Documenting your broadcast facility may seem like a chore better put off till next week when you have more time, but you and I know it’s as important as collision insurance or fixing the boss’s laptop. When an emergency happens and you need to trace a signal path, you’re going to save some time if you have good docs.

If you resolve to better document in 2008, we’ve got a presentation for you.  WireCAD is coming to town. If you’ve ever tried climbing the steep learning curve of a conventional computer-aided design software package, you can appreciate WireCAD and its specialization in the broadcast, A/V, and computer networking industries. Find out how you can create rack elevations and wiring diagrams from equipment and wire lists, or vice versa.

WireCAD buys us lunch at TV Magic, Friday, January 11, 2008 at noon. TV Magic is at 8112 Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa. Members and guests welcome.

WireCAD will conduct a drawing, giving away the key for a WireCAD XLT package for a year of use. Bring your business card to drop in the hat to win.

Among the most memorable San Diego SBE meetings were in the late 1980s when Steve Church of Telos Systems introduced us to the DSP phone hybrid, and later when he brought the Zephyr ISDN transceiver and described its new underlying MPEG compression scheme. At this month’s meeting, Michael Uhl of Telos-Systems shows off the Zephyr IP, or Z/IP.

The Zephyr IP uses wired or wireless internet links to pass audio from location to location, the theory being that IP connections are now easier to find than the ISDN lines required for the previous Zephyr models. Inside the box, the Session Initiation Protocol (SIO) assures that the best codec for the conditions presented get used so that the connection uses minimum bandwidth for highest fidelity with lowest latency. The Z/IP was designed to work with existing boxes, as well.

Mike will also bring a sample Axia audio router and Omnia audio processor and answer questions about any or all of those sister products.

This month’s noon meeting takes place at Lincoln Financial Media, home to KSON, KBZT, and KIFM. Members and guests are welcome to join us October 17 at 12:00 PM on the 7th floor at 1615 Murray Canyon Road. Lunch is provided by Telos. Park on the street outside the tall building and proceed up the elevator.

Chapter 36 hosts a picnic at Crown Point in Pacific Beach Friday afternoon, August 17, from 5 PM till closing. We’ll provide an entrée, sides, and sodas. You bring some wood for a fire and any other beverages you’d like. Also bring your family—spouses and kids love to talk about T1 lines and failed transmitters.

Alcohol is allowed at Crown Point Park, but no glass containers are allowed. Entrance gates close at 10 PM.

Contact Gary Stigall or Eric Schecter for exact location and to help us plan sufficient food and drink.

Join us in making this a fun tradition in San Diego. Members, guests, and families welcome, but please reserve your spot.

Mike Lasky of Pentadyne Power gave a presentation on the newest generation of flywheel UPS at our June 2007 meeting at TV Magic. We learned that due to the carbon fiber construction and vacuum bearings, the flywheel is especially quiet and maintenance-free. While the initial cost is higher than conventional battery systems, with most systems there should be a payback upon the first battery change.

A quick election was held by attending members. David Poddig of SDSU Media Services now fills the position of Vice Chair, otherwise all officers remain in their positions. Eric Schecter of Lincoln Financial Media continues as Chapter Chair, Stephen Frick of XETV as Secretary-Treasurer, and Gary Stigall of XETV as Program Chair and Webmaster.

Three attendees walked away with door prizes. Steve Sagady of TV Magic won the Sangean HD-T tabletop HD radio, Eric Schecter won a soft cooler from Microwave Radio Corp., and Leon Messenie of KPBS won a Studer T-shirt. More prizes next month.

Larry Bloomfield brings his famous Taste of the NAB roadshow to San Diego Tuesday, May 22 at noon at TV Magic. Come see wares from some your favorite vendors and win a door prize.

Exhibitors this year:

• Omneon media servers
• Leader Instruments test gear
• Blackmagic Design edit system media I/O cards
• ESE timekeeping and interface products
• AJA video interface and terminal equipment
• Telecast fiberoptic transmission equipment
• InPhase Technologies holographic storage
• Network Electronics fiber, terminal, and compression gear
• Henry Engineering interface devices
• Telecast fiber systems
• Clark wire and cable
• DSC Labs test charts
• SMPTE standards publishing
• Verbatim blank media
• ADS Tech video capture devices
• Key Digital computer cables
• Canon lenses

Plan to eat a free lunch provided by Canon. Lucky engineers will walk away with one of multiple door prizes donated by the roadshow sponsors. Larry’s giving away polo shirts, DVI cables, capture devices, CD media, gift certificates, and standards CDs, and other goods at the show.

Those attending will also be entered into a national drawing for prizes that include a Fluke multimeter, Burst Electronics digital video switcher, Coaxial Dynamics RF wattmeter, a copy of VidCAD software, a Radiosophy HD table radio, and a genuine Chuck Pharis Indian Head TV test pattern.

Members and guests welcome to TV Magic, 8112 Engineer Road, May 22 at noon.