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[Monday at NAB]
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Delivery Systems Dominate BEC Audio Sessions
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by Timothy Kimble,
~ April 14, 2008
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RADIO WORLD
As might be expected, digital, HD and IP issues will dominate the radio sessions of the Broadcast Engineering Conference at the NAB Show.
Today’s “Digital Radio Worldwide” session, 3 p.m., will be chaired by Barry Thomas, Lincoln Financial’s vice president of engineering. Nautel’s Chuck Kelly leads the first presentation, “Bandwidth and Frequency Allocation Issues in International Digital Radio AM and FM Broadcasting.”
It’s a discussion about the implementation of HD Radio, allocating channels and the problems of adjacent-channel interference. The talk particularly focuses on worldwide analysis of the pros and cons of implementing HD. That will be followed by a presentation on new standards and codecs for European digital broadcasting.
Bending your mind a little about how much the idea of digital storage has changed over a very short period, the final presentation of the session asks, “Does Your Yotta Byte?” It’s not a about a loveable former Jedi master gone grouchy, it’s about the rapidly growing dimensions of data.
With gigabits now flowing per second, terabytes is the next frontier, followed by petabytes. This is your chance to find out what terms you’ll be using in the near future to describe your storage and delivery capacity and learn about the new products that will get them from launch to destination.
NEED POTS, IP, STL ... STAT!
On Tuesday at 1 p.m. a favorite topic for engineers and accountants alike is “Audio Over IP.” For engineers, it’s a way to send your audio in crystal-clear sound quality. For accountants, it’s inexpensive. Well, less expensive than a full-time ISDN line.
Johannes Rietschel, chief executive officer and founder of Barix AG, will give the first presentation, “IP-based Audio and Control Distribution Over Internet, Satellite and Wireless Platforms.” Rietschel said we’re at the age when broadcasters can send their audio and data over third-party Internet connections with little or no decaying of audio quality.
“I indeed do think the pace of development will eventually slow down, as the market matures and customers will probably standardize on a couple of variants,” Rietschel said.
Pierre Robidoux, senior engineer with the CBC, follows with a presentation on establishing fully functional studios in the shortest amount of time possible. With studios becoming more involved in different formats of audio delivery, he’ll look at ways to set up studios that can cover all of the needed services in case of emergency in “Rapid Radio Deployment Pack — Emergency Edition.”
Ending the Tuesday presentation is a discussion of advanced technology for audio over IP, a look at how much easier IP can be than previous delivery methods. The session will be delivered by Steve Church, president of Telos Systems.
TOWER POWER
A lengthy session of RF greets radio goers on Wednesday in “Radio RF & Transmission Systems,” 2 p.m., starting with the presentation, “Save That Tower!” When your tower has aged — it’s weathered many a storm and has taken on that color known as “citation orange,” or essentially, rust — there are ways to intervene and help your tower stay on its feet. Technology Editor Anne Gabriel of Current provides an insider’s guide to the events surrounding two recent tower collapses, the broader implications and lessons learned.
With all the talk about the new audio delivery systems, don’t forget about the big box out in the shed. At 3 p.m., a presentation on “Radio Transmitter Maintenance — Back to the Basics” will tell attendees how some of these systems help you take care of your transmitter. Paul Shulins, Greater Media director of technical operations, will demonstrate his methods for keeping transmitters in top condition. That will be followed by two sessions on IBOC testing and audio levels.
The last presentation of this session includes a freebie! Free software will be available to help attendees design and understand AM antennas. Currently, those designs are left to engineering consultants and then to the local engineer to maintain. Free software will be made accessible to all NAB attendees who want a greater understanding of their AM system.
At the end of the day, it’s Hammer time at the Amatuer Radio Operators Reception. Hobnob with company bigwigs and win door prizes. The reception is sponsored by Heil Sound Ltd.
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