SBE Chapter 47

SPECIAL TIME: Wednesday, October 20 at 6:30 PM

When the FCC sold off the 600 MHz band to telecom, it left wireless microphone and foldback monitor device operators scrambling for workable spectrum, especially in the largest metro areas.

I’ve been coordinating frequencies for the NFL since 2012, and now perform the pre-game coordination for the Chargers, Rams, and 49ers—the only NFL coordinator to handle three teams. Monitoring and enforcement mean travel to Los Angeles on game days. With the Super Bowl coming up this February in Los Angeles, we’re preparing to jam more wireless gear into more diverse frequency bands.

In an online presentation, we’ll review current options for wireless options in each available band. What are power users buying? What spectrum is best to use for your applications in LA, San Diego, and Phoenix? What spectrum must be avoided? What’s new with NFL coordination? What is happening at recent and this season’s Super Bowl?

Join me, Gary Stigall, for an online SBE meeting Wednesday, October 20, at 6:30 PM. You are invited to join us. Here’s the link to sign-up.

About the presenter

Gary Stigall got his FCC First Class Radiotelephone License in 1976 and began broadcast engineering while still attending journalism school at the University of Oregon. He worked as a systems engineer for Pacific Recorders and Engineering and Centro, on teams that designed and built major radio studios for ABC and RKO Radio as well as fixed and mobile TV facilities for NBC. He was a staff engineer at San Diego CBS affiliate KFMB-TV for 15 years and then Director of Engineering at XETV Fox 6. For the past 10 seasons, he’s served as frequency coordinator for the NFL in San Diego and Los Angeles and has worked five Super Bowls. He’s closing his contract broadcast engineering company, Signal Wiz, after 10 years of operation.

Tuesday, June 8 at 6:30 PM

When Apple, Google, Microsoft and Mozilla team up, you might think, “Nothing good is going to come of this.” You’d be so wrong. An Open Source project is typically the last thing these tech behemoths would ever want to be involved in, let alone with their fiercest rivals. WebRTC is a fascinating example of how good things can be born of necessity and how they can foster cooperation on multiple levels. We’ll discuss the basics of WebRTC and the multitude of applications that are already using it to change the way the world communicates. This is especially important in light of the rapid evaporation of our “traditional” telco infrastructure. We’ll also cover broadcast-specific applications and the future of live content creation.

About the presenter, Chris Crump

In a few months’ time, there will be cars driving the streets of LA that have hybrid radio receivers. Connected to the Internet and receiving broadcast radio, it’s the best opportunity we’ve had to evolve the experience of radio to match other media services. Hybrid challenges radio technologists to work together closely, across the industry and within organizations to make the most of the capabilities. We’ll look at what practically needs to be done right now, and what could be possible in the near future.

When: Jul 14, 2020 11:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlcuqqpjosGtQ7gbQclXUkjvmlTj-WcZjq

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Presenter: Nick Piggott

Nick has spent the majority of his career working in the radio industry, initially in programming and then moving to digital radio and online innovation.

He created a much awarded multi-skilled team which launched the world’s first commercial DAB digital radio stations, and then went on to consistently deliver technology driven innovation for over a decade. Nick continues to play an active role in the development of DAB digital radio, most recently in the trials of open source DAB transmissions in the UK.

Nick is the Project Director (and one of the founders) of RadioDNS Hybrid Radio, which combines broadcast radio and IP together to deliver a richer and more valuable radio experience. RadioDNS works closely with the WorldDAB on development of open technology standards, and the promotion of Hybrid DAB/DAB+ to the automotive industry.

In addition to leading the RadioDNS project, Nick works with broadcasters globally on developing strategies and innovation to benefit from change created by technology.