The Society of Broadcast Engineers will expand its annual spring SBE Ennes Workshop to a two-day event that is separate from the NAB Show’s technical conference agenda.
SBE noted that the workshop for many years was a day-long tradition at the spring convention but had been cut back by the NAB Show organizers to a half-day and most recently to one hour within the BEITC.
Now, the workshop will expand to two days on April 14 and 15 but be held at the Westgate Resort and Casino next to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Registration will cost $199, separate from the NAB Show convention registration.
That fee will include instruction in one of two tracks: basics of RF or NextGen Broadcast. It includes continental breakfast and a midday refreshment on both days. Online registration will open in January.
“The two program tracks are being developed based on feedback the SBE receives, with RF training being the leading request,” the organization said in its press release.
“While so much of a broadcast facility is based on IT infrastructure, RF skills are still a critical need for technicians. The RF 101 track is designed to bring a broadcast engineer with little RF experience to the point where he or she can properly and safely maintain and update the station’s transmission and auxiliary RF services.”
The course covers AM (including directional antennas), FM, TV, STL, RPU and satellites, as well as transmitters, remote control and grounding for lightning.
For the NextGen track, SBE is collaborating with the Advanced Television Systems Committee. “This course will take students through the information necessary to effectively participate in the transition, and it serves as preparation for the SBE ATSC3 Specialist Certification. A special SBE Certification exam session will be offered for those holding the prerequisites to take the ATSC3 Certification exam.” That exam opportunity requires a separate registration and application.
Registration will be open soon on the SBE website.