NAB Radio Update – Sep 16, 2008
Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM
Index:
- AWRT, MIW Radio Group to Host Speed Mentoring Session NAB Radio
- Inovonics Model 730
- V-Soft Communications AM-Pro 2
- Vorsis FM10-HD
- How well do you know Texas?
- WHUR-FM to Receive NAB HD Radio Multicast Award
- Survey: HD Radio Awareness on the Rise
- APT Worldnet Oslo Updates
- Barix Technology Radiobox Pro
- Broadcast Electronics Audiovault V-Flex
- Engineering Sessions
- Austin Resources
- RCS Aquira
- Continental Electronics 816R-7C
- Shively Labs 2700 Series
- How Did You Do?
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News from the ConventionAWRT, MIW Radio Group to Host Speed Mentoring Session NAB Radio
McLean, VA – Sep 9, 2008 – The American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT) and the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group (MIW) will present a speed mentoring session on Sept. 17, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. as part of the NABEF Career Day event at the 2008 NAB Radio Show in Austin, TX. The six-minute advice sessions will be modeled after speed dating concept.Hosted by members of the AWRT and the MIW, it’s the opportunity to meet and speak one-on-one with top professionals in radio programming, sales, marketing and management to gain tips on how to better reach and excel at career goals.Exhibitor ExtraInovonics Model 730
RDS/RBDS encoder
Booth 616
Building on the Model 713, this TCP/IP-capable encoder is filled with new features. A front panel knob allows virtually every setting to be viewed and modified from the front panel. This includes settings like PI, PTY, DPS, IP, IP-Port numbers, AFs, time/date and RS232 Baud Rate. The Model 730 also has built in dynamic DNS client service. This allows a static IP-name while being behind a dynamic IP address. Improvements in RAW command with FIFO buffer incorporate flexible free-format group redundancy. It supports DHCP and manual IP, either configurable from the knob/LCD. MAC address is visible from front panel LCD as well. It includes automatic RDS Group 4, clock time/date packets. When connected to the Internet, the internal clock is automatically updated. Easy time zone selection plus Daylight Saving Time scheduler can change the clock for you for up to 10 years. The Model 730 also includes scheduler capabilities to allow a planned scrolling PS message independent of an automation system. Allows events to be saved as either one time event (date/time, then expires) or a recurring event (M,T,W,Th,F/time, never repeats). Up to 99 events can be scheduled this way.V-Soft Communications AM-Pro 2
Broadcast engineering software
Booth 416
AM-Pro 2 is an upgrade to the AM-Pro allocation and coverage mapping program. This version supports grid-style calculation of ground wave and sky wave field strengths and interference, similar to V-Soft?fs Probe propagation prediction program. Daytime allocation studies now remove overlap area over water and accommodation for the existing facility. Night allocation studies now support full ‘clipping’ studies. Added for 2008 is the Add Multiple Contours option to the Coverage Study menu. This tool allows for a given contour to be added to several transmitters at once. Also added was the ability to export all contours in a coverage study to a MIF file at once and Detailed Report for AM daytime study radiation limit generation. This generates a detailed report with information about protected points and will apply protection ratios for points that are clipped at the border. This new version also features user selection ability for the number of radials to plot in interactive graph editor. AM?]Pro has been adopted for use by the AM branch of the FCC.Vorsis FM10-HD
Audio processor
Booth 413
The successor to the FM5, the FM10-HD offers a five-band AGC followed by a 10-band limiter. The FM signal chain includes pre-emphasis and peak control as well as a reference-grade stereo generator. The HD signal chain includes its own specialized peak controller tailored for the codec utilized in FM HD Radio broadcasting. Features include: High-pass filter may operate in stereo or M/S modes; automatic audio source failover on analog and digital audio inputs; separate audio input gains for analog and digital inputs; four-band parametric equalizer; five-band linear phase crossover with adjustable crossover points; exclusive five-band Vorsis Multiband Dynamics Controller; precision 10-band final limiter with distortion masked clipper, FM output simultaneously available as AES3 and analog; reference-grade multiplex encoder with selectable composite clipper; multiplex filter; and twin composite outputs.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 16, 2008
Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM
Do You Know?
How well do you know Texas?
Take this quiz and find out.
- The Heisman trophy is named for a coach/athletic director from which Houston university?
A. Rice University
B. University of Houston
C. Texas Southern University - Which Texas port is home to the world’s longest fishing pier?
A. Galveston
B. West Calhoun
C. Port Lavaca
D. Corpus Christi - What percentage of the U.S. does Texas occupy?
A. 10 percent
B. 7.4 percent
C. 8.6 percent
D. 6.7 percent - Which of these Texas cities is not one of the top 10 most populous cities in the U.S.
A. Houston
B. Dallas
C. San Antonio
D. Austin
The answers are on the last page of this newsletter.Eye on IBOCWHUR-FM to Receive NAB HD Radio Multicast Award
Washington – Sep 5, 2008 – Howard University’s WHUR-FM will receive the NAB HD Radio Multicast Award for its HD2 channel WHUR-World. The station will receive the award during the NAB Radio Luncheon on Sept. 19 during The NAB Radio Show in Austin, TX.WHUR-World combines non-traditional music, news, community involvement and information into a unique format. The multicast channel is an extension of the university’s WHUR-FM adult urban contemporary station. In addition to personality-supported shows, the programming for WHUR-World includes jazz, hip-hop and worldbeat music, along with business, financial and domestic violence talk shows.The NAB HD Radio Multicast Award was established in 2007 and recognizes stations using HD Radio technology through innovative or groundbreaking programming on a multicast channel. Stations were asked to submit information including programming, on-air personalities, promotions and branding elements that establish the multicast channel with a separate identity from the main station.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 16, 2008
Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM
Industry
Survey: HD Radio Awareness on the Rise
Ann Arbor, MI – Sep 11, 2008 – Research from Mark Kassof and Co. shows that 67 percent of 18-64 year olds have heard of HD Radio. This represents a dramatic increase from a similar Kassof study in 2006, when only 38 percent had heard of HD Radio.
Consumers’ understanding of HD Radio has also grown. Now, 21 percent indicate HD Radio delivers higher quality sound, versus 17 percent in 2006. Significantly, 8 percent now volunteer that HD Radio delivers more stations or choices, versus only 1 percent two years ago.
On the downside, this year’s research also finds continued misconceptions about HD Radio. Now, 7 percent indicate that HD radio is satellite radio, up from 3 percent in 2006. And 3percent think they receive HD Radio even though they have not purchased an HD Radio-capable receiver.
The research findings are based on 688 telephone interviews in the U.S., conducted from Sept. 4-7, 2008.
Products from the Floor
APT Worldnet Oslo Updates
Telco and IP codec
Booth 618
The Worldnet Oslo Audio Multiplexer offers a modular platform for the delivery of multiple channels of audio, voice and data over both IP and T1 networks. New for 2008: plug-in voice modules can combine both telephone and intercom traffic along with program audio and data for integrated, efficient networking over high-speed digital links. The range includes a wideband voice module offering four independent, fully duplex 7.5kHz channels as well as four-wire E and M and two-wire FXO and FXS modules for the creation of off-premise extensions and PBX links. Available audio modules include analog, AES/EBU, simplex, duplex and phase-matched options with support for both linear and compressed audio. One key challenge in the migration to IP-based audio delivery is the lack of a stable reference clock throughout an IP network. Worldnet Oslo now offers the option of adding an AES/EBU external synchronization input to the IP transport module. This enables the use of a common audio reference clock throughout all units on the IP network and ensures that the audio clock of all units is stable to achieve the highest audio quality possible over the entire network. Single frequency networking is enabled throughout an IP audio network. This enables highly accurate clock information to be distributed via a Global Positioning System (GPS) in conjunction with the Worldnet Oslo’s IP audio transport module. The SFN option on the Worldnet Oslo minimizes FM bandwidth while avoiding the issues of synchronization and phase matching associated with distributed transmitter sites.
Barix Technology Radiobox Pro
PC-free audio streaming
Booth 327
Radiobox Pro is a PC-free, two-channel encoding/decoding solution based on a Barix audio-over-IP electronic architecture. The IP-based platform is ideal for broadcasters seeking reliable STL and IP transport. Radiobox Pro incorporates the Barix Instreamer encoding and Exstreamer decoding technology under the hood along with new features to meet the analog and digital-audio transport requirements of radio stations of all sizes. The 1RU rack-mountable box adds XLR and AES/EBU connections, full-duplex capability and support of uncompressed audio data throughout the transport chain. In addition to STL, Radiobox Pro can be used for solid-state audio playout in the broadcast studio or at the transmission tower. It adds a built-in Compact Flash card slot to store standby programming in the event the live connection is temporarily lost. The presence of the card slot marks a significant design change from the previous version, which included a USB slot for program redundancy. The Barix Instreamer/Exstreamer audio-over-IP technology enables automatic reconnection to the live stream once the connection is back online. Radiobox Pro offers multiple local and remote control options including access to the Radiobox interface from 3G mobile phones. It supports LPCM decoding through Barix Exstreamer technology up to 48kHz and MP3 decoding up to 320kb/s.
Broadcast Electronics Audiovault V-Flex
Digital automation platform
Booth 618
Audiovault V-Flex digital automation platform addresses the operational challenges of multicasting, voice tracking and Web streaming with personalized setup, advanced segue editor, sophisticated asset management, multi-thread interactive collaboration and more. Personalized studio mashups combine studio tools and applications from more than one source into a single workspace. Announcers and producers can profile workspaces unique to each show, workstyle or for operational continuity throughout the studio environment. V-Flex lets users pick and choose and define task icons from a large pallet of operating functions. Advanced segue editor offers seamless voice-tracking and localizing multiple stations from a centralized studio. V-Flex handles complex segues; it can even do double donuts. Plus, talent can manipulate fades, audio levels and other characteristics of segues. V-Flex has a better, faster search engine and more tools to categorize and manage audio assets for personalizing and repurposing music libraries for new channels on the air and on the Web. A multi-thread engine enables talent in separate studios to work collectively off the same log, in real-time.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 16, 2008
Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM
Session Highlights
Engineering Sessions
Sorting through all the sessions for those of interest? Never fear, we’ve sifted through and pulled the engineering-related events you’ll not want to miss. For more sessions, visit www.nabradioshow.com
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Renting AM Tower Space to Non-Broadcasters � Practical Tips for Managers and Engineers
8 a.m.-9 a.m.
Garrison Cavell, Erwin Krasnow
This presentation for managers and engineers alike provides practical, easily understood insight into the game of renting space on your AM station”s directional or non-directional tower. Topics include liability issues, leasing �gotchas,� planning for shared use, understanding each other”s needs, FCC consideration, and (simplified) technical issues.
Psycho Acoustics: Is Jim Loupas Crazy When He Says Branding with Sound Will Make your Radio Station More Successful?9 a.m.-10 a.m.
9 a.m.-10 a.m.
James Loupas
In today”s ultra-competitive market, branding with sound is a potent weapon in the radio broadcaster”s arsenal. Processing is part of it, but not all of it. Come learn the five ways you can make your sound a unique brand in your market.
FM Boosters — Opportunities and Challenges
10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Stan Salek
Examples of both successes and failures will be presented, along with consideration of performance expectations when FM boosters are designed for IBOC digital radio compatibility.
Advances in Remote Control Technology
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Tony Peterle
One area of broadcasting that has lagged somewhat behind the technological tidal wave is remote facility control, but that is now beginning to change. This workshop presentation explores the new technology being applied to remote facility control.
This Just In�The Latest on PPM
1 p.m.-2 p.m.
Chuck DuCoty, Doug Abernethy, Pierre Bouvard and Bill Weston
From Houston to New York (with Philly in between), PPM has kept the industry talking. Our panel will address all the PPM issues, including the current data and subsequent rollouts, as well as status reports from markets using PPM.
NRSC Meeting
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Next Generation IP-based Audio
8 a.m.-9 a.m.
Tag Borland
Recently available protocols allow multicasting systems, like digital mixers, to automatically find and select the many settings required for network communication to work. Now is the time to start planning for the coming change.
High Bandwidth Capacity RF STL/TSL Connectivity
9 a.m.-10 a.m.
Lawrence Miller and James Moody
This session will examine and present possible solutions for high bandwidth studio-to-transmitter, studio-to-studio and transmitter-to-transmitter connectivity problems. Modern broadcast data connections such as T1, DS3, OC3, and 100baseT Ethernet were not even contemplated when the FCC drafted the rules that govern STL connectivity. Those rules have not evolved with the demands of technology, and broadcasters are now faced with a connectivity dilemma that often dictates looking beyond Part 74 to Part 101 of the FCC rules.
HD Radio Measurements Workshop
10 a.m.-12 p.m
David Maxson
Some of what will be covered in this special workshop includes the HD Radio signal and spectrum, the HD Radio Mask evolution, the current state of the rules, what is PSD and how do you measure it and analog signals versus digital.
The Embedded Exporter Technical Panel
2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
David Layer, moderator; Tim Anderson, Daniel Dickey, Ted Lantz, Scott Martin, panelists
In this session, the differences between the previous generation of Exporter equipment and the new Embedded Exporter will be explained, with a focus on how this new technology promises enhanced reliability and a greater feature set while at the same time substantially lowering the cost of upgrading to HD Radio technology.
Friday, Sept. 19
High-Power IBOC Technical Panel
8 a.m.-10 a.m.
Geoffrey Mendenhall, Jeff Detweiler, Daniel Dickey, Ted Lantz, Gary Liebisch, Milford Smith and Mike Starling
In June, a group of radio broadcasters asked the FCC to allow FM broadcasters, at their option, to increase the power in the digital portion of their hybrid IBOC signals by up to 10dB. In this session, a panel of technical experts will discuss this proposal, explaining the potential impact on existing facilities as well as how to best design new facilities for higher power operation.
The HD Radio EPG Project
10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Rick Ducey, Adrian Cross, Joseph D’Angelo, David Maxson and Skip Pizzi
One of the advanced features supported by the HD Radio system is transmission of an electronic program guide (EPG). The NAB technology advocacy program, has a team of technical experts from BIA Financial Network, Broadcast Signal Lab and Unique Interactive working with Ibiquity to develop the business requirements, system architecture and specifications of an EPG suited to the HD Radio market for local broadcasters. During this one-hour presentation the EPG project team will discuss their plans and progress to date.
Copper Theft at Broadcast Sites
11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sterling Davis, Bob Brand, Chuck Carr and Steve Davis
Copper theft is becoming a major concern for many broadcasters around the world. Not only are facilities being vandalized, but many times the outcome results in lost airtime. This panel session addresses the scope of the copper theft issue and focuses on ways broadcasters can work with law enforcement to protect their assets.
NAB Radio Update – Sep 16, 2008
Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM
Out and About in Austin
Austin Resources
Forget something? Check out these local resources for all your needs. Distances are from the convention center.
Pharmacies
CVS Pharmacy
500 Congress Ave.
512-478-1091
0.4 mile
Walgreens
2020 E Riverside Dr
512-326-5228
1.64 miles
Shipping
Fed Ex Kinko’s Office and Print
327 Congress Ave. 100
512-472-4448
0.33 mile
UPS Store
815 Brazos St. A
512-476-5316
0.53 mile
Post Office
2250 Double Creek Dr.
0.62 mile
Hardware Stores
Callahan’s General Store
501 US Highway 183 S.
512-385-3452
3.58 miles
Home Depot
3600 S. I-35
512-851-1690
2.9 miles
Electronics Stores
Radio Shack
120 E. Oltorf St
512-441-0617
1.81 miles
Best Buy
1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd
512-322-2047
3.59 miles
Office Supplies
Office Max
907 W 5th St. 101
512-476-1440
0.96 mile
Office Depot
2101 S. Lamar Blvd.
512-442-0480
2.07 miles
Product Peeks
RCS Aquira
Traffic and business system
Booth 201
Aquira is scalable from a single station to multi-station or multi-location broadcast groups. With a modern user interface, a user can open multiple logs at the same time and drag and drop spots from one log to another. Its report writing gives the user the power to create custom reports and save them with an easy-to-use Report Builder Tool. With Flexible Rate management, the user can maintain special control over each station. Powerful accounting functions generate a single invoice or send a group of invoices from a customized list at the click of a button.
Continental Electronics 816R-7C
High-power FM analog transmitter
Booth 501
The 816R-7C is capable of delivering up to 44kW of analog RF power using a single, air-cooled, Eimac 4CX20,000E tetrode. The 816R-7C is the analog version of Continental”s existing 816HD-25 analog/HD Radio transmitter already in operation and delivering up to 28.5kW of analog and HD Radio power at 1 percent HD injection. While the 816R-7C is designed to be an analog FM transmitter, it can easily be upgraded later to analog and HD operation, satisfying the needs of broadcasters needing to replace their existing analog transmitter now while not wanting to step up to HD Radio in the foreseeable future.
Shively Labs 2700 Series
Combo series
Booth 506
Shively Labs offers its new 2700-Series comb-line, band pass filter offering 4-pole response in a 3-pole package. The 5kW balanced combiner shown uses these filters, and the new compact hybrids will fit in tight spaces. Higher power versions of these filters will provide balanced combiner modules rated at 10kW+ with only a slight increase in footprint.
Did You Know?
How Did You Do?
- The Heisman trophy is named for John William Heisman the first full-time coach and athletic director at Rice University in Houston.
- Port Lavaca has the world’s longest fishing pier. Originally part of the causeway connecting the two sides of Lavaca Bay, the center span was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961.
- Texas includes 267,339 square miles, or 7.4 percent of the nation’s total area
- Texas possesses three of the top 10 most populous cities in the United States. These towns are Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.
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