SBE CHAPTER 40 NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2002
San Francisco
Roy Trumbull - Editor roy547@msn.com
Bill Dempster - Artist
Advertisers for this month's newsletter are:

Santucci Video Systems - Sandra Santucci - (818) 704-6324
Belden - Steve Lampen - (415) 440-8393
Orban - custserv@orban.com - (510) 351-3500
MARCOM - Martin Jackson - (408) 768-8668
William F. Ruck, Jr. Broadcast Engineer - (415) 564-1450
Kathrein (Scala Division) - Michael Wm. Bach - (541) 779-6500
Hammett & Edison, Inc. - Dane E. Ericksen, P.E. - (707) 996-5200
LeBLANC - David A. Hill - (650) 574-4600
Econco - George Badger - 650-327-7599
Improbable Missions Fource - Mike Schweizer - (888) 4-ISDN4U
Digi-Gear/Cancomm - Eric B. Lane - (818) 980-9188
RF Specialties of California - Bill Newbrough - (888) 737-7321
Pacific Radio Electronics - Sam Mao - (510) 636-0308
West Penn Wire/CDT - Michael J. La Porte - (650) 652-9080
Axcera - Russ Erickson - (877) 440-7877

Babes/SBE Luncheon on Wednesday Sep 25th

This month we'll hear from Broadcast Graphics, Integrated Systems for the Future and the Present. Of increasing importance to broadcasters today is the need for greater graphics capabilities, more flexibility in configuration (HD, SD, multiple channels) lower cost with less complexity and easy integration with existing and new automation systems and finally requiring fewer operation personnel.

Pixel Powers Clarity2 brings together - the traditional DVE, character generator, clip and still store and downstream keyer into one easily automated device which enables broadcasters to deliver exciting on-air graphics while reducing overhead and capital costs. Versatility flexibility and multiple upgrade options make the Clarity2 an ideal long-term investment in graphics systems.

As usual, our luncheon will be at Sinbad's just south of the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero near the foot of Mission St. We meet at 11:30 and are seated at 12:30. To make reservations call Paul Black at 925-827-9511 and leave a message on his machine.

SMPTE Meeting Thur 9/26
Space permitting, you are invited to attend an evening SMPTE meeting at KPIX at 7 pm on Thursday the 26th. Steve Lampen of Belden will discuss the return loss headroom required for serial digital signals.

Tim Pozar will cover the essentials of the WiFi wireless internet standard. When you look at the major companies interested in it plus the fact that the electronics are on the shelf at many consumer electronics stores, it's something you need to know about.

Due to security requirements, please make a reservation at:

http://members.aol.com/SMPTEsf

SBE Writes a Letter
The FCC belongs in same corner as certain security agencies regarding the inability to act on the obvious. Broadcasters are still requesting STAs to use multisignal STLs (such as Twinstream) to get NTSC and ATSC signals to their transmitter sites. With Chairman P in such a screaming fit for everyone to go digital, you'd think signal sharing STLs would assume a priority. There is no sign of any action, hence the recent letter written by SBE to Representative W.J. Tauzin, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce complaining that the Commissions hens are still in need of a rooster. This is not the first letter that SBE has written to Congress trying to get the FCC to move on this issue. For the complete text go to the SBE site at www.sbe.org.

TV News Audience Shrinks
In the September issue of the NATAS newsletter is an article by David Mills about the shrinking audience for Bay Area newscasts. Over the last 10 years the 6 PM news audience has decreased by 20% and the 11 PM news by 29%. On a bad day I would refer to TV news as yesterday's newspaper for the illiterate and wonder why the sports guys got their time when no local team was playing. To one of the weather old timers I'd say, "Morning fog clearing in the afternoon, winds westerly 10 - 15 mph. What do we need you for?" That never failed to pull his chain. Failing to find many car dealers making a market in 50 year old cars, I'm not surprised that a 50 year old format has lost audience appeal. That's also true for sitcoms and much of primetime programming.

It's really shocking to note the level of daring and experimentation that took place in the early days of television compared to now. Then the nets had over 90% of the audience. Adding up the figures for everything worth calling a network today and collectively they garner only 54% of the audience.

If 1955 TV programming was the Big Bang, today we are left with the microwave background radiation at a temperature approaching absolute zero.

Job Announcement
JOB#7296.29**
BROADCAST ENGINEER, EXEMPT
AUDIO-VISUAL / INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION CENTER

Full-Time/Temporary to 6/30/03; $4,416 - 6,182/Mo.; M-Th: 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 9/30/02

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: equivalent to graduation from a four-year college/university in a related field or a combination of technical training and experience.

Work Experience: three years progressively responsible experience as an audiovisual engineer, including all phases of operation/maintenance of television facilities and broadcast studios.

Knowledge: comprehensive knowledge of the practices/methods/trends in television and radio engineering, including the fields of frequency allocation, electromagnetic wave propagation and radio signal strength measurements/tolerances; comprehensive knowledge of federal communication rules/regulations; comprehensive knowledge of digital/analogue electronics theory and troubleshooting; comprehensive knowledge of audio/visual systems; working knowledge of cable, fiber and microwave networks and satellite systems, including the underlying theories/principles.

Specialized Knowledge: extensive knowledge/training in the methods used for connecting/interfacing major information networking systems.

Specialized Skills: extensive knowledge/use of computer software/programming skills; working knowledge/use of digital/video cameras/accessories and video production, video system and cable channel equipment.

Abilities: use applicable computerized systems in television production and broadcasting/webcasting, including video server technology; plan/layout/operate/maintain television and radio broadcasting facilities; interpret/apply provisions of applicable State/Federal communications legislation; train/instruct/provide direction to student assistants; direct activity of other technical staff.

Specialized Abilities: supervise the use of highly complex test equipment for communication networks; design, construct and coordinate operations between campus, Chancellor's Office and public/private groups outside the University.

DESIRED: Possess FCC General Radiotelephone License.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Oversee the installation and operation of systems, equipment and software used to support electronic information access by University faculty; ensure University information systems meet State, Federal and international technical requirements; schedule/coordinate systems used at SFSU to support classroom instruction with other campuses and information service vendors.

http://www.sfsu.edu/~hrwww/jobsearch/0916.html for more details.

Subscribe to the online version of the newsletter
The electronic copy version of this newsletter is now availible via a mailling list. You can subscribe by going to http://www.lns.com/mailman/listinfo/sbe-announce and filling out the form there.

Web Page
Webmeister Tim Pozar has the current newsletter plus newsletters all the way back to 1996 at: http://www.lns.com/sbe

Roy also posts the current newsletter at home.earthlink.net/~rhtrumbull but the posting is without links. - RT