Society of Broadcast Engineers

Chapter 16, Seattle, WA

Both the political world and our "ether" world is in transition.  Congress has decided to delay the DTV transition.  TV broadcasters have to decide if they want to go dark with their analog transmitters or hang on till the June 12 drop dead date.  The millions of DTV-to-analog coupon box requests will remain on the waiting list until at least mid-February.  That is because the money for reissuing the coupons is in a separate bill, the economic stimulus package.
WSJ link: http://online.wsj.com/article/

Despite the congressional action, many TV stations in Seattle would like to make the switch to all digital on February 17th as originally planned, and they've asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to do that.
KOMO-TV link: http://www.komonews.com/news/39101617.html

I received a letter from John Poray, SBE National Executive Director giving us a heads up on a proposal by the Washington State legislature to tax membership dues for professional associations like the Society of Broadcast Engineers.  This apparently is the first bill of its kind proposed in this country and would set a very bad precedent, negatively affecting volunteer-dependent organizations if passed.  This may be a step in the direction of taking away deductions for all charitable deductions as well.  The Washington State Association of Broadcasters is watching this proposal.  We will provide progress reports and if you want to track the bill you can get an update from the Washington State legislature at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1255

I missed attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last month, where the latest in electronic gadgets and toys were on display. 

Probably the biggest new innovation is 3D television, perhaps thenext generation HDTV.  There were several consumer LCD displays that were capable of producing full color 3D images that could be viewed with special glasses, but unlike the red-blue filters and the flickering polarized glasses of yesterday.

Another media product making a splash at CES this year: mobile television.  There were a number of in-vehicle small screen real-time television displays, with Qualcomm's MediaFLO heading up the pack, with a coalition of local broadcasters ready to roll out services this year in select markets.  The video streams are destined for cell phones, cars and laptops.

A study from the Continental Automated Buildings Association has found that 87% of consumers had broadband access at home, and 43% had home networks.  Will streaming media on broadband be the future of our broadcast business?

It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of a personal friend and a great supporter of SBE Chapter 16, Denny Granard of Westlake Electronics.  I met Denny when I took my first "big" broadcast engineering job at King Broadcasting years ago.  With Westlake just a couple of blocks away from the King facility, we made daily trips to pickup tubes and wire and all of the paraphernalia to keep a broadcast facility going.  Details on Denny's memorial are in this issue of the Waveguide.

  IN MEMORIAM
Denny Granard passed away January 13 at his
home in Bozeman, Montana.  Denny was a friend
to many in the Northwest broadcast industry with his
association with the Granard family owned Westlake
Electronics.  Denny was a faithful supporter of SBE
Chapter 16.

Denny had in recent years semi-retired in Montana.  When he
wasn't working, he was fly fishing, biking, and cross country skiing,
often with his grandchildren.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Granard family,
including Rob and Matt and the rest of the Westlake Electronics staff.

Denny's service is scheduled for February 23rd at 2:00PM at
North Seattle Alliance Church.
2150 N. 122nd Street
Seattle, WA 98133
http://www.northseattlealliance.org/locate

SBE Chapter 16
Executive Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 7, 2009

The Executive Board of SBE Chapter 16 met at the offices of Hatfield & Dawson in Seattle. Present were board members: Jim Dalke and Stephen Lockwood.

Without a quorum, no business was conducted.

Walt Lowery
Secretary

__________________________________________________

SBE Chapter 16
Membership Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 2009

Chapter 16’s regular lunch meeting was held at the Black Bear Diner, Bellevue, WA. Vice-Chairman, Stephen Lockwood called the meeting to order. Eight members and guests attended.

It was announced that Chapter 16's weather-delayed Christmas Party will be held at Ivar's Salmon House, Seattle, on January 17.

The meeting was then turned over to Steve Lampen of Belden for a presentation on the workings of wire.

The meeting was adjourned following the presentation.

Walt Lowery
Secretary

SBE Chapter 16
Christmas Party
Saturday, January 17, 2009

Chapter 16’s annual Christmas Party was postponed until January 17, due to winter weather. Forty-two members and guests attended. Chairman Jim Dalke called the meeting to order and announced that the tour of the KRKO transmitter facility in Snohomish was postponed until February 4th. Lunch will be available at Noon.

The meeting was then turned over to Tom “Santa” McGinley for the gift drawing. Special thanks to the manufacturers and dealers who provided this year's gifts.They are: Broadcast Electronics, Broadcast Supply Worldwide (BSW), Broadcast Tools Inc, Harris Corporation, SCMS, Transcom Corporation and Westlake Electronics.

The meeting was adjourned following award of the gifts.

Walt Lowery
Secretary

Sign of the times - Our recent record setting rains triggered a number of slides all over the area.   Tiger Mt was not spared with a number of instances.    In this case, a slide took a chunk out of the road to East Tiger Mountain resulting in DNR blocking the road.   According to Clay Freinwald, this is the most damage he has seen on the mountain in the 22
years he has been going up there.   West Tiger is home of 13 FM and 4 area TV stations.

I am always amazed by some of the questions that are asked by people that are interested in joining the SBE and what our certification program is all about.
Why be certified?
In 1975, SBE established a Certification Program to recognize and raise the professional status of broadcast engineers by providing standards of professional competence. Through the years, it has become recognized in the industry as the primary method of verifying the attainment of educational standards. In 2003, SBE’s Certification Program was recognized by the National Skill Standards Board. NSSB Certification Recognition promotes quality assurance in the certification marketplace and provides national recognition for certifications that meet the quality benchmarks. With the industry constantly changing, the SBE-certified engineer must keep up with those changes.
From the certified operator to the Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer, SBE has a certification for every broadcast engineer and technician. To learn about the different kinds of certification, go to the Classifications section. You may also download a printable overview of SBE certification and membership here (PDF).
Program Objectives

• To raise the status of broadcast engineers by providing standards of professional competence in the practice of broadcast engineering and related technologies.
• To recognize those individuals who, by fulfilling the requirements of knowledge, experience, responsibility and conduct, meet those standards of professional competence.
• To encourage broadcast engineers to continue their professional development.

Eligibility
To be eligible for certification, you must have a strong interest in the design, operation, maintenance or administration of the day-to-day problems and achievements associated with the operation of a broadcast facility or related technology. You must also meet the specific eligibility requirements of the desired certification level. The SBE broadcast engineer certificate is not a license; it is a document that recognizes professional competence by peers in a professional, independent organization. Certification is for individuals only and may not be used to imply that an organization or firm is certified.
Certification and SBE Membership
While membership in SBE is not a requirement of the Certification Program, because SBE members share in the overhead cost of all SBE activities, non-member certification fees are higher.
Non-members who certify at a technologist or engineering level are eligible to receive membership in SBE through April 1 of the following year. We hope you take advantage of this proposal. It is our hope that you will like what SBE has to offer and will want to continue your membership and support of your Society.
Next month: Certified Audio Engineer (CAE)

Dates to Remember in 2009
Certification Application Deadlines:

April 1, 2009               @NAB                        Test Date: April 21, 2009
April 17, 2009             @Local Chapters        Test Date: June 5-15, 2009
June 5, 2009                @Local Chapters        Test Date: August 7-17, 2009
September 18, 2009    @Local Chapters        Test Date November 6-16, 2009

     CERTIFICATION OBJECTIVES
   To raise the professional status of broadcast engineers by providing standards of professional competence in the practice of broadcasting engineering. To recognize those individuals who, by fulfilling the requirements of knowledge, experience, responsibility, and conduct, meet those standards of professional competence. To encourage broadcast engineers to continue their professional development.

For more information and/or application forms please feel free to contact Michael Scott, CPBE.
E-Mail okscott@halcyon.com ; Voice (253) 680-7756 ; FAX (253) 845-5882

After all the hype….the planning…. the publicity….the promotion….the advertising….FCC actions etc etc – The politicians get involved and  - thwap ! – The end of broadcast analog TV is moved four months to June 12th.    If you recall, your faithful column writer predicted that the proposed deadline was going to be elastic.  Once again the ‘rubber rules’ prevail.   Not sure how this will change the plans of stations that are jumping the gun.  Here locally, Belo’s KONG has been telling the world that Channel 16 was going switch early.  For those stations that are fearful that ‘chicken-little’ viewers would have a fit, or they would loose revenue, perhaps this is good news.  For stations that have been keeping the old analog giant happy with bailing wire and duct tape and were looking forward to seeing the old rig leave or perhaps had already scheduled antenna changes etc….Not a happy day.   I wonder what the Vegas odds makers are going to play this new date ?...I wonder how the folks in WDC feel about the stations in Hawaii that have already made the switch…Will they have to turn analog  back on?

As was the case last month when we met, the big news continues to be the economy.  Perhaps because misery loves company, industries  - other than broadcasting – have been in the news announcing major layoffs.    This is a situation that is feeding upon itself.   The more fear there is, the more individuals and corporations hunker down and contract  thereby increasing the velocity of the downturn.   I suspect that some of this is a natural contraction or adjustment in compensation for the perhaps artificial ‘high’ we have enjoyed over the last few years. 

 Will things get back to where they were is the $64,000 question.

Some of the highlights of the past month have to include the announcement that a couple of our native success stories have been impacted by all of this …Microsoft, Starbucks and Boeing (not to mention Wamu).    Clear Channel is re-thinking and eliminating.  Entercom has stopped matching 401K’s and frozen salaries….and the beat goes on.   None of this looks good for our end of the business.  It’s certain that stations will be trying to do more with less in every department.   Already we have some examples in this market where full time engineering slots have been eliminated in favor of part timers.   In smaller markets, contracting is the way things get repaired.   Now – this mode of doing things is moving to even the largest markets.

It’s not been that long ago we had 4 daily newspapers in this area.   First to go was the King County Journal.   Now the PI is for sale along with the threat if they don’t find a buyer, they will be gone also.   It’s not too far to imagine that this area will be down to two newspapers.   The Tacoma Tribune (owned by McClatchy) and the Seattle Times (49% owned by McClatchy).

In these market conditions one thing is certain, advertising prices are going down as Radio, TV and newspapers all are pulling out the stops to sell to reluctant advertisers.

Some are predicting that we will see another round of broadcast station consolidation.  This time due to the need that owners have to maximize the economy of scale.  This is already happening in our area with CBS and Clear Channel doing a swap to increase the size of their ownerships in certain markets.   According to BIA, the number of radio stations that were sold in 2008 fill by almost 27 percent with the value of those sales down about 50%...   Sounds just like houses!

Non-Com’s have been impacted as well.  In Indiana, Northeast Indiana Public Radio has announced that they are going to try and sell 3 of their stations.   A lot of NCE’s rely on contributions that are no longer there at levels necessary for continued operation.   KVTI in Tacoma is a station that relies heavily on State Funding, their budget has been cut to the bone.

On the lighter side –

Pictures- Don’t forget your pictures.    I have been busy snapping images of things in my travels, some of which you will get to see in this issue of the Waveguide.   This is your
Invitation to take your digital camera to work with you and snap a few for the rest of us to
View.   Just send them to me at – k7cr@blarg.net.   JPG’s please – and include a caption so we will know what we are looking at.   What kind of pictures do we want?  People and things related to broadcasting in this area – If you are not sure, send me the pic’s anyway.

On the political front – I am encouraged by comments coming from the new Administration that they are interested in things of technical and science.   Let us hope that this trend continues.    It was recently reported that this will be the first president to use email and a Blackberry……Gee, I would have thought that Clinton would have used email…

The Illinois Governor, Blagojevich has been making a lot of news in his battle to keep his job.   Interesting that a couple of Chicago radio stations have offered him a job, assuming that he looses his present one, to do a talk show.    (A lot of unprintable thoughts here)

The local Radio ratings are out – The simulcast pair of KIRO AM & FM are in the lead followed by Warm, KUBE and KISW.    In this latest survey….Talk Radio us up and Country is down.    The shift of KIRO’s long time news/talk lineup to exclusively FM and the change of 710 AM to sports/talk will be interesting….as will the shift to PPM from diaries.

In an expected move, President Barack Obama has named Michael Copps, a Democrat, as acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. In a statement released by the FCC, Copps said - "I am honored to be designated as Acting Chairman of the FCC, I thank President Obama for his confidence in me and for this opportunity to serve. I know that I have a truly gifted and terrific team to work with. I pledge every effort I am capable of to help steer the Commission through its current transition to new leadership."
Copps replaced outgoing Kevin Martin.

It’s again time to make plans for this years NAB…..April 18-22 this year.   From what I read prices will be lower on air-fare as well as hotels.   This will be the last year that I will be attending the spring event as a member of the SBE Board of Directors, as I complete my 9th year on the BOD this coming October.   Yes we have term-limits and it’s time that others fill my chair.  It’s been a great experience and a real honor to be able to represent you in that body.     I will have more to report on this next month.

Not sure how many listened to or viewed the swearing in of our new president – Looking back, to 1929 is this item -  http://www.shorpy.com/node/5384?size=_original
Throwing the Switch: 1929 …February 27, 1929. Washington, D.C. "Testing installation for radio broadcast of the Inauguration." On the eve of the Great Depression, a sound check for the presidency of Herbert Hoover.    For some reason, some of that equipment looks familiar…..Just kidding….I started in this business, part time, in 1959.

If you are like me, with your 401K getting whacked, you are going to be working longer than you had hoped for.   So how are you going to keep sharp?    Drink Coffee.  A recent study concluded that Drinking coffee during midlife can slash your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 65 percent.  

HD Radio continues to make strides with the automakers with a number of brands announcing that the mode will be standard equipment in their new vehicles.   This news is a mixed bag – Glad they are incorporating the technology – Hopefully someone will be buying a new vehicle to hear it.

We are saddened to hear about the passing of Denny Granard.   For years he was part of that smiling team at Westlake Electronics having retired to Montana a few years ago

An interesting item, not impacting us here, but....   The FCC has just re-allocated TV Ch 15 in Los Angeles to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Dept for their exclusive use.   Perhaps, thankfully, we don’t have the need for this in our area. (lets hope we never will)

If you are recently out of work and don’t mind re-locating to the other coast – here’s an item –  The FCC is looking for a chief of its spectrum coordination branch, and a
few other good engineers. Its Web site posts vacancies for a Supervisory Electronics Engineer branch chief (salary range $120K to $153K) and several electronics engineers ($86K to $133K). ….Boy, if I were not so old !

Amateur Radio continues to grow….According to recent figures In 2008, the total number of US amateurs rose 1.2 percent, from 655,800 in 2007, to 663,500 in 2008.   Speaking of which – I love my new Elecraft K3.   The review in last months QST explains why I am so excited.   I’ve been a Ham for a number of years and have become more interested in the hobby of late…Can’t wait to get some more antennas up this summer in time for the next solar cycle (pray for sun-spots)

Speaking of Ham Radio – For those of you that are involved with Radio – Here’s a cool site – http://www.ham-radio.com:80/k6sti/roster.htm.

Now that the Waveguide is totally on-line, I am trying to provide you with links to interesting sites – Here are a few more (let me what you think of this and if you find it interesting)

o  How AM radio broadcasting works, step-by-step,   a 1937 film classic 6.5 minutes in length:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VHtZr_xsT8

  o  The KGO solar power project, a work in progress:  http://dynamic.kgoradio.com/solar.php/

  o  Another incredible shot of Tom Silliman at work on the   Empire State Building transmission tower:
  http://www.laforetvisuals.com/content/photos/0LaforetP009.jpg

Is the twisted pair going to go the way of analog everything ?  According to a recently published news report Verizon Communications Inc., the second-biggest U.S. telephone company, said it will do away with traditional phone lines within seven years as it moves to carry all calls over the Internet.   Could Qwest do the same thing here?   I have to admit that I am still a copper users with a phone and DSL.    I know a lot of folks have switched their phone and internet service to cable providers.   Verizons FIOS service is perhaps will become the new normal.

Usually I talk about the weather early in my column…After record setting cold and snow followed by epic amounts of rain we were blessed with weeks of fog and inversions, the latter making trips to West Tiger wonderful as it was a quick trip to blue skies and sunshine….now we are getting back to more normal weather.  According to those that think they know why when it comes to weather comes this - 
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/108/1?rss=1

Neural Audio has been sold to DTS Inc. The have announced  plans to expand its offerings in the broadcast, satellite radio, automotive and gaming markets. DTS makes decoders for surround sound processors.   According to Tom McGinley, the local office is not closing.   If you recall, we had a chapter meeting there a while back.

A couple of announcements from the SBE National office –

1 - -The SBE University  (on-line, on-demand broadcast engineering education) is now open. Three courses are available with more in development.

For the SBE University: Cris Alexander (author and catalyst) and his Education Committee including those who have assisted with reviews and provided suggestions for the three courses now available: Ray Benedict, Gary Cavell and Stephen Poole

2- The all new 7th edition of the SBE Television Operators Handbook has been published and is now available.

For the TV Op Book, the Certification Committee including authors, Dane Ericksen, Doug Garlinger and Joe Snelson. With assistance from  Megan Clappe and Holly Essex at the National Office with acquisition, editing, layout and production work.

The follow regarding EAS from Central Puget LECC Chair, Phil Johnson –

Here’s a link to the 2009 EAS Required Monthly Test Schedule for the State of Washington.  You may both view and download the document here:

http://www.wsab.org/eas/eas_tab11.html

The dates and times that apply to us are on the top line of the Excel matrix, labeled CENTRAL PUGET SOUND.

Waveguide advertiser, Joe Harrington, setting in his "chair" at West Tiger Mt. attaching a wayward piece of transmission line.

Entercom - Seattle Chief Engineer Dwight Small next to his - work in progress - Arbitron PPM equipment.

Yes the empty spaces will be filled.

FOR BROADCASTERS:  The RMT schedule always steps on some toes.  If someone out there can come up with a test matrix that avoids morning drive (radio), evening newscasts and prime time (TV), play-by-play sports – while meeting day/night and other legal requirements -- the Test Coordinator (Roland Robinson) and I will give it our thorough attention.  If you have questions or concerns about the 2010 RMT schedule, please speak up before we start drafting it.  Right now would be a good time.

You can reach Phil via the Washington State EAS Remailer –

Here’s an item to put a smile on your face.   If you are like me, one of the fist things you learned was how to read the resistor color code …and I bet I know the one you remember to this day – Here are some others –

1-  Big Boys Race Our Young Girls But Violet Generally Wins
 
2- Bowling Balls Roll Over Your Grandma But Victim Gets Well.

As many of you know, I love to play with our language (I still have people talk about my piece on the use of –ph- from years ago.   Here’s some fun with the word – up.

Lovers of the English language might enjoy this. It is yet another example of why people learning English have trouble with the language.  Learning the nuances of English makes it a difficult language. (But then, that's probably true of many languages.)  
 
There is a two-letter word in English that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word,  and that word is 'UP.'  It is listed in the dictionary as being used as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?  

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP, and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP  a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car.  

At other times the little word has a real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.  

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. And this up is confusing:  
A drain must be opened UP  because it is stopped   UP.

We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.   We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP !  

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP , look the word UP  in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add  UP to about thirty definitions  

If you are UP  to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.  

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP.. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth.. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP..  

One could go on & on, but I'll wrap it UP , for now  ........my time is UP , so time to shut UP!  


That’s it for this month – Enjoy NTSC for a while longer – till next month –

Clay, K7CR, CPBE