Industry News

KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY — Media and entertainment technology company Evertz has turned on the lights for the first time at its newly equipped DreamCatcher Training Center (DCTC) in Bavaria’s chief metropolitan area, Munich.

As a provider of hardware and software-based live production workflow tools, Evertz says this will assist the company in offering broadcasters and content providers a new resource to assist in the creation of “high quality content at unprecedented speeds.”

“We understand that moving to a new live production platform not only requires technical excellence, but is also based on operators who know the platform inside and out and feel confident to operate it in a very fast and efficient way,” said Sebastian Ruchti, Sales
Engineer at DACH. “Therefore we decided to set up a DreamCatcher ecosystem here in Munich that can host multiple operators, that not only allows operators to come in and familiarize with the system locally, but also allow customers to discover our award-winning
BRAVO Studio workflow remotely from anywhere.”

DreamCatcher is located in Munich’s SpaceNet Building, in the heart of a burgeoning north Schwabing tech center that includes Amazon and Microsoft offices some 25 minutes north of Marienplatz via the U6. “The DCTC has connectivity to perform full remote production
workflow-based demonstrations of Evertz’ XPS RealTime UHD/3G/HD Streaming Platform and BRAVO Studio platforms,” the company says.

XPS is Evertz’ next-generation UHD/3G/HD streaming platform that uses SRT, RIST and Zixi for secure and reliable contribution over IP networks with ultra-low latency. XPS is a software-defined HEVC and H.264 real-time encoding/decoding platform that Evertz believes is ideal for live or cloud-based applications where secure, high quality and low-latency is essential.

— Weekly Tech Roundup European News Desk

To learn more about the DreamCatcherTM Live Production platform, visit evertz.com/applications/live-production/. 

U.S. Sales Contact: 1-877-995-3700
sales@evertz.com

BOCA RATON, FLA. — In November 2017, he ended his business partnership with John Caracciolo. This led Vic Latino — legally known as Victor Canales — to create his own media company with a Palm Beach County-based AM as its foundation.

Now, Canales is selling that AM, along with one of the two FM translators his company uses to serve the market with a unique “Quality Rock” format that’s failed to attract audiences since its debut.

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Readers of my articles featuring DIY projects may be interested in trying their hand at creating a device from scratch. A great place to start is with a clear, well-drawn schematic.

For the last several years, I’ve relied on ExpressPCB for creating the necessary diagrams and circuit board layouts for my projects. As with any DIY application such as this, there are numerous such tools available, and most will do nicely. It mostly comes down to personal preference and workflow.

I asked some of my buddies at www.groupdiy.com for their recommendations and I got several, a few of which I’ll discuss along with one or two I found on my own.

This is by no means a comprehensive list and is not intended to be a review. It’s a sampling of recommended tools available.

Preliminaries

A couple guys I chatted with still rely on a hardware-based solution, otherwise known as good old-fashioned pencil and paper.

There’s a lot to be said for that. The learning curve is determined only by one’s knowledge of electronics, which is a given at this stage. There’s nothing to download, no parts library to maintain, and custom or oddball components are easily created.

The downside is that all but minor changes in the schematic can require starting over, or trying to read through a mess of eraser smudges. And in my experience, the only professionals with handwriting as bad as doctors are engineers!

Using software to create schematics may take a little longer, but the effort often streamlines the completion of the project. The programs I tried all come with PCB creation tools that allow finished schematics to be ported in from their own or third-party software. They also allow for designs to be exported for manufacturing purposes, if the project moves beyond the DIY stage.

In order to test the various programs, I took a design for a simple bipolar power supply I’ve used in several builds, and I tried to recreate both the schematic and the PCB in each program.

Since it was originally created using ExpressPCB I’ll start there.

ExpressPCB

The free download of ExpressPCB (www.expresspcb.com) installs two separate programs on your PC. (There are no Mac or Linux versions as of this writing.)

ExpressSCH handles the creation of schematics. It includes a library of commonly used parts, and users can also create custom components. ExpressPCB can import those schematics, or users can work from scratch. Again, custom components can be created.

The classic version of the software can accommodate PCBs up to four layers, while the “plus” version can handle six. The “plus” version also has a larger library, can copy and paste between designs, and can provide silkscreen patterns for both top and bottom layers.

The interface is pretty intuitive, but the online documentation will walk users through the more complicated features.

ExpressPCB offers a manufacturing service for completed designs, but it’s also easy to print what’s needed for etching boards at home.

KiCad

Next up is KiCad, available as a free download from www.kicad.org. KiCad is open source and available for PC, Mac or Linux.

The schematic program, called Eeschema, includes a large parts library, plus the ability to match schematic symbols with specific PCB footprints. This facilitates PCB design by automatically including the correct footprint for each component, and aiding in trace layout. It also includes design rules checks to keep mistakes to a minimum, and a circuit simulator to test designs.

Another interesting feature is the 3D Viewer, which allows users to envision how a populated board will look, a big help with figuring out how much space the project will take up inside the chassis.

KiCad also exports Gerber files and provides printouts for home etching.

EasyEDA

EasyEDA (www.easyeda.com) also is available for PC, Mac and Linux. It comes in two versions: the Desktop Client and the Online Editor.

The Online Editor allows users to work on designs from anywhere they have internet. Both versions also allow for team collaboration.

The program includes links to a user forum as well as tutorial videos for help with designs. Like KiCad it also has a 3D viewer, design rules checks and Gerber export capability, as well as a large parts library with matching component footprints for PCB work. Multiple PCB layers are supported.

DesignSpark

DesignSpark comes from a partnership between RS Components and Allied Electronics.  The software requires free registration at www.rs-online.com/designspark/home. The site offers a vast library of tutorials, projects and other information for DIY.

The schematic software includes a good-sized parts list, and like KiCad and EasyEDA it includes footprints for common components. Like the others, it includes a 3D viewer, design rules checks and Gerber output, as well as multilayer board support.

DesignSpark also includes a Design Calculator tab, which includes not only a scientific calculator but also calculators for trace width and impedance, RCL frequencies, heat sink values and common conversions. On the schematic side, it includes a Spice simulator.

Eagle

Finally there’s Eagle by Autodesk (eagle.autodesk.com). This free download includes almost all the same features as KiCad, EasyEDA and DesignSpark.

Schematics can be created from a vast library of components that include footprints for automatically porting into the PCB side of things. Dozens of possible layers are supported, as well as error correction and virtual test probes.

Another handy feature is the ability to create what are referred to as “design blocks.”  These are essentially electronic sub-assemblies that can be saved as standalone components. For example, if several designs use the same power supply or output stage, that section can be saved as a block, rather than having to redraw it every time.

There is one drawback to this program: the free version limits the size of PCBs to 100 x 80 mm.

Again this is by no means an exhaustive list of available programs. All of these will certainly get the job done. Some have a much steeper learning curve than others, mostly due to the sheer number of features and options.

It really comes down to each DIYer’s preferences and workflow. I’ll likely stick with ExpressPCB, simply because I’m used to it.

There were some nifty features in the others but none that I couldn’t live without. I especially liked the 3D viewers, and while it took a while to find the right parts, having specific footprints for specific parts took a lot of the trial and error out of fitting everything on to the board. On the other hand, most of my projects are not as complex as the majority of these programs are designed to deal with.

If you’re looking to take your schematics to the next level, it costs nothing but time to try any of these solutions.

Do you have a program you prefer? Tell us about it at rweetech@gmail.com.

Curt Yengst, CSRE, is engineer for Lighthouse TV in Allentown, Pa.

The post Software Solutions for DIY Projects appeared first on Radio World.

Public broadcasting welcomed another station into its fold when Purdue University agreed to have its student station operated by a nonprofit media company.

On July 1 Purdue announced that it signed a letter of intent to enter an agreement for WBAA radio to be acquired by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media (MIPM). The nonprofit currently operates WFYI(TV) public broadcasting in central Indiana. The goal, Purdue said in a statement, is to enhance WBAA’s public service while preserving WBAA’s local heritage.

It’s a station with a storied history. WBAA(AM) is Indiana’s longest continuously operating radio station after receiving its broadcast license in1922 followed by WBAA(FM) in 1993. The AM station was one of several that went on the air by land-grant schools in the early days of radio.

Under the agreement, WBAA will maintain its call letters, its physical presence in greater Lafayette, as well as the mainstay of programming including local news and reporting, NPR and global news and classical music.

MIPM is expected to assume operations of WBAA on or around Oct. 1 pending approval by Purdue’s Board of Trustees and approval of the license transfer by the Federal Communications Commission.

“We are so pleased to work with Purdue University … on preserving its public service mission through WBAA,” said Greg Petrowich, president and CEO of MIPM. “Through this agreement, we will strengthen and build on WBAA’s commitment to listeners and the communities served by WFYI and WBAA.”

A series of other enhancements are expected as well. For one, Purdue students in the Brian Lamb School of Communication will have access to expanded learning and development opportunities with WBAA and through the larger MIPM and WFYI networks, and program and underwriting partners will gain access to a broader listenership via shared programming that will also air on WFYI stations.

“Like we’ve seen done at many other higher education institutions, Purdue University has been looking for a public radio partner to lead WBAA toward its next 100 years in greater Lafayette,” said R. Ethan Braden, Purdue senior vice president for marketing and communications. “[W]e believe this agreement represents enhanced opportunities for our students, it preserves the experience that listeners enjoy today, and it extends WBAA’s reach and public service offerings.”

The post Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media to Take Reins of Purdue Station appeared first on Radio World.

Sage Alerting Systems has issued two pieces of information for users of Sage Digital ENDEC Model 3644 in the United States.

One is that a signing certificate used by FEMA to validate CAP alerts will expire on Aug. 21, so Sage released a free firmware update for Rev95 that must be installed to permit an ENDEC to continue to receive EAS CAP alerts from FEMA. The CR-Rev6 update can be installed at any time before then.

[Read: National EAS Test Will Focus on Broadcast Chain]

Sage noted that the upcoming national EAS test on Aug. 11 will not use Common Alerting Protocol, so users do not need to install the firmware update by then. But users must already be running the Rev95 release to install this update.

Second, Sage reminded its users that the next National Periodic Test will be sent via the Primary Entry Point network on Aug. 11 at 2:20 p.m. EDT, and it said users should do the following:

1) Check the log to make sure that you are receiving weekly tests from your monitor assignments, and that you have been originating weekly tests and relaying Monthly Tests as required by your license type.

2) Make sure the ENDEC has a filter to receive and relay the NPT. The easiest way to check this is to access the ENDEC with a web browser. From the main page, click the Tools button on the left column, then click the “Verify Req” button. If you see “Your ENDEC will meet the FCC requirements for the National Periodic Test” on the last line, your ENDEC is ready.

Questions about Sage EAS can be emailed to support@sagealertingsystems.com.

The post Sage Alerting Issues Firmware Update appeared first on Radio World.

William Harrison, chief engineer at WETA(FM) in Washington, wrote us to share a simple way to connect an S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format) output to an EAS input on an AoIP system, in his case on an Axia xNode.

He uses a combination of two readily available adapters: an RJ45-to-F adapter and an F-to-RCA. William chose adapters from Tech Tool Supply as shown in the first photo, but you can find them elsewhere as well.

The adapter obviously doesn’t take into account the difference in peak-to-peak voltage between AES and S/PDIF, but it usually works, and it is incredibly easy and inexpensive.

William has only tried this to get audio into the xNode. Getting audio out of it, or using it with, say, WheatNet-IP may give different results; but the adapter cost is minimal, so you may want to try it.

[Check Out More of Workbench Here]

The process is straightforward. First plug an RJ45-to-F adapter into the xNode. (At the TechToolSupply site, a Rexford Tools female F to RJ45 Plug is Product Code RTC-RJ45-F). Then add an F-to-RCA adapter to mate to the S/PDIF plug (that’s Product Code SKY01130).

The same result can be achieved using an RJ45-to-BNC (www.newbecca.com/product/546275219824) and BNC-to-RCA adapter (at techtoolsupply.com, search Product Code 200-173).

William says the adapter combination also works great in getting the audio from consumer gear into your AoIP network.

I really connect 2U

Speaking of adapters, Dan Slentz amazes me with the things he finds on the internet.

The microphone people at Shure Products are selling a useful device called the X2u. It’s a connector adapter that mates the XLR connector of a professional broadcast microphone to a USB plug.

This makes for easy connection directly to a computer without the need for any additional hardware.

Ideal for podcasters or home recording studios, the connector adapter is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10 (both 32- and 64-bit), as well as XP, 2000 and Mac OS X (10.1 or later).

What makes this adapter especially helpful is the built-in headphone jack. It lets you monitor the sound without an additional sound card. The adapter includes an integrated preamp with mic gain control, so signal level can be controlled. The X2u also has phantom power, so a condenser microphone can be connected to your computer.

This is a plug-and-play solution, no software is needed. A USB cable and zippered pouch are included, all for $99. Order from your Shure dealer or head to www.shure.com.

If you enter X2u in the search box, the search will also bring up over a hundred application notes; user questions and answers; and specifications.

Learn the basics

Dan also found something for every entry-level engineer on the Radio Shack website: a complete electronics course in 128 pages, originally written for Radio Shack in 1984.

Author Forrest Mims teaches the basics, takes you on a tour of both analog and digital components, explains how they work and then shows how they are combined for various applications.

This sounds ideal for the jock ops manager who wants to know more about electronics and move into engineering.

The lessons include circuit assembly tips and 100 electronic circuits and projects you can build and test. “Getting Started in Electronics” by Forrest Mims is an ebook costing less than $20. It’s available from www.radioshack.com.

Engineering textbooks

And speaking of learning, Charles Frodsham is a retired engineer, nearing 79 years young. Charles writes that he is starting to downsize his library of classic radio and antenna engineering textbooks collected over the years. Charles hasn’t had much success in finding buyers or even a non-profit to donate the books.

Finding classic radio engineering books is a rarity, so here’s what we’ll do. If you have an interest, send me an email with “Workbench Engineering Textbooks” in the subject line, and your contact information. I’ll forward your message on to Charles. These volumes were published between 1937 and 1956. If you are interested, my email address is johnpbisset@gmail.com.

John Bisset, CPBE, has spent over 50 years in broadcasting and more than 30 writing Workbench. He handles western U.S. radio sales for the Telos Alliance. He is a past recipient of the SBE’s Educator of the Year Award. Workbench submissions are encouraged and count toward SBE recertification. Send to johnpbisset@gmail.com. 

The post Inexpensive Adapters Speed AoIP EAS Connection appeared first on Radio World.

Chris Crump, CBNE, is senior director of sales and marketing for Comrex Corp. This interview is from the 2021 Radio World ebook “Remote Radio Phase II: What We’ve Learned During a Pandemic.”

RW: Chris how will our workflows and future infrastructure be different because of the pandemic and how radio responded to it?

Chris Crump: Back in the good ol’ days before lockdowns, self-quarantines and government-mandated stay-at-home orders, some of our customers had the luxury of using our products to broadcast their shows from home studios or mountain getaways. 

After March of 2020, broadcasting from home became a necessity. Comrex moved quite a bit of product to help customers across several verticals adapt to the new way of working. 

In early 2021 I’ve been talking to a lot of customers who have related conversations with management about reducing office and studio space. As building leases come up for renewal, it is making a lot of sense for air staff and content creators to work from home, and the cost savings is substantial. 

We’ve been specialists in remote broadcasting since 1961 and up until now, remotes have been about sports and news coverage or the occasional NTR event. But now, remote is how the majority of broadcasters/content creators are working. Needless to say, it’s been a great time (businesswise) to have the word “remote” in your company description. 

RW: Which Comrex products have played critical roles in these new workflows, and why?

Crump: Our ACCESS NX Portable IP audio codec was front and center in helping broadcasters to get their air staffs equipped to broadcast from home. Our production team worked overtime and weekends over the past year to keep up with the demand. 

The volume of NX Portables was matched with the complementary studio units, the ACCESS NX Rack and ACCESS MultiRack. One large corporate broadcaster made a substantial purchase of our BRIC-Link II IP audio codecs, which they pair with a small podcasting mixer in a convenient and easy-to-configure take-home kit for air talent. 

Our Opal IP audio gateway saw a sizable increase in demand for podcasters that needed an easy way for their guest to connect to them remotely. 

I think it’s fair to say that our entire product line solved a lot of different problems for engineering staffs all over the world as the pandemic took hold. .. .We are having lots of conversations with customers about new solutions for the new and unique scenarios that are presenting themselves in the wake of current events.

RW: Talk to me about the required level of home connectivity and ISP support for work-from-home operations.

Crump: Since we introduced our ACCESS IP audio codecs around 2004, we have worked very hard to ruggedize this platform and make it the most reliable means of transmitting broadcast quality audio, even on challenging networks. 

That being said, my general advice to anyone that asks “what kind of connection should I get” is get the best service you can afford. And that service should reflect the seriousness of your endeavor. In some cases, having two network options is not only a good idea but crucial. 

As more and more people have been working from home, engaging in endless Zoom video calls and kids digital learning from home, we’ve seen huge demands on network infrastructures. We created our CrossLock VPN technology to respond to these kinds of demands to avoid packet loss and provide stability. Part of what makes CrossLock so special is its ability to utilize multiple data networks and load balance between them to respond to packet loss or even network outages in a very nimble and transparent way. 

So, to recap: Get the best network you can afford, then get a second or third network (wired broadband or 4G LTE) and let CrossLock on your ACCESS or BRIC-Link II codec do all the heavy lifting for you to keep you on the air.

RW: What advanced considerations did stations deal with? 

Crump: I can tell you that we heard a lot of very interesting stories from Comrex users, talent and engineers with unique “work from home” challenges faced on a daily basis — from a cat that “learned” how to disconnect the host from the station with a well-placed paw, to a host who uses a closet as a studio because a closet full of clothes is the best acoustic treatment ever. 

I think that many engineers grappled with a shortage of mix-minuses, especially on older analog consoles. It’s certainly an argument for upgrading to a fancy new AoIP console/routing system like WheatNet, Axia or SAS. These all have mix engines with the ability to generate as many mix-minuses as you need. 

I’ve personally had a lot of conversations with announcers about setting up mix-minus on their home consoles. In fact, we’re finishing up a few videos on the topic that we hope our customers will find useful.

RW: Anything else we should know?

Crump: We have always been a strong advocate of improving the listener experience on any platform where content is meant to entertain, educate and inform. 

The main mission of Tom Harnett, our technical director, is to rid the airwaves of low-grade, tinny telephone audio. Our Opal IP audio gateway was one of those first big steps for us. And it’s really nice to hear it being used more and more on the airwaves. 

I’m pretty excited about some of the things I’m seeing and hearing from our development team, especially considering how well they lend themselves to the new way that broadcasters and content creators are having to work. Sure, it’s a “new normal” or whatever, and there are lots of challenges; but we think the new normal is going to sound pretty great if we have anything to do with it.

The post “The New Normal Is Going to Sound Pretty Great” appeared first on Radio World.

The Federal Communications Commission has issued bidding instructions for the 114 applicants that are qualified to bid in its upcoming Auction 109.

The auction will offer 135 FM construction permits and four AM CPs. Bidding begins Tuesday, July 27. A mock auction will take place earlier in the month.

The commission has put out a public notice with bidding instructions and other important info, including the announcement that one FM CP, in Livingston Manor, N.Y., has been removed from the list; it said the Media Bureau determined that the allotment was not properly added to the Table of FM Allotments and so it was included in the list in error.

Relevant links appear at the end of this story.

The FCC reminded bidders that they are responsible for investigating “technical and marketplace factors that may have a bearing on its valuation of the construction permits in Auction 109. The commission makes no representations or warranties about the use of this spectrum for particular services.”

It also encouraged bidders to do their own research into the existence of any pending proceedings, pleadings, applications or authorizations, and to inspect any prospective transmitter sites in or near the service area for which it plans to bid, to confirm availability.

It also noted that the Media Bureau has protected the parameters of the four previously licensed AM stations on the relevant frequencies in the St. Louis area.

Read the public notice.

Attachment A  — Permits available

Attachment B — List of applicants that are qualified to bid, with their upfront payment amount and maximum eligibility in bidding units.

Attachment C  — List of Qualified Applicants

Attachment D  — Applicants Not Qualified to Bid

The post FCC Issues Bidding Instructions for Auction 109 appeared first on Radio World.

Bahraini national radio broadcaster Bahrain Radio has undergone a lengthy and thorough renovation. Central to the renovation is becoming a digital plant with Lawo equipment at the heart.

According to a release, “The entire facility has been refurbished, from nine radio studios and control rooms to the MCR (Master Control Room) and CAR (Central Apparatus Room), with a parallel overhaul of furniture, equipment, automation systems, radio library and acoustics.”

[See Our Who’s Buying What Page]

Ministry of Information Affairs Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Eng Abdulla Ahmed Abalooshi explained, “Our radio station and studios were built in 1980. They were really old, and we used to have the occasional breakdown with no support available for them. All our FM and AM stations are processed in these studios and go through the MCR; our radio channels are also available on satellite and OTT. With this project, we have transferred our entire radio technology to a digital platform and have added a few elements that will make life easier for the production people in our radio department.”

Based around a Lawo MADI network, other Lawo equipment includes consoles, routers, VisTool virtual radio system and VSM IP broadcast control system. An RCS radio automation was also installed.

Thinking toward the future, Bahrain Radio scaled the renovation for 15 stations. It currently has nine.

Overseeing the project was GloCom, a Middle East-based broadcast and multimedia technology integrator.

Submit announcements for Who’s Buying What to radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Bahrain Radio Renovates With Lawo appeared first on Radio World.

HC2 Holdings, the parent of a broadcasting company that is paring down its over-the-air TV station roster under President/CEO Wayne Barr Jr., has completed the previously announced sale of its insurance segment.

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