NAB2002 is an opportunity to learn about the trends and changes that your operation is about to see. The Broadcast Engineering Conference will offer a multitude of topics relevant to your needs.
Are you about to dip your toe into IBOC? Pick up techniques and practices for transmission and reception. Discover trends in facilities design. Given the occurrences of 2001, everyone ought to be reviewing their emergency practices and procedures.
New designs in station automation and centralcasting are making for radical revisions in many stations’ operations. It’s your chance to study what many are already doing, what more will be changing to and how it will affect your operation.
Broad offerings
On Saturday, April 6, you can take in the IEEE tutorial on streaming media or attend the SBE Broadcast Networking Tutorial (more on that in a moment).
On Sunday, Oded Bendov of Dielectric and Bill Baker of WNET will show you what went into the original New York City central transmission center at the World Trade Center and what’s being done to build its replacement. Then review DAB developments and discover what others are doing worldwide to make the DAB transition, what they did right and what mistakes they made.
On Monday, the NAB convention keynote address will be given by Richard Parsons, who is about to take over the reins as CEO of AOL Time Warner.
After the keynote, immerse yourself in the latest ins and outs of tower siting and zoning. It may not seem exciting, but it’s crucial to making your DAB transition or your new centralized broadcasting facility work. In the afternoon, discover the details of how IBOC is being implemented at real stations and learn the various techniques of how it can work at your station.
Tuesday is devoted to facilities design. Learn how to make your stations more efficient and run better. Later in the afternoon, John Bisset presents his popular practical workshop on radio transmitters. Get the lowdown on making a rig run right.
Wednesday, review emergency preparedness before the Technology Luncheon, when Robert X. Cringely, known from InfoWorld and PBS, will tell us that “Broadband Is Dead.” Then there’s more nuts and bolts practicality in the afternoon, as we review “AM Directional Antenna Essentials.”
Don’t forget the Amateur Radio Operators Reception starting at 6 p.m.
Networking tutorial
The Ennes Educational Foundation Trust, in cooperation with the SBE, is offering a day-long workshop focusing on computer networking for broadcast engineers as part of the NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference.
Set for Saturday, April 6, this workshop will present an overview of the technologies and protocols involved in broadcast networking. Following the instructional workshop, presented by Terrence M. Baun, CPBE, president of Criterion Broadcast Services, optional testing will be offered for SBE Broadcast Networking Technologist (CBNT) Certification.
Among the subjects covered in the tutorial:
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Network topologies and layouts
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Common network protocols
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Wiring and connector types, system standards and installation practices
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Maintenance, troubleshooting and connectivity issues
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Challenges unique to media-based network platforms
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An overview of digital compression technologies and related storage issues
This presentation is scheduled for four hours, including breaks, and is followed by administration of the CBNT examination. Thus, in a single day, engineers who have an interest in acquiring this certification level can attend the tutorial and take the exam.
This workshop follows on the successful program offered at the 2001 NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference. Updated with new material covering a range of subject areas, including the latest network wiring systems, this program is unique in scope.
Pre-registration with SBE is strongly suggested for the certification exam portion of the workshop, although on-site registration will permit “walk-in” registration for the exam. Further information on registration can be found online at www.sbe.org.
The Broadcast Networking Technologist Certification program is designed to demonstrate the certification holder’s basic familiarity with network hardware and operations within the broadcast station environment. The subject matter is not software-specific and is designed to place an emphasis on the hardware and installation issues common to all network platforms as typically used in media support.
This type of certification helps bridge the gap between the role of “traditional” broadcast engineering and the increasingly important area of information technology and network hardware support.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The tutorial commences at 9 a.m., breaks for lunch and concludes at 2:15 p.m. Handouts of selected slides will be provided. From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., participants will be able to sit for the certification exam.
This should give you a good idea of what broadcast engineers can expect to learn at NAB2002. However, SBE also has several meetings, including the National Membership Meeting on Tuesday, as well as our usual booth that you’ll want to squeeze into your visit (see sidebar). In fact, you may want to bring some ginkgo pills so you can remember it all.
See ya there!
SBE Events
Members of the SBE have several things to look forward to at NAB 2002. Whether it’s keeping up with important issues at SBE meetings and events, saving money with member discounts or just reconnecting with old friends at the booth, there are benefits to being an SBE member at NAB.
Opening a week of key events, the SBE Board of Directors is tentatively scheduled to meet Sunday morning, April 7. The SBE Membership Meeting is planned for Tuesday at 5 p.m. Both are open to SBE members and are an opportunity to hear what SBE is working on.
Several issue-oriented groups, such as SBE Frequency Coordinators and the EFD Committee, will be meeting. If you aren’t SBE-certified, consider sitting for a certification exam on Tuesday. (A schedule of SBE events is posted on the Web at www.sbe.org and will be published in the March issue of the SBE Signal.)
With the opening of the exhibit floor on Monday morning, the SBE booth will be ready with smiling faces to greet you at its new location at the east end of the Central Lobby (booth No. 22). Browse through the SBE bookstore where SBE members can purchase books at up to 20 percent off retail; purchase SBE logo items, such as shirts, mugs and pins, to display your SBE pride; and don’t forget SBE has valuable educational materials, such as newly-updated certification sample test disks, to keep you in top form.
If you’re not an SBE member, isn’t it time you considered joining the 5,500+ broadcast engineers and those in related fields who are members? SBE provides education, certification and event frequency coordination services to the industry and has more than 100 chapters that can bring you together with other broadcast engineers. SBE members are eligible to register for NAB at the Partner Rate, a $230 savings!
NAB and Las Vegas can be a little overwhelming. However, at the SBE booth, you’ll find friends and colleagues, as well as valuable tools to aid you in your career.
