All posts by Gary Stigall

February 2011 Meeting – Linear Industries

You should be aware by now of the great strides in the digital TV viewing experience due to improvements in incoming signal equalization. But did you know that you can improve the signal on the transmission side as well?

A presentation given at this month’s SBE Chapter 36 meeting will profile the continuing advancement in 8VSB coverage optimization techniques, and will address new signal algorithm techniques like memory effects compensation (MEC) and efficiency gains of crest factor reduction (CFR) in RF power amplifiers. It will also cover the advantages of having a comprehensive test and monitoring system as part of the transmitter and describes what to look for when trying to get the most bang-for-your-buck in transmitter performance. The presentation will include a live demonstration of correction techniques as well as over the air mobile (M/H) transmission.

Join us February 9th at noon at TV Magic in Kearny Mesa. Steve Moreen of RF Specialties of California brings Perry Priestley of Linear Industries. He’s buying lunch, so be there to meet, greet, and learn a thing or two. We’ll be electing some new leaders as well. Members and guests are always welcome.

About our Presenter

Perry Priestley has worked in the professional broadcast industry in technical and commercial positions for over 25 years. Currently Perry is VP of Sales for Linear Industries. Previously, Perry held the position of Director of International Broadcast Business Development at iBiquity Digital Corporation and was responsible for developing and promoting the adoption of HD Radio™ worldwide. Before joining iBiquity he worked for Thomson as a Director of Sales and also has held engineering positions with Marconi and Philips.

As a Broadcast Engineer with Philips he was responsible for the design and implementation of many television transmitter installations worldwide.

In his position with Thomson and iBiquity Perry has written and presented technical presentations at almost every major broadcast symposium and convention in the world.

Perry earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Anglia University in Cambridge, and an Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Cambridge College of Technology, Cambridge England.

January 2011 Meeting – Western Technical Services “IP Radios”

In the huge fires of October 2007, San Diego broadcasters abruptly lost control of their radio equipment on Palomar Mountain and Mt. San Miguel. That fateful week taught us that we shouldn’t rely on the telephone company to provide remote control lines when the video those sites provided arrived wirelessly. Many TV stations moved to wireless control through 900 MHz links, or through 5.8 GHz radios multiplexed on their
existing 6 or 7 GHz video ICR links.

Similarly, radio stations have learned that they can provide an effective secondary, or even primary, audio studio-transmitter link with license-free wireless radios and high-gain antennas.

Vislink, known for decades in Southern California as Western Technical Services, visits our January 2011 SBE meeting to discuss wireless IP radios. Those radios have advanced  considerably in technology, with abilities to frequency hop and use a variety of modulation schemes to maximize throughput and minimize downtime.

Join us January 19 at noon at TV Magic, 8112 Engineer Road, in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. Vislink will provide lunch.

Cox Media Techs Prove They’re Certifiable

Three engineers at Cox Media Channel 4 passed their SBE certification exams in November. According to Chief Engineer Kevin Schrader, Matt Hall is now a Certified Broadcast Technician (CBT), Andrei Taratusky a Certified Broadcast Network Technician (CBNT), and Shane Fortin a CBT and CBNT.

Consider becoming certified or upgrading your certifications in 2011. Certification study materials were updated in 2010, so preparation should now be considerably more straightforward and less time-consuming. Apply online for your next exam. If you apply after December 31, your next opportunity to take the exam will be at the NAB Convention April 11.

Holiday Banquet 2010

Time again to get together to just talk shop, eat, and walk away fatter and happier. No presenter or program. This year let’s meet at the Kearny Mesa Filippi’s Italian Restaurant at 5353 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, on Wednesday, December 15, at 12 noon. Please bring $15 cash.

UPDATE: Door prizes have been added!

  • Vislink, known for years here as Western Technical Services and Microwave Radio Corporation, has donated an Apple 8GB iPod Nano.
  • Harris Corporation is donating a number of tote bags, thermal coffee mugs, multitool, and leather zippered notebook.
  • Omnia is donating a copy of Omnia A/XE audio processing/streaming software.

RSVP today so that we can plan to have enough room for you.

See you there!

Road King Larry Bloomfield Dies

Larry Bloomfield, traveling host of the “Taste of the NAB” road show, died November 8th of a massive heart attack in Florence, Oregon, where he had most lately called home. His son Thomas posted a remembrance on Larry’s website, www.tech-notes.com. An obituary is posted on The Broadcaster’s Desktop Resource.

Larry, 72, had served in the Navy as an electronics technician. He had been a broadcast engineer at various western TV stations from KNBC and KNXT (now KCBS) Los Angeles to KCNS San Francisco to KTVZ Bend, Oregon. He helped found now-defunct radio station KBET in Santa Clarita. His “Taste of the NAB” show demonstrated numerous products to SBE chapters around the country, often leaving him on the road for five months straight.