The Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 37 in Washington D.C. will soon host a full-day event celebrating antenna systems, combining and “all things RF.”
The free event, dubbed “AntennaFest,” will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET) at WETA(FM/TV) Headquarters in Shirlington, Va.
Organizers said that representatives from several companies — such as Nautel, Dielectric, American Amplifier Technologies and American Tower Corporation — will discuss everything from troubleshooting and monitoring antenna and transmission systems to addressing variables and constraints unique to every project.
Last year’s AntennaFest covered many aspects of shared transmission site technology. “Building on the feedback from attendees and presenters last year, we heard there was much more to learn and people eager to continue doing so,” wrote organizers on the SBE Chapter 37 website.
Educational sessions of note include a talk with Nautel’s Jeff Welton on RF basics; a conversation with Dan Glavin of American Tower Corporation on master antenna design considerations; and a demonstration from Steven Wilde of American Amplifier Technologies/Shively Labs showcasing real-time fault monitoring and protective systems using AAT’s EmPower VNA system, as well as interlock best practices. Check out the full speaker lineup here.
The event will conclude with a panel discussion on AM multiplexing, moderated by Gary Cavell, senior director of the Cavell Mertz Spectrum Division of Capitol Airspace Group. Guest panelists — including Tom King of Kintronic Labs, Kurt Gorman of Phasetek and Ben Dawson of Hatfield & Dawson — will speak about past and current projects, best practices and considerations when co-locating multiple AM broadcasters.
Those interested in attending AntennaFest 2026 can register here. Participation will be limited to 90 attendees and is in-person only.
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