Broadcasters Clinic and Society of Broadcast Engineers Upper Midwest Regional Meeting
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2009 Broadcasters Clinic And Society of Broadcast Engineers Upper Midwest Regional Meeting October 13-15, 2009 Madison Marriott West BROADCASTERS CLINIC 2009 Program Agenda UESDAY CtoBER may drift or jump to a different value, creating an T , O 13 audible echo when receivers blend between digital and analog. The delay variations are often caused by 7:45 am - Registration & Continental Breakfast changes in network latency or lost packets.The causes 9:00 am - FM HD Transmitter Boost of delay variation are discussed along with a Speaker: Jeff Welton, Nautel combination of technologies which can fix the problem. Moderator: Greg Dahl, Second Opinion Commu- nications 11:30 am - IP High-Tech Delivery Advances In light of the recent Speaker: Kevin Webb, Tieline comment period Moderator: Greg Dahl, Second Opinion Commu- opened by the FCC, with subsequent nications comments by NPR, IP High-Tech Delivery iBiquity, broadcasters Advances will show and manufacturers, you how to transition attention is being turned to what is involved with increasing from circuit switched HD injection levels. Until recently, the answer has been POTS and ISDN universally, “you must buy a bigger transmitter”. However, audio delivery recent developments indicate that this may not be the only strategies to packet option. Jeff Welton will discuss these developments, as switched IP audio distribution and routing for remote well as covering points to consider when determining what broadcasts, audio distribution and studio to transmitter might be the best solution for your particular situation. links. New skill sets and approaches are required by broadcast engineers to transition into audio over IP. Find 9:45 am - Next Generation IP-based Audio out what’s changed and how to go forward in the new Speaker: Frank Grundstein, Logitek world of IP. Kevin Webb has 20 years experience in Moderator: Jason Mielke, WCLO/WJVL broadcast engineering and has advised most of the top 40 Radio networks across America on strategies for Networked audio transitioning into IP. consoles have a poor record of interoperabil- ity. Even if models 12:15 pm - Lunch have the ability to com- Sponsored By: Ross Video municate, the complex setup and varying 2:00 pm - CLEANER…Yet Still Loud! parameter choices by manufacturers effectively isolate one Speaker: Frank Foti, Telos model of equipment from another. This is reminiscent of Moderator: Gordon Carter, WFMT Radio the early days of networking in the computer industry. Broadcast audio Recently available protocols allow multicasting systems, processing for like digital mixers, to automatically find and select the many conventional settings required for network communication to work. transmission (FM Consoles can now find other audio equipment, negotiate and AM) has communication methods and receive a list of available reached extreme sources just by turning on the power. Some user groups levels. Most have started requiring a minimum set of protocols in the net- methods available worked equipment they buy. This growing demand by users today are capable of creating LOUD competitive will speed the adoption of standards by manufacturers and signals, usually at the noticeable and perceptible make it possible for consoles from a variety of manufacturers expense of quality. What can be done…again…to to send and receive audio with little or no user involvement raise the bar? either across the room or around the world. Through critical listening, extensive research, and evaluation of processing methods, it was determined 10:30 am - Break the single most annoying quotient is due to inter- Sponsored By: RCS modulation distortion (IMD) induced by the aggressive functions within the processing system. The algorithms 10:45 am - Fixing Delay Variations in IBOC Audio themselves are being pushed to the limits, and possibly Speaker: Dave Hershberger, Continental Electronics beyond. Moderator: Clif Groth Through discussion, and sonic demonstration, Audio delay the problem will be illustrated. More importantly, a variations in IBOC new method for competitive audio processing will be systems can be a revealed which eliminates the challenges suffered by real annoyance. Even current processing methods. Audio demonstrations will if you set the audio be used to provides A/B comparisons of the present delay accurately, it and new method. Additionally, it will be discussed how this method can EDNESDAY CtoBER be used for other processing applications in addition to W , O 14 conventional FM and AM broadcasting. 7:45 am - Registration & 2:45 pm - FM Antennas 101.1 Continental Breakfast Speaker: Bob Surette, Shively Sponsored By: Nautel Limited Moderator: Gary Mach While there has been 8:30 am - Tower Grounding a host of technology Speaker: Jeff Welton, Nautel changes over the Moderator: Gary Mach years when it comes FLASH….CRASH…..WE’RE OFF THE AIR! to FM RF transmis- Jeff Welton discusses sion systems there is lightning prevention a need for a good and things you can do understanding of to protect the facility – basic filter and antenna theory starting with isotropic the discussion will ‘perfect’ sources. My presentation will take the audience involve basic through how energy is radiated from a single source and techniques to ensure how multiple sources can be connected together to form good lightning protection practices are being followed so a simple antenna array. that you can maximize revenue potential by minimizing I will show by examples how familiar parameters such down time. These days with solid state transmitters and as beam tilt and null-fill are realized within a practical computers everywhere in the studio and transmitter site, array by varying the amplitudes and phases of the feeds proper grounding and lightning protection practices are to each source. Expanding the discussion to the differ- essential to ensure continuous operation of your station. ences between isotropic sources and real antennas Bob We will explore various aspects of facility protection, with will explain by example how various methods commonly any eye toward cost effective damage prevention. used to reduce downward radiation are implemented within the practical antenna array. 3:30 pm - Break 9:15 am - Basics of the Smith Chart Sponsored By: RCS Speaker: Jeremy Ruck, D.L. Markley & Associates Moderator: Greg Dahl, Second Opinion Commu- 3:45 pm - AM Method of Moments nications Speaker: George Werl, Commsulting, Inc For many engineers Moderator: Steve Brown, Radio Rangers the Smith Chart is a “The FCC recently mystery, but it doesn’t adopted rules need to be. In this allowing AM stations presentation we will with directional examine some of the antennas to certify fundamental concepts and maintain that led to the development of the Smith Chart. The directional system historical derivation of the chart will be briefly discussed, parameters with a new methodology called Method of with practical examples of how the chart may be used in Moments. This paper will compare and contrast the the broadcast environment. traditional field measurement approach with the new Method of Moments methodology and discuss what is 10:00 am - Exclusive Exhibit Time necessary to implement Method of Moments in new and existing directional antenna systems.” 11:00 am - Lunch (Ticket required) 4:30 pm - Broadcasters Clinic Sponsored By: Comrex Corporation Exhibits Open/Reception 1:30 pm - Implications of Man Made Noise Sponsored By: WBA Speaker: Chuck Kelly, Nautel 7:30 pm - Broadcasters Clinic Nuts & Bolts, Moderator: Keith Kintner, UW-Oshkosh Panel Discussion lead by: In the last decade, Speaker: Bob Surette, Shively noise floor levels have Moderator: Bill Hubbard, UW-Green Bay risen due a dramatic Moderator: Gary Mach increase in high frequency devices in the home, workplace and car. This paper will examine available data about current noise levels, both theoretical and anecdotal, and describe possible efforts that broadcasters can make to maintain their coverage area. 2:15 pm - Update on EAS CAP 7:00 pm - SBE Meeting - Cart Machine Anniversary Speaker: Gary Timm, Journal Broadcast Group Speaker: Andy Rector, ACC Electronix Moderator: Kent Aschenbrenner, Milwaukee Public TV The broadcast cartridge machine was The FCC and FEMA introduced at the NAB Convention in are moving forward 1959 by Collins Radio and Automatic with plans to Tape Control. This machine had a modernize the profound impact on broadcasting in Emergency Alert general and “top forty” radio specifically System (EAS) over the following forty years. Some through the adoption old timers from ATC will be at the Madison Broadcasters of CAP, the Common Clinic to recall the history of the broadcast cartridge Alerting Protocol. What is CAP, and why do we need machine via a PowerPoint Presentation spiced with some memorable cart machine stories. There will also be an it? Where are we in this process, and what is the exhibit in the SBE booth of some of the cart machines status of the infamous “180-day clock”? Gary Timm, that evolved during the last 50 years. Broadcast Chair of our Wisconsin EAS Committee, is involved with numerous working groups and committees dealing with the many phases of this historic transition and will bring us up to date on the current status of this revolution in emergency alerting. Alpha & Omega? Just about. One is an endless loop tape 3:00 pm - Break player (manufactured by Moulic Specialties of Bloomington, Illinois) The other is an ITC Series 99 Recorder/Reproducer Sponsored By: RCS thought by many to be the ultimate broadcast cart machine. 3:15 pm - Reception on the Fringe Speaker: Stan Winrich, Digital Pro THURSDAY, OCtoBER 15 Moderator: Leonard Charles, WISC-TV 7:45 am - Registration & Continental Breakfast In the last couple of years I have done 8:30 am - Understanding Reliability in Mobile TV extensive testing in Speaker: John Schadler, Dielectric Communications fringe to extreme Moderator: Kevin Ruppert, WISC-TV fringe area television Reliability is the key to antenna installations the success of Mobile and reception issues TV. Service reliability for UHF and high depends on the spatial band VHF digital signals in central WI, after dozens of immunity of the installations I have come up with the proper handheld receiver.