The Upcoming NAB2001 Convention Will Be a Showcase for Society Activities RW regularly provides space for commentary from the Society of Broadcast Engineers as a service to the industry.
The annual NAB spring convention is a milestone event for broadcasters. Again this year, the Society of Broadcast Engineers is playing a prominent role.
All is ready for the Broadcast Engineering Conference, which is being organized by a committee of SBE- and NAB-appointed members. Work on the BEC began last summer when the first call-for-papers announcements were mailed.
This year, several unique sessions are being offered at the BEC, including a day-long broadcast-networking workshop under the auspices of the SBE Ennes Foundation. In order to bridge the gap between traditional broadcast engineering and the increasingly important area of information technology, the NAB2001 BEC will feature “Broadcast Networking Workshop: Putting the Pieces Together.”
SBE and NAB are co-sponsoring this special Ennes workshop, to be held on Saturday, April 21, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The comprehensive workshop, which will be moderated by Richard A. Farquhar, CPBE, of RAF Associates Inc., will cover the following topics:
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9:15 a.m.: Network topologies/layouts and common network protocols
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10:30 a.m.: Wiring and connector types, system standards and installation practices
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1 p.m.: Maintenance, troubleshooting and connectivity issues
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2 p.m.: Challenges unique to media-based network platforms
Immediately following the workshop, from 3:30 to 6:15 p.m., SBE will offer a Certification examination consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions relating to radio and television broadcast station internal network installation and operation.
The exam is not software-specific and is designed to emphasize hardware and installation issues common to all platforms. A passing grade will earn the attendee Broadcast Networking Technologist Certification from SBE. The exam is based on the material covered in the workshop.
Anyone interested in taking the exam must register with SBE by contacting Certification Director Linda Godby-Emerick at (317) 253-1640. Or visit the SBE Web site for more information at www.sbe.org
The instructor for the workshop will be Terrence Baun, CPBE, of Criterion Broadcast Services.
Meetings and sessions
The 55th BEC, continuing its tradition of excellence, offers a comprehensive examination of new technologies, systems and products for radio and television.
The conference begins on Sunday, April 22, and concludes Thursday, April 26. The conference will follow the same schedule used in years past, with split TV/radio sessions running from Sunday morning through Thursday noon. The exhibition runs Monday through Thursday afternoon.
The NAB convention provides an unequaled educational opportunity for audio/video professionals. Furthermore, the exhibition floor – featuring a record number of booths – affords attendees a superb opportunity to check out new technologies and products.
As in the past, NAB2001 also provides unlimited networking opportunities in the technical sessions, during the exhibition hours and at any of the many social gatherings scheduled during the show. One such gathering, the Ham Radio Reception, a long-time favorite of attendees, is scheduled for Wednesday evening.
Meet with peers
Several SBE events and meetings will also be taking place at NAB. The SBE Board of Directors meets Sunday, April 22, from 8 a.m. until noon at the Las Vegas Hilton. The SBE Membership Meeting will be held Tuesday, April 24, at 5 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Both of these events are open to SBE Members and are a great opportunity to hear what SBE is working on. (A list of SBE events and meetings will be posted on the SBE Web site and published in the March issue of The Signal.)
Also make sure to stop by the SBE booth while you’re touring the exhibit floor. Books from the SBE Bookstore will be available, as well as SBE logo merchandise.
You can also pick up information about membership, certification, educational opportunities and more. In addition, SBE is celebrating 25 years of Certification. Show your SBE pride by wearing your certification and membership pins, and if you don’t have the proper pins, purchase them at the booth before attending the Membership Meeting on Tuesday.
Change is accelerating in the broadcast industry. Digital radio and television, advanced production tools and streaming media will affect profoundly how broadcast professionals will do business in the years to come.
Indeed, these technologies and others may well redefine broadcasting as we know it. Staying on top of leading-edge developments has never been more important, and the best place to accomplish this task is the NAB spring convention.
The joint NAB/SBE Broadcast Engineering Conference Committee has worked hard to provide attendees with a wide range of topics and speakers. One thing to keep in mind is that SBE members can register at the NAB member rate, making the trip more affordable for you or your company. We hope you can take advantage of this opportunity and attend the show.
