To receive the headlines for these articles weekly in your e-mail, subscribe to the NAB Radio Update e-newsletter from Radio magazine.
Click here to subscribe.

News from the Convention

Bob and Tom to Host Marconi Awards
Morning show duo and four-time NAB Marconi Radio Award winners Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold of the The Bob and Tom Show will emcee this year's NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show.

Kevoian and Griswold created The Bob and Tom Show in 1983 as morning hosts at Clear Channel's WFBQ-FM Indianapolis. Over the years the show gained popularity and in 1995 was syndicated nationally by Premiere Radio Networks. Today, the program is carried by more than 140 radio stations.

Products from the Floor

Wheatstone Generation 8
Booth 500
This control surface offers four faders dedicated to call-in segments to provide an interface to four callers or remotes, each with independent caller feed, independent fader feed, user-selectable talkback communication and adjacent channel linking. A dedicated LCD display screen keeps the operator informed and in control. One CAT-5 wire conveys all the control from this surface to Wheatstone’s Bridge Router. Any system audio source (inputs or mixes) is available to any console fader or monitor pot (source visibility software controlled). Set destinations for mixes, aux sends and mix-munis feeds to anywhere in the facility. The surface can store and name switch and fader settings for each operator’s task and recall them by spinning an encoder and hitting a take button.

RF Parts Online catalog
Booth 1312
A worldwide distributor for 34 years, RF Parts has released an expansion of its online catalog at www.rfparts.com. The catalog provides a listing of product information, product applications and product ordering with the company’s secure ordering system. The catalog lists a complete line of power tubes for broadcast, industrial and communications, including Eimac, Amperex, Taylor, Svetlana, RFP and Econco brands along with a full range of sockets through 20kW.

Moseley Associates Starlink 9003T1
Booth 1404
This digital STL/TSL system for T1 circuits features new LAN connectivity for transmitting Ethernet to and from the transmitter site to support datacasting for HD Radio and RDS song title and artist data. A new six-port multiplexer and built-in CSU allows combining of these data channels with the program audio for direct connection to a T1 circuit making external interfacing equipment unnecessary. This system allows stations to transition the STL portion of their air chains to digital for IBOC. The T1 unit transports linear uncompressed stereo program channels at either 44.1 or 32kHz digital sample rates. Both AES/EBU digital and analog inputs and outputs and a serial data channel are built into the system. The SL9003T1 combines program audio with voice channels for telephones and data channels for communications and control for bidirectional transport over a single digital T1/E1 line, microwave radio or license-free 5.8GHz link.

Coaxial Dynamics 81095
Booth 1502
This microprocessor-controlled, rack-mounted Watchman monitor/alarm measures and displays forward and reflected power simultaneously in 50V transmission systems. Using LCD displays, it also provides direct reading of VSWR. It is compatible with the company’s series of 7/8” to 61/8” line sections and will accept elements from less than 5W to 100kW full scale from 2MHz to 2.3GHz. Installation consists of the Watchman, a dual-socket line section and two elements for monitoring. The Watchman is supplied with two 25’ dc cable assemblies for connection to the line section and a 6’ ac power cord. An audible single tone alarm will indicate a system/transmitter malfunction. Relay contacts are provided for remote alarm and reset switching.

Session Highlights

IBOC Takes Center Stage in Engineering Sessions
The technical sessions at the NAB Radio Show will focus on IBOC for all three days. The sessions will cover nearly every aspect of IBOC operation from the studio to the antenna. We'll provide a rundown of each day's sessions in this newsletter leading up to the convention.

Wednesday Sessions

Signal Performance and Antenna Systems for HD Radio

9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
An Overview of the HD Radio System

9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
AM Antenna Systems and HD Radio
Ben Dawson and Ron Rackley discuss the important aspects of AM antennas to IBOC performance. Following an explanation of the basics of modulation, the specifics of antenna-related factors, including impedance matching and bandwidth, will be discussed.

11 a.m. to noon
AM IBOC Installation and Performance Case Study
Tom Cox, Jeff Littlejohn and John Warner of Clear Channel will show several AM IBOC installations and cover topics related to the challenges of implementing IBOC at these facilities. Studio headphone monitoring and covering live events outside the studio will also be covered. In addition, perspectives on digital vs. analog coverage will be discussed.

1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The ERI Digital Radio Solution
Bill Harland of Electronics Research will review all the approved methods of implementing simulcast FM analog and digital IBOC transmission. The focus is on the elements that follow the transmitter outputs in configurations using separate analog and digital transmitters, the most common and complex implementation scenario.

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Strategic Planning for HD Radio Implementation
Bob Surrette of Shively Labs details the proper steps to take when implementing an IBOC strategy. He will present the pros and cons for each technique with background information that can help a station identify specific strategies.

3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Avoiding the IBOC Gotchas
Steve Fluker of Cox Radio Orlando provides the insight to help stations avoid unexpected or unanticipated costs of installing an IBOC operation, from the studio to the antenna.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
One Site, 7 HD Radio Installations in Seattle
Clay Freinwald of Entercom reveals the details of the seven-station IBOC installation at the West Tiger Mountain transmitter site.

Other Sessions of Note

2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The People Meter and Ratings: How are They Measuring Up?
After several years of testing and roll-outs in new markets, it’s time for an in-depth update on the PPM, including sample sizes. Also, a look at what other implementations and options are available.

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Opening Reception on the Exhibit Floor
The exhibit floor officially opens with on Wednesday evening.

More Products

Arrakis Champion
Booth 606
This on-air workstation combines the company’s Digilink Xtreme software and the Champ-6 workstation hardware. It features an embedded PC and audio playback system in a fanless unit. It has four stereo sound cards built in with play and record, analog and digital audio I/O and logic control for all four audio channels. It is Windows XP OS compatible with built-in networking for audio and schedule interfacing.

Westar Music Music library
Booth 203
This company provides production music for broadcast, corporate video and multimedia use. Westar offers production library music in seven primary categories: Sports and Corporate; Rock, Dance and Pop; Jazz and Blues; Easy Listening; Country and Western; Drama and Film Scores; and Specialty Music. Within each category are many music genres and styles. The website also offers resources to play audio demos for every CD and order a copy of a demo package, get a listing of the complete contents of its audio demo by CD number, track and title view its CD master list in order by CD number, and use the electronic cue sheet templates and music reporting information.

Superior Electric Stabiline TB1
Booth 303
The unit protects against damaging electrical disturbances, high frequency noise and high energy disturb-ances. Available in two sizes: 20A/ 45kA or 40A/65kA ratings. TB1 models use metal oxide varistors in parallel arrays placed at the input and output to protect critical loads from high-energy transient damage. They also use UL-recognized inductors and X and Y capacitors to filter error-producing high-frequency noise. Single-phase 120, 220 and 277Vac types provide three modes of protection. Split-phase 120/240 and two of three phase types provide six modes of protection.

Logitek Digital console enhancements
Booth 100
Several enhancements have been introduced for the Logitek digital consoles including a two-stage talk show delay, silence-sense capability, EQ and dynamics processing, input metering on every fader and compression metering on faders where activated. The Optical STL is available as part of the Logitek Audio Engine and offers 64 channels of bidirectional audio to be sent as far as 10 miles without data loss or compression. The system also provides intercom functionality that can operate as a stand-alone system or as part of a Logitek digital console. Other enhancements include a full X-Y router, mixed analog and digital I/O, multiple mix-minus buses, IP and multisite operation, and physical and virtual controllers.

Convention Events

Martin, Adelstein Slated for FCC Breakfast
The FCC Breakfast, to be held Oct. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., will feature FCC Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Kevin Martin. The two will be on hand to discuss current regulatory issues.

Martin joined the Federal Communications Commission on July 3, 2001. In addition to his duties as commissioner, Martin serves as the chairman of the Federal-State Joint Board on Separations and the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services, and is a member of the Federal-State Joint board on Universal Service.

Adelstein was sworn in as a member of the FCC on December 3, 2002. Before joining the FCC, Adelstein served for 15 years as a staff member in the U.S. Senate. For seven years, he was a senior legislative aide to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), where he advised Sen. Daschle on telecommunications, financial services, transportation and other key issues. Previously, he served as professional staff member to the Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman David Pryor (D-AR), including an assignment as a special liaison to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Donald W. Riegle, Jr. (D-MI).

Broadcast Electronics Hosts IBOC Seminar
Quincy, IL - IBOC signal generation from the studio and the latest delivery methods will be among the topics to be discussed during Broadcast Electronics’ upcoming HD Radio Seminar in San Diego, October 6.

The seminar, held during NAB Radio Show, is the latest of more than 35 BE-sponsored national seminars started two years ago to focus on the developing technology of HD Radio. In addition to HD Radio developments, the BE seminar will cover transmission technologies, installation and integration, antenna technologies and field reports.

The seminar is free to all broadcasters and will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel - Downtown, 601 Pacific Highway, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on October 6. To reserve a spot, e-mail HDR@bdcast.com.

Out and About in San Diego

San Diego Aerospace Museum
The San Diego Aerospace Museum offers more than 65 aircraft and spacecraft, and an aviation library and archives. The museum also houses the International Aerospace Hall of Fame honoring engineers, pilots and aviation industrialists. Take a behind-the-scenes restoration tour, which is available for an additional fee. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
www.aerospacemuseum.org

Miramar Speed Circuit
Miramar Speed Circuit offers its guests an impressive 1/4 mile technical road course. The karts, which can travel up to 40 miles per hour and are equipped with Honda 6.5BHP engines. Each kart has ROC timing, which electronically clocks each kart as it rounds the track to give detailed information for each lap completed. Walk-ins welcomed. The cost is $23.
www.miramarspeedcircuit.com

Convention Registration

Get a Free Exhibits-only Pass
Be the guest of Radio magazine and see the exhibits for free. Use our VIP registration code: RS2127. Follow this link and register now.