25 September 2006
Harris Corporation today announced it will introduce MicroMax, a new low-cost FM exciter, at the upcoming NAB Radio convention (Booth #405, Hilton Anatole Hotel, Dallas, September 19-21). The MicroMax exciter is specifically designed for small-market U.S. and international radio broadcasters seeking an affordable yet feature-rich alternative to more expensive exciters on the market. Competitively priced, MicroMax is a 30-watt, 1RU exciter that can interface with any existing Harris transmitter as well as other transmitters on the market. It is especially valuable for FM broadcasters when used with the new Harris ZX range of low-cost FM transmitters (available in four power levels from 500 watts to 3.5 kW).
While the MicroMax FM exciter is an excellent choice for small-market broadcasters, it is equally useful in backup situations for medium- to large-market stations such as Cox Radio Orlando. The station group will install two ZX 1000 1 kW transmitters with MicroMax exciters at its Orlando, Florida, studios. The frequency-agile transmitters and exciters, which are scheduled to go online in November, will serve as backup units for five Orlando-area stations (WWKA-FM, WCFB-FM, WPYO-FM, WHTQ-FM, and WMMO-FM) in the event of system failure or tower maintenance at any of the Cox Radio Orlando’s transmission facilities.
Steve Fluker, director of engineering for Cox Radio Orlando, pointed to price and flexibility as his reasons for selecting the Harris solution for backup transmission. “The MicroMax exciter, along with the ZX1000 transmitter, is an excellent choice for emergency back-up transmission at our studio because of the economical price and the ability to change frequencies on the front panel,” said Fluker. “They also will be available to rush to one of our tower sites in the event of a main exciter failure. These exciters are easy to set up and plug in, which will get us back on the air quickly in emergency situations. I also like the variety of input choices for AES, analog and composite audio.”
MicroMax combines time-proven PLL technology with modern RF amplifier circuits and abundant features to provide driving power of very high quality to any FM transmitter. Visitors to the Harris NAB Radio booth can see a static display of the MicroMax FM exciter and its various features, including a built-in stereo generator and automatic power control at any power level.
Visitors also can see the ZX1000 transmitter outfitted with WEB Remote, another new Harris product that offers an Internet connection for transmitter control and monitoring over IP. All ZX transmitters can accept the WEB Remote option through an internal circuit board card slot. WEB Remote is also available as a 1RU standalone system for all Harris FM and AM transmitters.
“The global radio industry at large still operates in the analog domain and will continue to do so well into the future, even as the U.S. and certain international regions work toward a digital future,” said Richard Redmond, director of strategic marketing for Harris Broadcast Communications Division, Radio Broadcast Systems business unit. “Therefore it is crucial that we continue to develop new platforms for analog broadcasting instead of simply focusing on digital radio. The MicroMax exciter is a clear indication that Harris will continue to bring new analog systems to market that reflect the changing requirements of both FM and AM broadcasters, domestically and internationally.”
The MicroMax FM exciter is available now and will begin shipping in late December.
25 September 2006
SES GLOBAL announces that its operating companies SES ASTRA and SES AMERICOM will support the worldwide non-profit initiative One Laptop per Child (OLPC). The initiative aims at improving the communication and education infrastructure in developing countries by launching a low cost, web-connected laptop. It is supported by leading international players in the hard- and software industry. SES ASTRA and SES AMERICOM will serve as worldwide partners to provide satellite connectivity and smart ground solutions for broadcasting, data and internet connections. SES AMERICOM CEO Edward D. Horowitz will represent SES on the initiatives Board.
One Laptop per Child was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January and is chaired by the former head of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, Nicholas Negroponte.
As new corporate partners of the project, SES ASTRA and SES AMERICOM will contribute important know-how for the conceptual development, give financial support of US$ 2 million and provide space capacity on SES global satellite fleet to countries and organizations. The conceptual contribution includes the development of a one dish per village model, whereby the low-cost laptops with a wireless connection receive data from local hubs connected via satellite. The price of such laptops is expected to be around USD 100.
The involvement with the One Laptop per Child initiative reinforces SES`s engagement in connectivity projects, like for example the NEPAD’s e-Schools project (www.nepad.org), a ten-year initiative started in 2003 to connect 600,000 schools in Africa.
Comments Edward D. Horowitz, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM: “Together with our world class partners in the OLPC initiative and the commitment of the participating countries, we have the unique opportunity to change the way educational resources are delivered to schools and students in every corner of the planet by taking advantage of satellite’s inherent ability to connect without geographical boundaries. We look forward to supporting this important global initiative.”
25 September 2006
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company, announced today that its subsidiary SES ASTRA TechCom has been selected to participate in Vietnam`s first public satellite project VINASAT-1. The project, which is led by the Vietnamese Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), is realized with Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) as the main contractor. LMCSS has subcontracted SES ASTRA TechCom to deliver two satellite antenna systems in Vietnam for Telecommand, Telemetry and Control (TT & C) as well as training to the Vietnamese satellite operations personnel. VINASAT-1 is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2008. The satellite will be used for telecommunication purposes.
SES ASTRA TechCom will work together with HITEC Luxembourg as subcontractor to deliver two antenna systems in Hanoi and Binh Duong Province for the new satellite. The antenna project is scheduled to be completed in September 2007. In a second step, SES ASTRA TechCom will provide training services for the future satellite engineers and technicians. These training sessions will last between 6 and 12 months, take place in Hanoi and Luxembourg and are co-financed by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation. Furthermore, the deal includes several follow-on options for SES ASTRA TechCom for further contributions to the Vietnamese satellite project.
We are very proud that SES ASTRA TechCom has been chosen to participate in the first Vietnamese satellite project, said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. The decision shows that we are able to leverage our profound technical knowledge in the satellite business and can further grow our broad service offerings to the market through SES ASTRA TechCom.
25 September 2006
The Voice of America (VOA) has added additional live and direct broadcasts to its broadcasting to Thailand in Thai and English as part of VOA’s coverage of the coup that removed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
“At a time when the people of Thailand were most in need of reliable information, VOA’s Thai Service went from broadcasting a 15-minute daily news feed to a daily 60-minute direct broadcast, transmitted via the Internet and on special shortwave frequencies,” said VOA Director David S. Jackson. VOA’s Worldwide English and Special English, which is designed for non-native speakers, also pre-empted their normal programs to provide live updates focusing on events in Thailand. Said Jackson: “This shows once again how VOA can provide a valuable service to audiences in times of crisis or uncertainty, particularly when local news is unavailable, as it was in this case.”
VOA will continue the special programming as events warrant, at the following times and on the frequencies below:
2300-2400 UTC Thai Language Broadcast 7215, 9685
1130-1200 UTC Worldwide English Broadcast 1575
1530-1600 UTC Special English Broadcast 1575, 6160, 9590,
9760,12040, 15550
More VOA coverage of Thailand’s political situation can be found at: www.VOANews.com.
25 September 2006
Wohler Technologies Inc, world leader in rack audio and video monitoring, has appointed Alan Bunting as Regional Sales Manager for Europe. Bunting will be responsible for defining and strengthening Wohler’s European strategy and developing their successful partner program giving pro active dealers and S.I.’s access to the best selling audio and video monitors in the industry.
“We are proud to have someone of Alan’s calibre join our European office, and this appointment demonstrates our commitment to the European market. Alan’s extensive knowledge in the application of professional broadcast equipment will be a major addition to our dedicated team. Alan and his staff will ensure continued growth of Wohler and Panorama products and will advance our channel distribution within the European region. said, Carl J. Dempsey, President and CEO of Wohler Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Bunting was instrumental in establishing Hitachi/Denshi as a major manufacturer and supplier of professional television cameras in Europe. Prior to that he was the Managing Director at Lee Communication Limited.
25 September 2006
Harris Corporation announced that Commonwealth Broadcasting has taken delivery of three Harris® NetWave digital on-air consoles with VistaMax studio audio networking for the upgrade of its Glasgow, Kentucky, facility. Commonwealth Broadcasting also will upgrade its Campbellsville facility with the same complement of Harris digital studio equipment by the end of September. The installations will serve to replace analog equipment as the broadcaster moves toward an HD Radio future. Commonwealth Broadcasting owns 21 radio stations in four small- to mid-sized markets in Kentucky.
“Harris’ reputation as a radio supplier is unequaled going back to the days of analog-only studio equipment, and the VistaMax and NetWave offer the studio technology we need moving forward at the right price point,” said Steve Newberry, president and CEO of Commonwealth Broadcasting. “Studio-to-studio flexibility is vital in markets of our size, and the VistaMax/NetWave combination allows us to be agile with our studio configurations. The flexible VistaMax networking connections ensure that all studios have access to each other’s sources. Ease of installation is a bonus as VistaMax eliminates the need for hundreds of pairs of audio cables. And in today’s world, small- to mid-sized markets don’t need as many direct channels on each console. The NetWave digital on-air console offers all the flexibility and versatility of a larger board in a fresh, compact configuration.”
Newberry noted that the Glasgow and Campbellsville facilities are ready for upgrades for different reasons. The Glasgow facility, serving the Bowling Green market, is targeted as the Commonwealth Broadcasting’s first HD Radio conversion. Bowling Green is the company’s largest market.
“The Glasgow upgrade is HD Radio-driven simply because that facility serves our largest market,” Newberry said. “HD Radio technology is being embraced by the radio industry because it will give us the opportunity to improve audio quality and offer multiple channels of programming, among other benefits. However, it isn’t feasible for most small- to medium-sized markets to upgrade the entire audio chain at once. The best move for us was to start at the origination point and work up to the transmitter in a staged process. Mike Graham, our chief engineer, highly recommended the Harris NetWave and VistaMax as the first big step.”
The Campbellsville facility, also a top performer for Commonwealth Broadcasting, needed more flexibility in the studio environment to modernize the facilities. The NetWave digital consoles will replace 20-year-old consoles. “They were workhorses, but they were yesterday’s technology,” Newberry said.
NetWave digital on-air consoles (NetWave-8, NetWave-16 and NetWave-24) are the most affordable, full-featured, stand-alone console solutions yet from Harris. The design of NetWave as a standalone console brings flexibility to broadcasters who may wish to upgrade to a networked studio audio system in the future.
NetWave, as other consoles in the Harris PR&E family, can be VistaMax “activated” for sharing on-air and production sources across multiple studios. The NetWave console with VistaMax activation permits further convenience, as any Dual Fader module can be upgraded to have dynamic, dial-up selection of network sources features previously unavailable on lower-priced consoles.
“Harris is pleased to announce the first U.S. installations of its new NetWave digital on-air console at Commonwealth Broadcasting,” said Debra Huttenburg, vice president and general manager of Harris Broadcast Communications Division, Radio Broadcast Systems business unit. “NetWave was designed specifically for customers like Commonwealth Broadcasting that need a flexible, yet compact console at an affordable price. The addition of VistaMax networking will deliver a powerful, studio-wide platform for sharing sources among multiple studios, which results in greater convenience and utility while offering lower costs of both installation and ownership going forward.”
