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CHAPTER 24, Inc., MADISON, WI
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PROGRAM CHANGE
Our Next Meeting:
Thursday, July 28th
Getting to know ATSC 3.0
by Vicki Way Kipp
Vicki will fill us in on ATSC 3.0 looking beyond the transmission and coding into markets and partnerships.
7:00 PM - Meeting/Program
Connection information will be distributed on the
SBE24 email group in the days prior to the meeting.
Last Meeting
There was no local meeting of Chapter 24 in June. Instead members were urged to attend the Engineering Day at the summer WBA Conference in La Crosse. Several Chapter 24 members attended the all day seminars on June 22nd.
Job Openings
Program Ideas Appreciated
The Chapter 24 2022 and 2023 meeting schedule is available here. If you have any suggestions for program topics you'd like to see, or if there is a topic that you'd like to present at an upcoming meeting, please contact Matt Mommaerts or one of the Chapter 24 officers .
Amateur Radio News
Compiled by Tom Weeden, WJ9H
Field Day
The 2022 Field Day exercise was held the last weekend in June, and American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Headquarters has already received over 2,400 entries. Early analysis reveals that most of the entrants participated as Class D (home stations), and Class E (home stations using emergency power), rather than the traditional category of remote stations running emergency power. As of June 29th, a total of over 517,000 contacts were reported for the event and those numbers are changing daily. In 2021, there were 1.5 million contacts made during Field Day activities. Field Day is an annual emergency communications preparedness exercise for amateur radio operators.
Hams from Madison's Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club put up a temporary Field Day tower, 2017
(screen capture from youtube)
Vacuum Tubes
Amateur radio retailer DX Engineering has announced that it has added Penta Laboratories RF vacuum tubes to its product line. The announcement read in part, "In the ham radio community, special RF power vacuum tubes are essential replacements for current model amplifiers. They are also used to revive legacy amplifiers, and some technically savvy operators build vintage-style homebrew equipment and other devices using vacuum tubes." Penta Laboratories describes that it "was founded in 1951, and quickly achieved industry-wide recognition for the development of the beam-power Pentode vacuum tube." The company stocks thousands of tubes for a range of disciplines, including vacuum tubes designed for ham radio and other radio frequency applications. Penta Laboratories' states that their tubes are burned in for a minimum of 48 hours, dissipating full power with filament plate, and support screen voltages that are normally used in amplifier applications.
(Excerpts from the American Radio Relay League's arrl.org web site)
FCC NEWS
compiled by Tom Smith
FM on TV
The FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC-22-40A1) on June 6th to allow FM transmissions as a subcarrier on low power digital TV stations operating on channel 6. The FM carrier would operate on 87.75 MHz, just below the FM reserved band (88.1 to 91.9 Mhz). Channel 6 LPTV stations started to program their audio carrier as a FM service before the digital conversion as most FM radios were capable of receiving the channel 6 audio on the bottom of the FM dial. The FCC is proposing to allow only the current LPTV stations on channel 6 that are currently operating with Special Authority to provide this FM6 service.
The FCC asked for comment on interference issues with reserved band stations, on limiting FM6 coverage to the same as the digital TV coverage, on limiting TV6 operation to more compatible ATSC 3 operations, and should FM6 be subject to the 5% fee for auxiliary services that digital TV stations are subject too. The FCC also asks if FM6 stations FM radio operations should be covered under the rules for radio stations. Comment dates were announced (DA-22-653A1) on June 17th and are due on July 18th with replies due on August 1st.
FCC ATSC 3 Update
On June 22nd, the FCC adopted a Notice of Further Rulemaking (FCC-22-47A1) asking for information on the transition to the ATSC 3 TV system. The notice asks for comment on the availability and cost of TVs and other reception devices such as set-top converters and dongles and the penetration of sets in markets that have ATSC 3 operations. Other issues that comment is asked for include licensing issues with patents including difficulties with obtaining and cost of patent licenses. How stations are maneuvering the transition including the number of markets with ATSC 3 operations and future plans by stations for further conversions to ATSC 3and what addition services they may be providing. Other questions included Multi video program provider's carriage of ATSC 3 signals and the deadlines for ending requirements of retaining the ATSC A/322 standard after the March 2023 expiration date and the simulcast requirement after July 2023 expiration date.
There will be a 30 day comment period followed by a 15 day reply period after publication in the Federal Register.
TV Auction Winners Announced
On June 23rd the FCC announced the winning bidders in Auction 112 (DA-22-659A2) which ended on June 15th with 7 bidders winning 18 construction permits for a total of $33,043,250. There were a number of permits that were won in Wisconsin or nearby. They include Wittenberg won by TV-49, Inc. for $2,777.000. This was an open channel which was held by the Wausau FOX station that went off the air when it sold its program rights, including its FOX affiliation, to Gray Television Broadcasting's WSAW TV station which put it on a LPTV station and as a .2 on WSAW. TV-49, Inc. is a division of Wiegel Television, which owns the CBS station in Milwaukee and operates Channel 49 as a shared Incentive Auction station in Milwaukee. Weigel is based in Chicago and operates a number of broadcast networks including ME TV, METV+ Movies, Heroes and Icons, Decades, Story TV and Start TV. Weigel Also owns a number of full power TV stations with network affiliations and LPTV stations.
The second Wisconsin station was in Eagle River which was won by Gray Television Licensee for $182.000. Gray already owns WYOW in Engle River which they bought from Quincy Television and converted to a satellite of WSAW. The station was a satellite of WAOW Wausau. Gray owning both stations would be a violation of ownership rules as you can only own one station in a city of that size. They may sell the permit to Allen Media as part of the spinoff of Quincy to Allen.
The final station with contact in Wisconsin is for a construction permit in Freeport, Ill. Gray Television won a permit on Channel 9 for $4,480.000. This is for an existing CBS station that Gray sold the license to the FCC in the Incentive Auction and have been operating on a LPTV station they had purchased.
Gary Television won 4 permits and TV-49, Inc. won 6 permits out of the 18 permits that were auctioned.
EAS Rules Compliance
On June 17, 2021, the FCC adopted new rules to improve the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Some of these rules required collection of additional data before becoming effective. On June 6, 2022, the FCC released Public Notice DA-22-600A1 with compliance dates as follows:
July 31, 2022 for Section 10.11(b) requiring Commercial Mobile Service providers to update handset displays consistent with the name
change from Presidential Alerts to National Alerts.
June 6, 2022 for Section 11.21 requiring Commission approval or rejection of State EAS Plans in 60 days.
June 6, 2022 for Section 11.21(a) requiring annual submission of State EAS Plans.
June 6, 2022 for Section 11.21(a)(8) requiring annual certification by State Emergency Communications Committees (SECCs) that the SECC met at least once in the prior year to review and update the State EAS Plan before filing.
June 6, 2022 for Section 11.45(c) facilitating EAS false alert reporting by government entities.
June 6, 2022 for Section 10.520(d)(2) facilitating WEA false alert reporting by government entities.
National Meeting Set
The annual Society of Broadcast Engineers National Meeting will be held in the Syracuse, New York area on September 28-29, 2022, in conjunction with the SBE Chapter 22 Broadcast & Technology Expo, presented by Chapter 22 of Central New York. SBE members from the region and across the country are invited to attend. The SBE national Meeting includes the SBE Annual Membership Meeting and annual SBE National Awards Reception and Dinner.
Click here for more information and meeting schedule.
Membership Drive Nets 68
This year's SBE Membership Drive ran from March 1st until May 31st. 68 individual new members were recruited by 61 current members. Each recruiter earned $5 per new member off his or her 2023 membership dues. In addition many other prizes were awarded recruiters. All recruiters were eligible for the Membership Drive Grand Prize: A trip the SBE National Meeting in New York. The Grand Prize winner this year is Jack Conway of Cox Media Group, Owasso, OK.
Click here for more information from the SBE national office.
2GHz Interference from Dish Network
The SBE has learned that many stations have received prior-coordination notices (PCN) regarding Dish Network and its deployment of AWS-4 downlinks and uplinks near the ENG 2Ghz band and have sought guidance on a uniform response. The SBE believes the potential for interference is high as the downlink is 5MHz away from the lower DRL (2025-2025.5 MHz) and channel A1 (2025.5-2037.5 MHz).
The SBE recommends that all licensees generate a paper trail (emails) in case potential interference arises and has a sample letter that members are welcome to use and/or adapt. Contact SBE Frequency Coordination Manager RJ Russell (rjrussell@sbe.org) for a copy.
Click here for more information from the SBE national office.
For the Record
(Wisconsin FCC Actions Granted)
compiled by Leonard Charles
from the FCC Daily Digest
06/15/2022
Licensee: Heart of Wisconsin Media, LLC
WFHR, 1320 Khz, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Action: License to Cover
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Certification and Education
compiled by Jim Hermanson
A big thank you to Vicki Way Kipp and Leonard Charles for proctoring local SBE certification exams in June, while I was out caring for my mother. Very much appreciated, Vicki and Chuck!
This month we are fortunate to have the 2022 CBNT & CBNE Study Topics Module 7 of a series of eight modules to study for the SBE CBNT and CBNE certifications. The instructor is our former SBE National President, Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, ATSC3, AMB, AMD, ATSC3, DRB, CBNE, whom I consider one of the best and most dedicated educators in the world. This is one reason we are fortunate to be SBE members! Please have a look at the July Webinars section below and consider registering. Surely, you will learn from these, the information will help you in your work, and will help you pass these exams to become certified.
SBE Chapter 24 Certification Exam Reimbursement
Each year, account balance permitting, Chapter 24 will reimburse half the application fee to any member of Chapter 24 in good standing who successfully obtains any SBE certification level not previously held by that member. Contact the SBE Chapter 24 chairperson or certification chairperson for more information.
When you are ready to take an SBE exam, note the open exam schedule, complete the appropriate application (found here... http://www.sbe.org/applications) and send it directly to the SBE National office (see address below) with the respective fee. You will be notified once your application is approved. Approximately 3 weeks before the exam time, your local certification chairman will receive a list of applicants and exams in his/her area and arrange for a proctor. He/she will then contact applicants to schedule a mutually agreeable date, time, and place for the exam(s) within the respective exam date window. This must be coordinated before the exam will be sent by SBE National. Completed exam(s) will be mailed back to SBE National for grading. Pass/fail results will be mailed directly to the applicants.
The majority of SBE certifications are open book and access to the Internet is allowed to give a more "real world" situation.
You may mail, email, or fax your applications to:
Megan E. Clappe
Certification Director
9102 N. Meridian St.
Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-846-9120 Fax
mclappe@sbe.org
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To apply for a specialist certification, an individual must currently hold certification on the Broadcast Engineer, Senior Broadcast Engineer, Professional Broadcast Engineer or Broadcast Networking Engineer Certification level. Exams must be completed within three hours and consist of 50 multiple-choice questions (two points each) and one essay question (20 points maximum). Examinees are provided one essay question to answer. Exams are pass/fail, and a score of 84 is a passing grade.
The Open 2022 Exam Schedule
| Exam Dates |
Location |
Application Deadline
(to SBE National Office) |
November 4-14, 2022
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Local Chapters (Madison Area)
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September 9, 2022
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July Webinars
Grounding/Lightning Protection
Thursday, July 14, 2022 | 1 p.m. CT
Once again, lightning season descends with crashes, flashes and BOOM! Join us as we do a recap of the things to look for to help you get through that part of the year - we'll discuss grounding (of course), but we'll also discuss how much grounding is too much and why how the grounds are connected to each other is almost as important as if there are grounds at all. There will also be talk about the rest of the lightning protection triumvirate - properly installed surge protection and ferrites - and why they're all important parts of a reliably designed system.
Your Instructor
Jeff Welton, CPBE, Nautel
Jeff Welton has worked with Nautel for over 30 years. He is currently the Nautel Sales Manager for U.S. Central Region. Previously he spent 16.5 years as a Nautel Customer Service Technician, was involved in the 2015 MA3 field tests with NAB Labs and has performed hundreds of transmitter site visits and field calls. Jeff has been recognized with the 2020 NAB Radio Engineering Achievement Award; 2019 APRE Engineering Achievement Award; and 2018 SBE Educator of the Year Award. He's also contributed to the most recent edition of the NAB Engineering Handbook, including authoring the chapter on Facility Grounding and performs several presentations a year on topics relevant to broadcast engineering.
SBE Recertification Credit
The completion of a Webinar from Webinars by SBE qualifies for 1 credit, identified under Category I of the Recertification Schedule for SBE Certifications.
Registration and Pricing
This webinar will be approximately 90 minutes long.
SBE Members: $62
MemberPlus Members FREE
Non-Members: $92
Register Here
Questions?
If you have questions regarding this course, contact Cathy Orosz via email or by phone at 317-846-9000.
2022 CBNT & CBNE Study Topics Module 7
Thursday, July 21, 2022 | 1 p.m. CT - NEW DATE
(This Webinar was previously scheduled for July 19.)
Module 7: Building the IT Infrastructure
The 2022 CBNT & CBNE Study Topics Series continues with Module 7: Building the IT Infrastructure.
Your Instructors
Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, ATSC3, AMB, AMD, ATSC3, DRB, CBNE
Wayne M. Pecena is the Associate Director of Educational Broadcast Services at Texas A&M University. Wayne has over 48 years of broadcast and IP network engineering experience and holds BS and MS degrees from Texas A&M University. Wayne is a Fellow of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and holds the Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer (CPBE) and Certified Broadcast Network Engineer (CBNE) certifications from the SBE. He served two terms as the national President of the SBE. He was named the 2012 SBE Educator of the Year, the 2014 Radio World Engineer of the year, and named an IEEE-BTS Distinguished Lecturer in 2018. He is a frequent industry speaker on IP Networking and cybersecurity topics for the broadcast and media technology professional.
SBE Recertification Credit
The completion of a Webinar from Webinars by SBE qualifies for 1 credit, identified under Category I of the Recertification Schedule for SBE Certifications.
Registration and Pricing
This webinar will be approximately 90 minutes long.
SBE Members: $62
MemberPlus Members FREE
Non-Members: $92
Register Here
Questions?
If you have questions regarding this course, contact Cathy Orosz via email or by phone at 317-846-9000.
More information about registering using the SBE MemberPlus benefit
All SBE webinars are included at no additional cost for members who renew or join using the $175 SBE MemberPlus membership option. You get all the live and archived Webinars by SBE in the SBE catalog plus any new webinars the SBE adds during the membership year. Members can renew and newcomers may join online at the SBE website using the SBE MemberPlus option.
Access to the SBE webinars through the SBE MemberPlus program is limited to the MemberPlus-purchaser only. You are not permitted to distribute, sell, copy, share, project or otherwise make the webinars available to any other individual or group without express written permission by the SBE.
Several state-of-the-art radio, TV, multimedia, and IT engineering training is available through this page...
http://sbe.org/education/webinars-by-sbe/on-demand-webinars/
More information on SBE Education Programs is available here...
http://www.sbe.org/education/
Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), its officers, or its members. SBE Chapter 24, Inc. regrets, but is not liable for, any omissions or errors. Articles of interest to Chapter 24 members are accepted up to the close of business the 1st day of each month. Send your article to lcharles@sbe.org.
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