Viewpoint
Viewpoint is Radio magazine Editor Chriss Scherer's view of events shaping radio broadcasting.
STL white spaces? Apparently so.
Because the frequencies in the 700MHz band are being auctioned for new uses, these frequencies will no longer be available for auxiliary uses, such as wireless mics. This was further reinforced by the FCC's recent ruling to ban wireless mic use in this spectrum.
How is HD Radio really doing?
We can all see that HD Radio appears to be moving slowly ahead. Recent news headlines of sub $100 receivers and the first portable (albeit far from being as portable as an Ipod) receiver are good steps to making HD Radio accessible
The business of engineering
As an engineer, you likely have a passion for solving problems. You see a challenge, identify possible solutions, formulate a strategy and get the job done. But while most engineers have excellent troubleshooting skills, many do not have the best business skills.
The next step in EAS
The FCC has an open rulemaking to update one aspect of public warning: the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The current EAS has been in use for more than 15 years, and by itself, it is an improvement over the EBS, but it still has shortcomings.
Is it really a secret?
When we prepare articles and material for Radio magazine and RadioMagOnline.com, one of the prime directives is to provide information that will help you, the reader, do your job better
A day in the life
What's you typical day at the NAB Show? Everyone's agenda is different during the convention. I am often asked what my day is like at the convention
Convention time
All attention turns to the NAB Show this time of year. It is the biggest industry event of the year after all. Even if you don't go or have never gone, it still has some relevance, since this is where the latest product developments and technology introductions specific to broadcasting are unveiled.
The new digital radio
The big news from CES for HD Radio was that a portable chipset was finally unveiled – at least for FM. This is one significant part of the HD Radio rollout that has been noticeably absent. Once implemented, it will provide a necessary element for HD Radio acceptance, putting a digital radio receiver in just about any portable device.
Problems and solutions
In the eyes of broadcasters, December was a busy month for the FCC. Broadcasting is just one small part of the FCC’s concerns, so when several significant rulings are made at once, broadcasters naturally take notice. Two recent actions deal with broadcast ownership while another deals with programming localism. Now that the FCC has acted, there are more questions raised than answers provided.
Engineered for business
Why do radio engineers choose their career in radio engineering? We obviously have the aptitude and the skills for the job, but there are other reasons. I think many engineers will tell you that they do their job because it's not really like work. It's like getting paid to practice a hobby.
