew also demonstrated the Radio Cloud platform, emphasizing its global reliability, flexibility, scalability, and security. He addressed concerns about AI voices, stating that while they can be used to deceive listeners, it’s essential to inform them that the content is produced by AI. Lastly, he discussed the importance of sustainability in cloud-based systems, highlighting the potential for reduced hardware and energy consumption.
Radio Automation Evolution and Challenges
In the meeting, Mark, Paul, Bill, Andrew, and Dan discussed their experiences and observations about the evolution of radio automation and broadcasting technology. They reminisced about the early days of radio automation, from punch cards and 3×5 cards to modern cloud-based systems. They also discussed the challenges and advantages of different systems, including the potential for human error and the benefits of cloud-based solutions. Andrew shared that his company has deployed their infrastructure in multiple server centers around the world, with one in the US East, and that they have a backup system in place. The team also discussed the importance of redundancy in their systems. The conversation ended with the team expressing their appreciation for the presentation and the insights shared.
Casual Conversation and Radio Memories
Andrew gives a presentation on an unspecified topic. After the presentation, the group engages in casual conversation about various topics including Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, baseball, and past experiences in radio broadcasting. Andrew leaves the call for another meeting, while the remaining participants continue reminiscing about their careers in radio and sharing anecdotes.
Amusing Anecdotes and Lawn Care
Mark shares an amusing anecdote about the “Turnip Truck Network,” a satirical amateur radio program that used to air on Saturday nights in Atlanta. He recites the humorous preamble of the show, which pokes fun at the intelligence of its participants. The group then discusses various topics, including oxtail dishes, Gladys Knight’s restaurants, and the challenges of maintaining Bermuda grass lawns in Georgia. Steve jokes about climate change, and Mark mentions that golf course management is a popular major at the University of Georgia.
Nostalgic Conversations and Health Issues
In the meeting, Steve and Mark reminisced about old card games and jokes from Amos and Andy, Jack Benny, and others. They also discussed their personal experiences with weight loss and health issues, including Steve’s use of Ozempic and Mark’s use of Manjaro. The conversation then shifted to the topic of beer, with Steve expressing his dislike for it and Mark suggesting a combination of beer and Twinkies. Dave joined the conversation, mentioning a recall of Lays potato chips and the longevity of Twinkies. The conversation ended with Larry’s brief appearance, expressing his interest in the meeting and his plans to buy Hostess products.
Radio Broadcasting Expansion and Tech
The group discusses various topics related to radio broadcasting and technology. Dan shares that his company is acquiring seven new radio stations from Salem Broadcast for $80 million, expanding to new markets including Atlanta, Portland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Colorado Springs, Dallas, and Cleveland. They are testing 5G for station interconnection. Mark and Dan reminisce about satellite transmission technologies used in radio broadcasting over the years, from analog to digital systems. They also touch on their experiences with different broadcasting equipment and facilities, including a tour of Dave Ramsey’s production studio in Franklin, Tennessee.
Broadcasting Industry Experiences and Shifts
Mark and Dan discussed their experiences in the broadcasting industry, focusing on satellite and antenna installations. Mark shared stories about his work with various religious organizations, including Oral Roberts and Pat Robertson, and his involvement in the design and build of a digital TV project. Dan shared his experiences with acquiring stations and managing the challenges of aging equipment. They also discussed the shift towards data transmission and the decline of video trucks. The conversation ended with Mark sharing his experiences with Jampro Allen Dick and the repack project.
AI-generated content may be inaccurate or misleading. Always check for accuracy.
Edit	Please rate the accuracy of this summary.

Best,

Zoom

Andrew’s Power Point below:

2024

December

Our Holiday Social at Delancey on the 18th.

Just a fancy light bulb

October

It was a special presentation put on by Steve Lampen and Bill Ruck focusing mostly mike connectors. A lot of interesting content was offered.

September

Ed Fong was first licensed in 1968 as WN6IQN.  He later upgraded to Extra Class with his present call of WB6IQN.  He obtained the BSEE and MSEE degrees from the Univ. of California at Berkeley and his Ph.D. from the Univ. of San Francisco.  A Senior Member of the IEEE, he has 12 patents and over 40  published papers and books in the area of communications and integrated circuit design.  Presently, he is employed by the University of California,  Santa Cruz (previously with Berkeley from 1997-2010) as an instructor teaching graduate classes in RF design and high speed interface.  In his 35 year career, he has done work for Stanford University, National Semiconductor, Advanced Micro Devices, numerous startup companies in the Silicon Valley.

Ed’s topic covered the design in overcoming issues with the limitations in frequency response of op amps and how they are utilized in low priced test equipment and integrating analog/digital conversion techniques.

A link of an abbreviated version of Ed’s power point .

August

No meeting.

July

Hosted by …..in person lunch!!

Presented by Joe Taylor
West Region Broadcast Operations Manager

Our best turnout since before Covid.

June

Our presenter was Guy Hadland who is the C.T.O.

UniSoft® Corporation is a software company which specializes in the provision of encoding, transmission and monitoring products for broadcast and cable TV.

Guy’s Power Point link below….

Video-Monitoring-UniSoft-June2024

May

Just us.

April

Brad Fisher

Our presenter was Vice President, Sales of ReveLux. He covered the latest in the company’s electronic display products.

March

Our presenter was Kevin Broce Key Account Manager . He covered details on what Lawo designs and manufactures such as video, audio, control and monitoring technology for broadcast, performing arts, installed sound and corporate applications. All products are developed in Germany and manufactured according to highest quality standards at the company’s headquarters in the Rhine valley town of Rastatt, Germany.

Here is Kevin’s Powerpoint

February

Our presenter was one of our own, James Ragsdale Executive Director of SBE National. Jim has held this position since 2021. Jim gave us a run down on the activities and programs going at the national headquarters.

January

is a cloud service offered by Comrex. It allows up to five users to send and receive audio from computers and smartphones. That audio is “Gagl’d” together (if more than one user), and delivered to a Comrex hardware codec such as ACCESS or BRIC-Link, usually in a studio. All participants can hear each other (with their own mix-minus) and the codec “send” audio back to them.ᐧ

Chris Crump, Director of Sales was our presenter on this innovative cloud service for our first event in 2024 on Wednesday, January 31st.

2023

December

In person at Delancey’s…..on the 20th

November

Our presenter, was Lynn Claudy. He is the senior vice president, Technology for the National Association of Broadcasters. He joined NAB in 1988 as a staff engineer and held positions of director of advanced engineering and technology and vice president before assuming his present position in 1995. Prior to joining NAB, Lynn was employed by Hoppmann Corporation, a communications systems integration firm for corporate and government clients where he held a variety of technical and management positions, as well as a part-time Professor of Physics at American University. Previous to that, he was a development engineer at Shure Brothers Inc., a manufacturer of professional and consumer audio equipment. He presented a topic on everything you wanted to know about ATSC 3.0 . This is his power point presentation.

October

Our presenter was Brittany Hilton Broadcast Sales Manager for The Americas focusing on how , and brands

Specifically, Hilton was focusing on how these three brands can be utilized to streamline broadcasting processes as well as those in the hospitality, house of worship, live sound and distance learning markets.

Here is an earlier video that Brittany produced that covered most of her content in the meeting.

September

Jeff Wilson from Western Sales

Mike Pappas W9CN, Vice President – Business Development, Orban Labs, Inc.

The topics: AM Power Savings utilizing MDCL @ -6 with the Nautel NX Series and the ORBAN XPN-AM Processor.

POWER POINT PRESENTATION (pdf)

SBE-0923-AM-Power-Savings-with-NX-MDCL-and-XPN-AM

August
No meeting

July

Our presenter was Eddy Vanderkerken, General Manager

What he covered: “Newest developments in Test & Measurement tools for the broadcaster including NextGenTV“.

He brought with him for this in person lunch at Delancey’s a series of analyzers (to look at and get hands on) as well as presenting a door prize of a digital multimeter.

Images of Eddy’s power point presentation is now available via the link below in Google Slides.

 Sourcerer 16-9 Product Presentation SBE40.pptx

June

Our presenter was be Perry Priestley CSO.

His technical presentation describes the effort by B.E. and the Elenos Group to design the ultimate transmitter. It covers detailed design aspects of revolutionizing how the broadcast industry operates.

He has worked in the professional broadcast industry for over 49 years. He joined Broadcast Electronics in June 2019 in the position of Chief Operating Officer and now is the Chief Sales Officer. Previously he held the position of CEO at Anywave Communication Technologies Inc. He has also held positions in Sales and Business Development with Linear Industries Brazil, Ibiquity Digital Corporation (now Xperi), Thales-France (now Thomson Broadcast), EEV-Marconi, and Philips (Pye TVT) in the UK. Perry has presented at over 200 technical broadcast conferences worldwide, has been the lead commercial coordinator in notable projects around the world, and has been a significant contributor to many new product releases in the radio and television broadcast market.

 Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Cambridge University, England, and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Telecommunications from Cambridge College of Technology.

Below are screen captures of his entire Power Point presentation

May

Below are screen captures of the meeting with Harold’s Power Point.

February

Our presenter was Lindsey Shaw Account Manager, Cybersecurity
Motorola Solutions, Inc. Even though her talk was not broadcast engineering related directly, a lot of common points were covered in regards to security in our industry.

Below are the screen captures of the meeting.

January

David Neff, General Manager

Our presenters for the new year covered the following:

1. Single Frequency Networks and on-channel repeaters

2. Discussion of the Portland ATSC 3.0 system (focus on the on-channel repeaters and how used)

3. Introduction of the new 7X exciter with scheduler and gateway (Advantages over multi-vendor approach)

4. New Marble transmitters (Refined performance, latest transistors, coolest operation, small footprint and lowest operational cost)

Screen captures of the meeting below:

2022

October

CAN YOU TURN A BROWNFIELD GREEN?
It is a challenge – even more so today than ever: What is the first thing you are supposed to do when you are handed the IT responsibilities? The need may be to turn an IT Brownfield green.

First moves. That is the topic for technical and IT people alike. SBE 40’s own Tim Pozar helped us this month as we discuss Reverse Engineering a Brownfield Network. There are some key tips and tricks to be had, as well as a few smiles.

A related presentation will happen on Wednesday, December 7th at 9am during the Floss Weekly program on Leo LaPorte’s Twit Streaming Network.

Live Stream
On Demand Stream
Screen captures of the October 26th meeting below.

September

Michael J. Pappas W9CN, Vice President – Business Development Orban Labs was our presenter. He did several presentations in Oregon earlier this summer. This time it was our turn. Mike covered his experiences in audio chain setups at various radio stations…the good, bad and the ugly and solutions including Orban’s XPN Enterprise.

Below are a few screen captures from his presentation to Chapter 40 and Mike’s power point.

Mike’s Original Power Point Presentation

August

Doug Ferber and Jacob Daniluck were the presenters and the following topics were covered:

The phasing out of POTS lines and other trends in audio transport. 

 The progress of the Gateway line of studio codecs as well as the ViA field codec and Report-IT app. 

 An update on what we are seeing regarding broadcasting from home and remote setups

Established in 1981 Tieline has carved out a strong reputation in international broadcast and industrial audio and video markets for world class products. Significant expansion of its global distribution network has fueled sales growth and funded continuing research and development.

Today, thousands of broadcasters use Tieline codecs every single day for live broadcasts. Tieline’s global sales & marketing, research & development production & manufacturing and administration teams operate under a well defined strategic business plan, which will continue to deliver innovative solutions to professional broadcasters markets around the globe.

Since 1998 the company has pursued the development of a global distribution network spanning the Americas, Europe, UK, Africa, Asia, Middle East and Australasia. Today Tieline Technology has offices in Australia and North America with a regional distribution hub in the United Kingdom.

Below are screen capture highlights of Doug and Jacob’s presentation:

July

Kirk Harnack
Director of Multimedia Marketing

Kirt gave us pointers on troubleshooting AoIP Networks

Below are screen capture highlights:

June

The OConsortium Technology Tour is a van that tours to various stations and tower sites demonstrating glass-to-glass ATSC 3.0 technology in a cloud-to-ground/ground-to-cloud workflow.

Jim Ocon educates broadcast engineers and first responders how different ATSCE 3.0 products can work together during the event by showing them a workflow in action with real products and services supplied by our sponsors.

They travel around the United States and hold events, mostly at stations in sunny outdoor Covid safe places! The van was viewed for Chapter 40 members on June 30th parked in front of the Delancey Street restaurant.

Photo and video highlights below.

A very impressive 2 million iso camera

May

Ben Barber was our presenter and covered FM/HD1 Radio Time Alignment and how it works. Included is his introduction of the Justin HD Radio™ Alignment Processor.

Screen captures of Ben’s excellent presentation shown below.

April

We are back…at least for this month’s event.

It was a memorable get together in person for the first time in over two years and we did a lot of catching up.

March

Joel Wilhite

Broadcast Television in ATSC 1.0 vs. 3.0 and Why Everybody Should Care

One or more TV industry critics are on record saying… “broadcast TV is dead” or another saying TV is missing the mark with advertisers, or something similar. Is TV really dead? A broadcast signal holds a unique property the internet will never have. But more important, how does the Internet services compete with Free Over The Air (FOTA) TV service? Google, Facebook and now TikTok are building up their new economy to grab advertising dollars, but understanding all the while one needs a connection to have access to the internet. One thing for certain the Internet has changed our lives since having a connection to the Internet is fairly ubiquitous but rarely free, unless you sneak into Starbucks coffee or McDonalds.

Joel’s talk covered how the Internet has influenced the ATSC standards and the broadcast workflows in general. I will go on further into the standards and point out some little secrets and perhaps some answers to a few questions about what is possible. Broadcasters and the companies they work for need to be aware of what the internet does for us and against our “brand safe” good old reliable TV service.

Check out the screen captures below.

February

Protecting My Broadcast Station from Cybersecurity Threats

Our presenter was Wayne M. Pecena, an Associate Director Information Technology at Texas A&M University. Wayne has over 48 years of broadcast and IP network engineering experience. He holds BS and MS degrees from Texas A&M University. Wayne is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and is a Fellow of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) where he holds the Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer (CPBE), the Certified Broadcast Network Engineer (CBNE) and all specialty endorsements including the ATSC3 endorsement. He served as the President of SBE from 2019 to 2021 and currently serves as a society officer as the Immediate Past President. He was named the 2012 SBE Educator of the Year, the 2014 Radio World Engineer of the year, and an IEEE-Broadcast Technical Society (BTS) Distinguished Lecturer in 2018. He is a frequent industry speaker and author on IP networking and cybersecurity topics for the broadcast and media technology professional. He covered all of this during our February 23rd meeting.

Screen shot highlights for the meeting are below. A higher resolution copy of the power point of the presentation (without eye straining) is available from Wayne by contacting him via his e-mail at: w-pecena@tamu.edu.

Included below is another screen capture during the meeting the details of the cyber attack of KQED in 2017. Larry Wood from that NPR station presented the details.

January

Our presenter for the new year was Bert Goldman. He covered the offerings his company has for improving your coverage foot prints with your FM station especially in markets that have terrain issues and getting that signal to your audience located in challenging locations. Using synchronized boosters, nodes, and translators with today’s technological developments in this area, the improvements are remarkable.

We had 17 participants which includes our presenter.

Check out the screen captures from Bert’s presentation below:

2021

November

A Collector’s Confession…..

 Everything from World War II to Mickey Mantle’s rookie card to TSA Love Notes to the effect of DNA to the British Navy Distinguished Service Cross with a few jokes thrown in.

The screen captures below tell the rest of the the story.

October

Our presenter was George Thomas. He is a broadcast engineer, software developer, podcast producer, recording engineer/producer, and musician.

Since 2005, few of his friends and George have produced a series of Internet TV shows you will probably find interesting. Check out www.amateurlogic.tv and www.hamcollege.tv .

He also had the pleasure to work with Bob Heil (K9EID) and Gordon West (WB6NOA) weekly on the Ham Nation video podcast for nearly 10 years (through 2020) during the show’s time on the twit.tv network.

George was very honored to receive the 2013 Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award for his video work.

He was also quite humbled to have been chosen Homebrew Hero of 2020 by the folks at homebrewheroes.org and icqpodcast.com.

In 1972, as a teenager, George got his first FCC Commercial license and began working in radio. In 1991 he got his first Amateur Radio license and has been active ever since.

For our Chapter 40 Zoom meeting, George focused on his autobiographic adventures in his activities in radio especially in maintaining broadcast transmitter sites in the somewhat rural south primarily Mississippi.

Here are a few screen shots.

September

Frederick Baumgartner was our presenter. He is a Director for Next Gen Implementation at ONE Media 3.0 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He covered NextGen’s interactivity and advanced emergency alerting and informing capabilities.

Screen captures from the presentation below:

August

Our own Mark Fehlig did a presentation on Solar and Microgrid updates to residences for PG&E Rate Stability, Resilience and Infrastructure upgrades.

July

Daniel Glavin was our presenter. He was recently promoted as the Regional Sales Manager. Daniel is an experienced Electrical Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications industry. Skilled in Team Motivation, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Public Speaking, ANSYS, and Leadership. Strong engineering professional with a Bachelor of Science – BS focused in Electrical Engineering from University of Massachusetts Boston.

Daniel talked about Dielectric’s currently offered product RFHawkeye. RFHawkeye is a real-time time transmission line and antenna monitoring system that operates under full power broadcast operation. The RFHawkeye monitoring system is easily retrofitted and integrated into both existing and new transmission systems. The IP connected RFHawkeye offers continued support to protect the broadcaster’s infrastructure and revenue stream. RFHawkeye can detect changes and degradations and will notify of anomalous changes, well before a catastrophic issue occurs.

Below are screen captures of the attendees and selected highlights of Daniel’s excellent presentation.

June

Our presenter was Chuck Barry who did a presentation on lithium ion batteries and their application to back up power systems in the broadcast industry. He also covered the advantages and disadvantages various types of batteries from lead acid to various lithium based power sources and what may be in store for the future. What was also covered were details on Staco’s UPS and other state- of-the-art backup systems. More details on the presentation are covered with the screen shot highlights below.

May

Our presenter was Rajat Mathur. He comprehensively covered changes to the FCC RF Exposure Rules as it pertains to broadcasters and what you need to do to comply.

Zoom screen capture highlights below.

April

Our presenter is an American sound and radio engineer most well known for creating the template for modern rock sound systems. He founded the company Heil Sound in 1966, which went on to create unique touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who.He invented the Heil Talk Box in 1973, which was frequently used by musicians such as Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh and Richie Sambora, and is still in use today.

Heil has been an innovator in the field of amateur radio, manufacturing microphones and satellite dishes for broadcasters and live sound engineers.^[4] In the late 1980s Heil Sound became one of the first American companies to create and install Home Theaters, and Heil has lectured at major electronic conventions and taught classes at various institutions. He covered that whole gamut in his presentation to Chapter 40 this month.

March

Approximate first Anniversary for “Shelter in Place” Zoom presentation due to the pandemic.

The timeline is not exact since there was no March 2020 meeting.

Our presenter was Jeff Welton regional Sales Manager, Central U.S., fixer of problems, provider of solutions from Nautel who talked about “ferrites”. They are used to attenuate EMI and can be extremely effective. Jeff also covered grounding and the proper way to do it especially if lightning strikes are threat to your site.

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February

Our presenter was Jay Gedanken VP in charge sales & business development.
This Barrington Illinois company for more than 10 years, has been supplying encoders, transcoders and decoders to the broadcast industry. Their management has a strong background in compression development, formally holding very senior development positions at Thompson Broadcast.  Rather than a “one-size-fits-all” type design, they provide a highly configurable compression system. Special features are one of their specialties. Igolgi supports audio as well as video.

Here are some screen capture highlights of this very informative meeting.
We had 17 attendees which included two presenters.

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January

Our presenter for the new year was Brian Walker, Business Development Manager Professional in the Audio division of the Sennheiser Electronic Corporation. Focus was on wireless microphones and the digital transmission superior technology trend in this realm.

2020

November

It was a memorable one…..go to the MEMORABLE LUNCHES PAGE.

October

Screen capture highlights during the presentation for Chapter 40

Our initial presenter was Benjamin Nemser. As our industry is dealing with the Covid restrictions on live meetings and shows, his company offered a program for us on Fiber Optics for HD Broadcast, with a live demo of fiber cleaning and testing. This webinar qualified for 1RU credit for AVIXA certification. Ben has had the opportunity to make in-person presentations to a number of you, and hope that you found it worthwhile. For those of you who have not seen it, he presented a 45-minute presentation covers basic fiber optic cable construction, termination types, testing, and practical applications in broadcast video, audio, and data with a focus on the types of connectors and how to install them. He also tailored the presentation to include any specific items of interest to our SBE chapter and answered questions at the conclusion of the presentation.

September

Our presenter was George Kizer. He focused on the entry of 6Ghz unlicensed transmitters (RLAN). More from the Federal Register report from the FCC.

He is a consultant in telecommunications systems with main focus on fixed point to point microwave radios and associated network management systems. Authored Digital Microwave Communication, Microwave Communication and contributed chapter in Volume 2 of Handbook of Microwave Technology. Author of several peer-reviewed technical articles (consult IEEE Xplore digital library). Currently President of National Spectrum Management Association and Editor of Wiley IEEE Series on RF and Microwave.

George’s Power Point presentation link in format.

August

Bob Orban was the presenter. Achieving excellent on-air and on-line quality audio is more important than ever because of the intensely competitive nature of available media. “Good enough” no longer works. Persuading audiences to listen and then return requires attention to quality at every stage of the production process, from program sources to audio processing. This presentation will help attendees achieve quality on-air and on-line audio broadcasting and netcasting goals.

The presentation was co-hosted by John Lynch of Broadcast Supply Worldwide.

July

Our July 29th SBE presentation was from Frank Foti, the founder of Omnia Audio and Chairman of the Board of The Telos Alliance, who spoke on “Sonically, what sets one style of processor apart from another, and how it affects time spent listening.”It was very interesting and fascinating. Watch the You Tube presentation on demand if you missed this event or would like to see it again.

Due to the COVID-19 restricted travel, in-home listening is more important than ever, for both TV and Radio. Just as important is TSL (Time Spent Listening). Frank described how considerations should be kept in mind during this change of focus for broadcast engineers.

June

May

We had 16 or so active participants covering many subjects mostly of the flashback variety…from cat whisker crystal radios to mercury vapor rectifier tubes.

April

Stephen Lockwood P.E., PMP, President of Hafield & Dawson Consulting Engineers of Seattle was our presenter.

Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers specializes in telecommunications and electromagnetic engineering services. They are familiar with nearly all aspects of telecommunications and electromagnetic engineering. The firm performs conceptual and specific system design, government agency and license application engineering, preparation of specifications, construction supervision, propagation analysis, measurements, testing and operational review.

Stephen covered the myths and the solid science of electromagnetic radiation as it pertains to the broadcast engineer and the effects on the human body from 100khz through the millimeter microwave range.

February (our last lunch before “Shelter In Place” due to Covid-19

Last weekend David Williams and Chuck Waltman of iHeart Media installed a new 3 bay Dielectric DCRM antenna designed to provide auxiliary service to KISQ 98.1 MHz and KSOL 103.7 MHz on San Bruno Mountain.  At this month’s meeting David will talk about the project including the challenges in installation and how he used a network analyzer to adjust the antenna’s dual fine matchers for the perfect 50 ohms +/- J0 antenna system input impedance.

Steve Moreen, Dielectric’s Western Region Sales Manager and David Williams of iHeart Media provided information at the presentation at our lunch about how the antenna was broadbanded for the two stations, a short overview of the Smith Chart and how antenna input impedances may be adjusted with transmission line slugs and fine matchers.

January

Eric Dausman, KD7DNM was our presenter. Current status of spectrum repack and Bay Next Generation Television was  discussed. An update on the latest antenna installation was discussed and the current status of spectrum repack and ATSC 3.0 was covered in a very comprehensive presentation.  There was a record attendance at Dalancey’s for this first lunch event of the year.

2019

OCTOBER

BOB ORBAN

With an attendance of over 23 at the Delancey Street Restaurant, Bob’s presentation  aimed at radio, streaming and television engineers. Bob discussed techniques processing bass (including subharmonic synthesis), the uses and pitfalls of de-clippers, use of multidimensional phase correction to minimize mono reception while minimizing multipath distortion, and use of parallel compression for pre-processing. He also talked about loudness management of digital radio, digital television, and streaming using both the BS.1770 and the Jones & Torick (CBS) algorithms, with particular consideration given to the 2015 AES TD1004.1.15-10 “Recommendation for Loudness of Audio Streaming and Network File Playback” publication. Measurements were discussed assessing how effectively conventional radio-style audio processing controls loudness, and  included practical suggestions about loudness management.  The presentation  wrapped up with a brief discussion of two recent Orban products for radio and streaming.

Eric Dausman’s presentation on Sutro Tower will be rescheduled for early next year.

SEPTEMBER

Designed with control and scale in mind, WideOrbit’s radio platform is a comprehensive content and revenue management solution for maximizing audience value on any audio format – whether it’s delivered over the air or on mobile devices. Sales Manager, Michelle King was the  presenter from this San Francisco based digital and audio solutions company and covered every aspect of media delivery in regards to solutions for simplifying the complexity of today’s distribution and management.

AUGUST

Miitch Strohman, Owner was  our presenter. This southern California company focuses on design, fabrication, installation, and servicing of custom A/V control rooms facilities with emphasis on furniture.

JULY

Cris Garcia , Sales Manager for the western U.S., Canada, and Latin America was our presenter.

Founded by Gene Zimmerman in 1997 and based in Champaign, Illinois, privately held Cobalt Digital designs and manufactures award-winning 12G/3G/HD/SD conversion, throwdown, and multiviewer technology for the production and broadcast television environments. To them, signal processing is about more than just powerful processing and system capabilities. Just as important are scalable, cost-effective, real-world solutions that not only meet today’s demands but adapt to tomorrow’s challenges. We believe that a scalable, space efficient and flexible approach to terminal equipment and systems offers the best value and choice without compromising ease of integration, features, or economy. We call it Engineering Beyond the Signal™, and it’s that philosophy that guides everything we do.

JUNE

Steve Moreen, was  the meeting presenter.  He discussed the current status of the TV repack with updates on the TV markets of San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego along with pictures of antennas under construction at the Dielectric factories in Raymond and Lewiston, Maine.  As the second part of the presentation, Steve  talked about some of the more exotic Dielectric FM broadcast antennas and discuss FM combiner basics along with improved methods in their design.

Steve Moreen is a member of the Los Angeles SBE Chapter 47 with a background in radio and television broadcasting and satellite communications  dating to the 1960s.  Prior to his position as the Western Region Sales Manager of Dielectric, Steve was the owner and General Manager of RF Specialties of California.  Steve was Director of Engineering of KPIX in the 1980’s.

MAY

Paul Kriegler, US Director Omnia Sales,  was presenter on the 29th and he showed off the Telos Alliance Van:

The latest in AOIP audio consoles, audio processing, streaming, and phone systems were on display, plus Paul  talked about the latest developments in watermarking. Many attendees of the lunch played with all the knobs and the lights dazzle them! Enjoy the video preview if you missed seeing the van in person.

APRIL

Dr. Scott Howland, from the California Highway Patrol did our presentation. He was the kid who ran the AV equipment in middle school, tinkered with computers in high school, then went on to get a degree in TV/radio with an eye toward a career in broadcasting. Then came the master’s degree in business and an education doctorate in organizational leadership. But what you might know Scott Howland for is his distinguished career in law enforcement.

Chief Scott Howland, the CIO and chief of the Information Management Division for the California Highway Patrol, oversees, among other things, IT policy and procurement for one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies. About 75 percent of its 11,000 employees wear a badge. His previous assignments have included overseeing statewide community outreach and media relations, CHP legislative liaison, and multiple field assignments.

MARCH

Deploying ATSC 3.0 – A view from the trenches
ATSC 3.0 systems have grown beyond the labs and the live trials are busy with integrations of TV features. The work to add more functionality continues as we head off towards NAB in Las Vegas. Joel Wilhite KD6W from Harmonic Inc.  provided an industry update from his perspective, with some details fresh from the field trials in Raleigh, Cleveland, Chicago and Phoenix.  He highlighted  groundbreaking next-gen solutions for broadcast and OTT video delivery as a follow up with exciting new technological developments as an update to his presentation  in April 2018.

FEBRUARY

On the 27th, our presenter was Tony Gervasi, Sr. SBE Member and Sales Manager for GatesAir Intraplex. The subject was  “Reliable Transport of Audio and Data Over IP” discussing Transport reliability, Review causes of packet losses, media transport protocols and network security.

He  discussed  Intraplex IP Link’s methods for reliable IP transport for audio, FM MPX and control (GPIO, PAD) and Introduce the Intraplex IPConnect transport system.

Tony’s background includes more than 30 years of experience in the broadcast industry, including 20 years as Sr. VP of Engineering & Technology for Nassau Broadcasting, where he bought his first Intraplex STL Plus system in 1996.  During his tenure at Nassau he continued to rely on Intraplex products to provide the audio and data transport for Nassau stations in markets such as Portland, Boston, Cape Cod, Allentown PA, Trenton/Philadelphia, Annapolis and Frederick MD.

When Nassau sold their stations back in 2013, Tony joined 305 Broadcast in Miami as their USA Sales Manager where he continued his Intraplex relationship by making 305 a dealer and selling the IPL and HDL product line.

In April 2018, Tony joined the GatesAir family as the sales manager for Intraplex where he makes use of all of his experience to help GatesAir deliver the highest quality, most reliable audio transport solutions available.

Tony Gervasi, Sr. SBE Member and Sales Manager for GatesAir Intraplex will be presenting

Reliable Transport of Audio and Data Over IP discussing Transport reliability, Review causes of packet losses, media transport protocols and network security.

Tony discussed Intraplex IP Link’s methods for reliable IP transport for audio, FM MPX and control (GPIO, PAD) and Introduce the Intraplex IPConnect transport system.

JANUARY

Our presenter was Steve Wilde, President of American Amplifier Technologies (AAT). AAT specializes in the manufacturing of transmitters for FM, VHF/UHF TV, VHF/UHF filters, combiner systems, and also offers broadcast services. AAT is located 90 minute drive from the Bay Area in Citrus Heights.
His presentation focused on slug placement  calculations in rigid transmission lines to achieve an SWR as close to 1:1 possible.  Steve did an actual demonstration with an FM exciter and Smith Chart calculations to achieve where the slug should be  positioned in the line.

 

Before his main demonstration, Steve showed off many products that
ATT manufactures.

2018

NOVEMBER

Enjoy highlights of Steve Lampen’s presentation at the last lunch of the year.

 October

LUNCH  WAS ON HALLOWEEN!!

Tony Peterle was our presenter. It  was  on Facility Control/MNS.

SEPTEMBER

Take 2

The Future of TV Broadcasting:  Contribution and Distribution Enter a New Era

Synopsis:  In the midst of the Repack many TV stations are in the process to upgrade their existing facilities with new products that go beyond a new TV transmitter. New challenges are present today that requires broadcasters to be more efficient and to do more with less. ATSC 3.0 is on the horizon, and IP cloud and virtualization are part of the agenda for broadcasters that aims to thrive in the new Digital TV economy.
Our presenter was  Graziano Casale. He is a National Account Manager, Broadcasting at Rohde & Schwarz, USA. He has over 10 years of sales and management experience, including TV transmitters, Mobile DTV, Headend, Microwave Link and System integration.  In his current role, Graziano’s responsibilities include mainly the Full and Low Power TV transmitter market as well as introducing to the broadcast market the new R&S products portfolio, and developing and maintaining successful client business relationship with key accounts.
Prior joining R&S, he was at Screen Service Broadcasting for 6 years, where he held several positions of increasing responsibility including Project Manager and Sales Director of North and Central America.  Graziano moved from Italy to the US with his knowledge and passion for Mobile DTV being part of the first Mobile TV commercial service in the world. He has a strong background and knowledge on digital TV standards and brings to the industry excitement on what business opportunities are available for the broadcasters. Graziano holds a B.S and a M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Rome .  When he’s not working or traveling, you might find him training for ironman, running a marathon or playing basketball.

AUGUST

An international electronics group specialized in the fields of electronic test equipment, broadcast & media, cybersecurity, radio monitoring and radio location, and radio communication.

Our presenter was Don Backus. He is Account Manager, Radio Transmitters division for Rohde & Schwarz, based in Munich Germany. Don handles Canada and the United States. Prior to joining Rohde & Schwarz in mid-2017, Don was Eastern US Sales Manager for Broadcast Electronics for five years. Don was previously VP of Sales & Marketing at ENCO Systems for 13 years and prior to that, held a number of positions in radio as an on-air personality, production director, general manager and chief engineer. He has presented to a number of professional broadcasting organizations including the Audio Engineering Society, a number of international, state and regional conferences and several SBE chapters. Don has served two terms on the board of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and has recently completed serving a second term on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation board.  Don is a member of the SBE.

His presentation  covered the  Total Cost of Ownership issues increasing for TV and FM broadcasters especially and there is an increasing need to reduce these costs over the life-cycle of the transmission system while improving performance and reducing ongoing maintenance costs. From alternative cooling systems to more efficient designs, from reductions in required floor space to reducing service costs by minimizing required maintenance, there are a number of factors that reduce the cost of ownership while improving up-time and performance. He will look at TCO and some of the advanced transmitter technologies that enable reduction in operating costs, both for Radio and TV transmitters. Don   also discussed some forward looking technologies like the HD Radio Generation 4 platform.

JULY

Our presenter was Don Roudebush, Western Region Account Manager of Indiana based Electronic Research Inc. He  presented an overview of the Impact of the New ANSI/TIA-222-H Structural Standard for Antenna Supporting Structures on broadcast radio and television facilities.  The presentation provides a summary of the changes that are incorporated into the new standard versus the current 222-G Structural Standards. Emphasis was placed on those standards that focus on safety for the tower riggers.

    ABOUTFor more than 75 years, ERI has served the broadcast industry with products and services of the highest quality and dependability. Our dedicated staff of engineers, drafters, fabricators, project managers, and installers deliver products to meet all your broadcast needs, both RF and structural. We take pride in contributing to your success by offering the best broadcast antennas, filters and combiners, transmission line, and towers.

ABOUT OUR JULY PRESENTER
Don Roudebush joined Electronics Research, Inc. (ERI) in April 2017 as the Western Region Radio Account Manager – responsible for Sales and support of ERI’s broadcast antenna systems, towers, transmission line systems and FM filter and combiner products for the western United States territory.

Roudebush served as Program Manager and Senior Director of Site Development at Educational Media Foundation (K-LOVE and Air1 Radio) for 13 years and has held Product Development and Marketing positions at Pacific Bell and Southwestern Bell, and is a 2006 graduate of the NAB Executive Development Program. Roudebush began his broadcasting career in 1981 as a part-time board operator and copy writer at KGOE (AM) and KNJO (FM) in Thousand Oaks, CA.

 JUNE

The lunch was open forum covering individual experiences in  broadcast engineering, education, and history of the industry.

M A Y

 

Kelly Fair, Western Regional Sales Manager of this New Mexico based company, was our presenter. Lectrosonics is a leading manufacturer of wireless microphone systems and audio processing products for the film, broadcast, theater, music and installed sound markets. Kelly  focused on the current status of  wireless microphone systems.

 A P R I L

Our  presenter was Joel Wilhite, KD6W, Senior Systems Design Engineer. He  showcased this San Jose based company’s  latest software-based innovations highlighting groundbreaking next-gen solutions for broadcast and OTT video delivery and the powerful capabilities of ATSC 3.0.

There was also  time during individual introductions for attendees who attended N.A.B. to briefly highlight what they saw in Vegas.

MARCH:

Our presenter was Eddy Vanderkerken, Director of Sales of of Dallas based Radio Frequency Systems. Eddy’s talk gave an insight into how antenna design influences radiation patterns, how the design and manufacturing of antennas and RF filters has evolved, and the software tools that can be used to select the optimum solutions for the TV broadcaster during the FCC repack and beyond.

FEBRUARY:

Presenter: Gary Adams

Today’s broadcasting standards are getting better and better, and broadcasters need more powerful products to help them create better looking, more compelling programs. With things like 4K, IP technologies and IT networking already in play, broadcasters need to know how to transition to new technologies effectively, and need to have the proper workflow and knowledge in place to manage content properly. In this presentation, Gary Adams discussed the latest standards in the industry, and the Blackmagic Design products that provide broadcasters the support for their needs of today and a path to the future. His presentation covered all those aspects and was well received..

Gary has been in the Broadcast and Post Production Industry for more than 45 years. He started in radio in the late 60s, moving to television in the early 70s, serving as a video tape specialist for RCA in the late 70s and early 80s. He co-developed the TLC, a telecine synchronizing system used in film to tape and dailies transfer for more than 20 years. Gary worked for DaVinci Systems as the TLC Product Manager, then Product Manager for the Revival Digital Film Restoration System. At Blackmagic Design, he is a product specialist on digital film restoration and transfer as well as broadcast switching, distribution, and acquisition. A recognized specialist in motion picture digital film restoration worldwide, Gary is a current member of SBE, a lifetime member of SMPTE, and a member of the AMIA, Association of Motion Imaging Archivists.

janUARY:

Our presenter on the 31st was  Joe  Talbot. It was just about all things VoIP, Broadcast Telephone Systems, and Network Security with emphasis on VX, the world’s first VoIP (Voice over IP) talk show system – a SIP-based broadcast phone system so powerful it can run all of the on-air phones for your entire plant, but economical enough for stations with just two or three studios. and a Q&A followed  Joe’s presentation.