Another surplus electronics store has closed its doors in the San Diego area. Long-running California Electronics and Industrial Supply on Johnson Road in El Cajon shutdown in February and will open only for customers who plan to buy large quantities of their existing stock.
In the past few years, retail electronics stores have dropped hobbyist stock or closed altogether as the variety and complexity of manufactured electronics goods available has increased and cost decreased. People seldom assemble or repair electronic hardware from scratch.
California Electronics was at one time a favorite stop for hams and tinkerers looking for cheap but hard-to-find electronics parts.
Jim Culligan, a City of San Diego employee, passed his CTO (Certified Television Operator) certification exam last month to complement his CRO certification. Jim plans to retire from the city this winter and offer his technical services to broadcasters.
Radio broadcast engineers have been battling a certain inelegance in system design since the advent of hybrid analog/digital FM broadcasting. When you combine the complexities of stereo pilot, stereo L-R, and SCA subcarriers with the complexities of the Ibiquity digital sidebands, you’ve got some serious filter design issues and a lot of hardware.
On February 19th, 2014, Orban Founder and VP of Engineering Bob Orban gave a presentation via Skype reviewing his “A Full Bandwidth Standard” Radio World article discussing a new compositing standard designed to simplify the hybrid FM broadcast and decrease filter aliasing. Additionally, he commented on efficient codecs for audio streaming.
Many thanks to Orban’s rep David Rusch and RF Specialties rep Steve Moreen for lunch, a terrific presentation, and to John Rigg of Clear Channel for hosting the meeting and giving us a full tour of his plant. The place is really buttoned down. Continue reading February 19 Meeting: Orban Update→
We’re sorry to do so, but our presenter informs us that he was called away on emergency business and unable to attend. Chairman Doug Alman has canceled the SBE Chapter 36 meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday, January 15th at noon.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
I met Nisie Teeter at Lee McGowan’s funeral. She didn’t know Lee, but she was hired in October 2013 to fill the position he left at CBS Radio in San Diego when he became gravely ill, and all her new coworkers were deeply affected by their loss. She’s unusual not only because she’s a woman in a position held mostly by men, but because she’s an extrovert. Her supervisor, Mike Prasser, waited a long time to hire another engineer, and it’s obvious when you talk to Nisie that she is bound to make her mark in San Diego.
KYXY/KEGY Engineer Nisie Teeter in Costa Rica.
Q: Tell us about your radio engineering experience in Los Angeles. Any favorite projects there? Big challenges?
Nisie: I started as an intern at KUSC, an NPR affiliate [in 2001]. When my internship ended, I was hired by CBS LA. My time at CBS was very short as that KUSC had an opening and they wanted someone with IT experience. I was at KUSC for over 5 years, working my way up to Chief Engineer. I was then recruited to go work for the LA office of American Public Media, where the show Marketplace is produced. Unfortunately, I was laid off after close to 2 years there so I decided to take a different route and went to culinary school. Continue reading There’s a New Engineer in Town and She’s Going to Kick Butt→
