The second webinar in the series of seven, designed to help you prepare for the Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer (CBNE) exam, will takes place Tuesday, December 4, 2012.
Routing and Switching is the subject, with a specific focus on how unicast and multicast is implemented in IP networking, when to route and when to switch, and implementing QoS for audio and video applications. Click here for more information and to register.
cover photo of the calendar, courtesy of Scott Fybush
The 2013 Tower Calendar by Scott Fybush is now available. Call the SBE office at 317-846-9000 to get yours today! The cost is $20 plus $3 for shipping.
A TV station in Tampa, Florida is looking for a Broadcast Engineer. Visit SBE JobsOnline for more information on this and other job listings.
Paul Kempter, CPBE and Blake Hawkins, CPBE of SBE Chapter 39 volunteer during the Republican National Convention. The 2012 convention was held August 27-30 in Tampa, Fla.
By: John Collinson, CPBE, CBNT, 8-VSB, AMD and Paul Kempter, CPBE
Tampa Bay Chapter 39 served an important function as the City of Tampa hosted the Republican National Convention August 27-30 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Under the leadership of nationally known engineers Louis Libin, (member of Chapter 15) and Howard Fine (member of Chapter 47), eight Tampa area broadcast engineers teamed up to register and tag hundreds of wireless devices coming into the Tampa Bay Times Forum where the convention was held. Paul Kempter of Chapter 39 chaired the Enforcement Committee, which included handling logistics for all the other local coordinators before and throughout the entire convention. FCC personnel from Washington, Michigan and the local Tampa office were also involved. This venue had four major entrances that had to be covered simultaneously, and eight floors to search for non-coordinated equipment.
The major networks also sent RF personnel to oversee their own operations, including Ray Benedict, CPBE a member of SBE Chapter 37.
Approximately 2000 requests were received for 140 available wireless mike frequencies; 1400 requests were granted thanks to a 23 page Special Temporary Authority granted by the FCC. Those with coordinated frequencies were cleared to use them and tagged appropriately. The vast majority (over 800) who did not have allocations were tagged for identification and carefully instructed not to use their equipment. NBC gave the team dozens of mic cables to loan to those not prepared to turn off wireless. Some crews arrived with equipment on frequencies in the U.S. cellular bands and one tried to use a local sheriff’s office two-way frequency; not a wise idea!
As a result of these efforts only one incident of any consequence occurred and only on one night. On the intense closing night there were no major issues at all. Without all the preparatory efforts there is no doubt chaos would have ensued with hundreds of wireless transmitters inside one hall.
SBE Chapter 39 participating members included: Paul Kempter, CPBE, enforcement chair; Ed Allen, CBT; George Becht; John Collinson, CPBE, CBNT, 8-VSB, AMD; Michael Galik, CBTE, CBT, CBNT; Steve Hess, CPBE, CBNT; Blake Hawkins, CPBE; Bob Shotwell, CPBE (Chapter 14 member).
Another SBE Chapter 39 member Mark Schaefer, CBTE, arranged parking space for the volunteers in his company’s parking garage near the venue, a huge help in a crowded downtown area.
Other volunteers who assisted the coordination effort included: Alice Becht, Andrew Becht, Jim Cannon, Mildred Hawkins and Gary Reinhardt.
Do you feel the pain caused by decades-old interfaces that are tough to maintain, and not well-suited to today’s demands for more open, dynamic interaction between systems? Are you being asked to do more, but with fewer resources? Chris Lennon, who is known as the father of SMPTE’s Broadcast eXchange Format, also known as BXF, will be presenting a Webinar by SBE exploring BXF.
Attendees will get up to speed on what exactly BXF is, and why it has so rapidly become one of SMPTE’s biggest success stories. The technical capabilities of BXF will be explored, as well as the underlying business benefits it provides. The webinar takes place November 27. The cost for members of the SBE is $49, and $75 for non-members.
BXF was first published about four years ago. Since then, the broadcast industry has embraced it. Hundreds of implementations have been successfully completed, and BXF is well on its way to being the de facto method of connecting systems such as Traffic, Automation, and Asset Management. See how BXF has helped broadcasters, and how it can help you, as well. Read more…. Register today!
You may or may not be aware that the SBE has a Contract and Consulting Engineer listing page on the SBE website. Be sure to check it out, and if you are interested in adding your name to the CCE listing, download the application and follow the instructions to submit it to the national office.
SBE Members can take advantage of a $20 savings by purchasing the 8-VSB course on SBE University by the end of the month. This course, written by Doug Garlinger, CPBE, 8-VSB, CBNT, provides an overview of the 8-VSB system from end to end, providing all the basic information needed to understand the nature of 8-VSB modulation and to recognize deficiencies in the transmitted signal. This information will be invaluable in installing, maintaining and operating a digital television transmitter facility. Much of the material contained in this course will aid the student in his or her efforts to obtain the SBE 8-VSB Certification.
The course has 14 chapters, and includes graphics, a glossary, quiz questions, and a final exam. Subjects include an introduction to 8-VSB, video compression, DTV audio, active format description, PSIP, 8-VSB signal and channel occupancy, the 8-VSB transmitter, 8-VSB spectral display and mask, television power and DTV service areas.
The courses on SBE University are made up of 8-14 chapters. They can be viewed unlimited times. Courses also contain graphics, a glossary, quiz questions, and a final exam, all to compliment the course. In addition, you can view a preview of this course, and any of the courses on SBE University.
On November 13, 1975 the concept of the SBE Program of Certification was adopted by the Board of Directors. It was officially launched in 1977. The Program of Certification was established to recognize and raise the professional status of broadcast engineers by providing standards of professional competence. Through the years, it has become recognized in the industry as the primary method of verifying the attainment of educational standards.
The program currently offers 15 certifications ranging from entry-level with no experience requirement to an advanced level with 20 years of broadcast engineering experience required.
The program would not be possible if not for the volunteer efforts of the National Certification Committee and the local Chapter Certification Chairmen throughout the country both past and present.
Visit the SBE website for more information on the certifications offered.
Facebook has made changes again. Go to our Facebook page and click on the “LIKED” button. When you click on this button, select “Get Notifications” from the drop down menu. This will help ensure you receive all posts, including news, contests and updates.
SBE President Ralph Hogan, CPBE, DRB, CBNE, congratulates Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNE, on being honored as the 2012 James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year at the SBE National Meeting in Denver in October.
The next IP Networking Webinar by SBE explores routing and switching. Presenting this webinar is 2012 SBE Educator of the Year Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNE, who frequently presents for the SBE. This webinar is the second in a series that focuses on various aspects of IP Networking. Subjects explored in this webinar include how Unicast and Multicast is implemented in IP Networking, when to route and when to switch, and implementing QoS for audio and video applications.
This webinar, which takes place Tuesday, December 4, is one of many geared toward helping broadcast engineers prepare for the SBE Certified Broadcast Networking Engineer™ (CBNE) certification exam. Visit the SBE website for more information and to register.
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