Water Cooled December 2006

You may use excerpts if attributed to the original source and
"Water Cooled Newsletter" SBE Chapter 124, Portland, OR

A NOTE ABOUT E-MAIL ADDRESSES

In order to prevent e-mail addresses from being "mined" and then spammed, there are no longer clickable links to e-mail addresses, or intact e-mail addresses. For the addresses shown, substitute "@" for "at" and "." for "dot." Thanks!

CHAPTER 124 MEETING IN PORTLAND

WHEN:	Tuesday November 14th, Noon.

WHERE:	Buffalo Gap Saloon & Eatery 6835 SW Macadam (at California) Portland 503-244-7111

WHAT:	Holiday Lunch (no presentation)

CHAPTER 76 MEETING IN EUGENE

WHEN:	SPECIAL DAY - Wednesday December 4^th SPECIAL TIME - 6 PM.

WHERE:	Sizzler Restaurant 1010 Postal Way Springfield 541-726-9933

WHAT:	Winter Solstice Party

CHAPTER 141 MEETING IN MEDFORD

WHEN:	No meeting this month.

WHERE:

WHAT:

PROGRAM PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATION

PORTLAND INFO

The Portland meetings are on the second Tuesday of every month. Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings. When you get to the Buffalo Gap, go in the SW California St. side door, turn left, and go upstairs. We have the whole upper floor. For more information on Chapter 124 in Portland/Vancouver/Salem, contact Chapter Chair Ev Helm, e-mail chairman at sbe124 dot org, or call him at 503-977-7752. For a map see http://www.sbe124.org/SBE124_maps.html .

EUGENE INFO

The Eugene meetings are on the Wednesday after the second Tuesday of the month. You do not have to be an SBE member to attend these meetings. Anyone with an interest in the subject matter is welcome. For more information e-mail Dennis Hunt dhunt at cmc dot net. See www.sbe76.org for a map to the meeting location.

MEDFORD INFO

The Medford meetings are on the Thursday after the second Tuesday of every month. For information, call Mike Gary at 541-772-2600 ext 209 or e-mail mgary at kmvu-tv dot com. See www.sbe141.org .

LAST MONTH'S MEETINGS

PORTLAND

EUGENE

There was a tour of the Cumulus-Eugene radio cluster tour. Tour included 95.3 KUJZ, 96.1 KZEL, 97.9 KNRQ, 102.3 KEHK, 590 KUGN, and 1320 KSCR.

MEDFORD

NEXT MONTH

YXZ REPORT

THE LAST "HARDCOPY" VERSION

If you have in your hand a copy of this newsletter that came to you through the US Postal Service, note that this will be the last mailing. Eventually, almost everything comes down to time and money. In this case it's my wife's and my time, and the chapter breaks even on the mailed newsletters even though they cost over $1.50 each to print and mail. After almost 12 years, I’d prefer to put the time into the website and the HTML version, and begin doing RSS (Real Simple Syndication).

So, this website will improve, and features will be more easily updated and accessed. To continue receiving the newsletter automatically, please subscribe to the SBE-PDX e-mail list, which only sends out messages containing the newsletter or Chapter 124 announcements. Go to http://www.broadcast.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe-pdx to subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your options. If you have ANY trouble with the list, just e-mail me and I can fix it.

KEN BROEFFLE TO CLEAR CHANNEL SEATTLE

Former ARS-, Infinity-, and CBS Radio-Portland Director of Engineering Ken Broeffle starts December 11th at Clear Channel-Seattle as Assistant Director of Engineering. About 20 of us attended a going-away party for him at Big Red's on December 7th.

20061207_018_Deb_Ken_Kent_Will_800X600.jpg (229104 bytes)

Ken's girlfriend Deb, Ken, Me, and Will Price.
(Ken, Will, and I used to work together at ARS/CBS/Infinity-Portland)
Picture by Jeff McGinley (who had his finger over the flash of my camera)

KPAM/KKAD SURPLUS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

You may have noticed the article in the October issue of Radio magazine (http://beradio.com/studio/radio_kpam_moves_forward/index.html) about the new KPAM/KKAD studios. They replaced several big items, and the old items are for sale, including three PR&E boards (two BMX and one RadioMixer), an SAS 64000 router system, a complete 1A2 key system, and some SCPC satellite receivers. E-mail Chief Engineer Dave Bischoff K7UIR dbischoff at kpam dot com for information and the complete list.

100^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST TIME VOICE AND MUSIC WAS BROADCAST OVER RADIO

At 9 P.M. on Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden allegedly became the first to broadcast voice and music over radio, from his transmitter site at Brant Rock, MA to several ships at sea owned by the United Fruit Company. Imagine being a cold/lonely/bored ship radio operator used to listening to just spark-gap-generated Morse code.

"The host of the broadcast was Fessenden. After giving a resume of the program Fessenden played a recording of Handel's "Largo" on an Ediphone thus establishing two records - the first recording of the first broadcast. Fessenden then dazzled his listeners with his talent as a violinist playing appropriately for the Christmas season, "Oh Holy Night" and actually singing the last verse as he played. Mrs. Helen Fessenden and Fessenden's secretary Miss Bent, had promised to read seasonal passages from the Bible including, "Glory to God in the highest -and on earth peace to men of good will," but when the time came to perform they stood speechless, paralyzed with mike fright. Fessenden took over for them and concluded the broadcast by extending Christmas greetings to his listeners - as well as asking them to write and report to him on the broadcast wherever they were."

Just imagining this gives me the same chills I got the when I heard the first ham radio transmission from the space shuttle! There is more detail at http://www.radiocom.net/Fessenden/BelroseXmas.htm

EVER WONDER ABOUT THE "BURK VOICE?"

That "other woman" who calls you at 3 AM to say "Hello" is Nancy Quill, who has been at Greater Media's 106.7 WMJX in Boston since 1982 and currently does middays. You can read her bio at http://www.magic1067.com/dj_nancy.shtml . The station streams, but I have not yet listened during the week.

MY FAVORITE WAY TO WASTE TIME

If you have nothing better to do, go to www.radio-locator.com, pick a station, then click on the geographic coordinates of their transmitter site. Since they stitch together the maps to make them continuous, sometimes they are taken from different angles…which works fine for streets and houses. I found a comical combination right here in Portland: the 1330/1640 transmitter site at http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=45.45361,+-122.54583+(KKPZ-AM)&om=1. Definitely a "what's wrong with this picture." At least as I type this on Sunday, December 3^rd.

LIFE WITH HD RADIO

Holding at 12 FM HD signals (nine with HD2) and two AM HD signals on the air in the Portland market.

Crawford's 1330 KKPZ has turned on their HD signal. Mike Brown has more on this in his column below.

KSPS TOWER AND ANTENNA COLLAPSE

SPOKANE, 29, November — At approximately 2:50 am on November 29, 2006, the KSPS broadcast antenna and tower located on Krell Hill, or commonly referred to as Tower Mountain, collapsed. Approximately 200 feet or 1/3 of the complete structure fell to the ground.

We have made contact with the tower structural engineer who will travel to Spokane today to assist us in determining damage and develop a recovery plan. At this point we have lost our ability to provide an off-air broadcast service to viewers in the Spokane region.

While we are still able to provide service to Canada and most area cable companies, we are grateful to KAYU, KHQ, KREM, KWSU, KXLY, and Comcast cable for their offers of assistance by providing short term broadcast tower and antenna use through their equipment. We will provide additional information as to the cause of our tower collapse and impending reconstruction as soon as it becomes available.

FROM THE CGC COMMUNICATOR

Almost two years after the main KFI(AM) tower collapsed as a result of an aircraft accident (CGC #664), the tower has yet to be rebuilt and the station is still broadcasting from a short auxiliary tower. KFI is authorized to operate on 640 kHz with 50,000 watts of power and is non-directional day and night.

The proposed height of the replacement tower has been reduced from 760 to 684 feet and Clear Channel, the owner, has agreed to add flashing white lights during the day to supplement flashing red lights at night according to the Orange County Register. Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman, is quoted as saying, "The critical point is that they legally have the right to rebuild that tower and we're doing all we can to ensure it's safe." That conclusion, however, has angered Fullerton pilots and airport officials. See http://tinyurl.com/wxhup

A FEW ITEMS FROM EUGENE, OR, STATEWIDE EAS

FREQUENCY COORDINATION
& OTHER STUFF

YUMA, AZ FIRST TO COMPLETE NEXTEL 2 GHz RELOCATION

Sprint/Nextel announced recently that Yuma, AZ is the first market to transition its Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) spectrum under the FCC-mandated 2 GHz relocation. Broadcasters in the market are now operating on new digital equipment and within their new channel assignments. Sprint Nextel will use a portion of the band BAS licensees are vacating as part of the relocation project for commercial mobile radio services after BAS relocation is completed. The move has made live shots easy and extended options for transmitting locations. Of course Yuma is a pretty small market, but hey, it’s a start!

Sprint/Nextel also announced that 100% of the stations in the West region have submitted their equipment inventories. Verification inventories are in progress, although they too, should be substantially done by now.

WIRELESS MICS CROPPING UP EVERYWHERE

With shrinking spectrum and higher demand for wireless microphones putting more pressure vendors and users to find suitable frequencies, we seem to be hearing about new systems popping up in some really strange places. The FCC recently fined a company for selling wireless microphones that operated in the 109- 120 MHz Aviation band. Available on eBay, these were obviously not Type Accepted.. The FAA does not take kindly to someone at the local Comedy Club telling jokes in their spectrum. Doubt the pilots thought it was funny either! Of course the vast majority of the wireless mics sold are in the Broadcast Auxiliary band, and the users are neither licensed, nor eligible for licensing in that band.

FEBRUARY 2009 - WILL THE DTV TRANSITION DEADLINE STAND?

Talk in the industry has it that the new Democratically controlled Congress may "tinker" with the Digital Television transition. Although I’ve heard nothing about the final analog shut off date changing, at the rate we are going now, there may be a popular revolt. Most of the current discussion is centered around the DTV converter boxes and how consumers will utilize the $40 coupons that the Feds will dole out. How many, and who’s eligible, are contentious issues. Also, most in Congress agree that the billion dollars or so allotted for set top boxes is no where near adequate. Sales of new TV’s with integrated DTV tuners are at an all time high since the tuners became mandatory in sets 27" and above last July. Sets 13" and above will be required to have DTV tuners after March of next year. Industry sources say that late next year, or early 2008, will see the last of the CRT displays. Prices for the larger LCD’s and Plasma’s are falling rapidly, with several "Big Box" stores advertising deep discounts for this Christmas season.

As for me, I already have plans in motion for OPB to shut these big UHF DTV rigs off in February of 2009. The sooner the better, and we just hope they won’t need any new tubes before then. Switching back to VHF for DTV in Portland, Corvallis, and La Grande will save us a ton of money on electricity and maintenance costs. Instead of the present UHF 753 kW average power at KOPB-DT, it’s estimated we’ll need 21 kW to better than replicate the existing DTV, or current analog coverage. That interpolates down to a 2.2 kW solid state VHF transmitter.

HOW DID YOU WEATHER THE NOVEMBER STORMS?

All in all, OPB and Skyline Tower had a minimum of trouble over the course of the recent and unusual November storms. We did run Skyline on generator overnight during the height of the worst predicted wind events to be safe and avoid the unwelcome power glitch between mains and generator power.

OPB’s worst storm damage was a translator site near Port Oxford on the Oregon coast. We had reports that the TV translator was off the air. Expecting that it was an equipment failure, a replacement translator was taken to the site. What was found was that the transmit antenna system had been completely blown off of the structure! Last seen in a nearly inaccessible brush thicket on the steep side of a downhill slope. Replacement panel antennas are on their way. At this writing, service has yet to be restored.

Our site near La Grande on 7000’ Mt. Fanny had 18 trees blown down across the access road. It took the crew the better part of a day to clear the road using chain saws, winches, and the snow cat blade. When they finally arrived at the top of the hill, they measured 18 inches of new snow. Considering the type, age, and number, of exposed sites we have, our outages have been minimal after the 100 mph-plus winds of the last month.

If you have any good broadcast storm stories to share, please send them to Kent or me and we’ll include them in the next issue of the newsletter. Pictures are welcome too!

FAREWELL TO THE HARD COPY "WATER COOLED"

This is the last hard copy, paper version, of the Water Cooled newsletter. Next month you’ll be notified by E-mail of the availability online at the SBE124.org web site of the Water Cooled. We really hope for a fresh look with more current content. This of course will be less expensive, but most of all, it will be much less labor intensive.

A great big special "Thank YOU," is due Kent and Patti Randles for all of the hard work that they both have done over the years to put the newsletter to press. It was their volunteer time laying out, shuttling to and from the printer, labeling, and applying postage that brought the Water Cooled to your mailbox every month. Made possible by SBE members like you, Kent. Thank you!

PDX RADIO WAVES

Think the days of new FM "move-ins" are largely over? Think again. The FCC has just released the full text of their Report and Order regarding changes in the cities of license of AM and FM stations. In most cases, they can now be done as a one-step Minor-Change, rather than the cumbersome and time-consuming Rulemaking process. The primary caveats are that the "old" and "new" facilities be mutually-exclusive with each other, and that there be (in most cases) at least one station remaining that is still licensed to the old community. This could mean, for example, that a Class-C FM station remaining on the same frequency could move up to 174 miles as a Minor-Change. We expect there to be a flurry of these filings - perhaps hundreds of them - in the coming weeks and months.

While CE John White has indicated that he’s still tweaking on 1330 Kopf's new HD signal, it appears to be a good "test jig" for gauging the HD coverage of mid-powered Ames. KKPZ broadcasts with 5 kW, DA-1. Its Nautel NED system has good audio with a well balanced and nicely synchronized blend to HD. John indicated that 1640 KDBZ is expected to add HD next year. However, we found Kopf's HD coverage very disappointing on the west side of Portland. This is totally consistent with what we’ve observed with other AM HD stations along the west coast. It works "wonderfully"...until you go under the smallest overpasses, or drive in an urban area with overhead wires, or get beyond the 5 me/m contours. From what we’ve observed in the last two years, automotive AM HD in urban areas is annoying with 50 kW’ers, and may be useless with lesser powers.

With prices for pure copper recently hitting over $3.50 a pound, theft of this "precious" metal has become a national epidemic. These pages have reported the copper thefts from 1080 KFXX, KOIN-TV, and Larch Mountain. The same story is being repeated throughout the country. There have been many reports of job sites being stripped of all copper pipe and wiring, and even air conditioners disappearing. Last we checked, an ordinance had been proposed in Portland that would require scrap dealers to keep the materials for 12 days, while sellers would need to produce positive ID, a thumbprint, and a city-issued "peddlers" permit in order to sell to metal recyclers. Ironically, copper sales in the U.S. are declining - it’s the booming Chinese economy that’s driving the demand.

After many months on the block, 1600 KOHI St. Helens, OR has been sold for $195k. The buyer is Mountain Broadcasting, LLC, headed by VP/GM/Managing Mmbr Martin Rowe. The 1 kW station is a throwback to an earlier era, with a vintage tube-type Collins board and cart machines still plugging away. The new owners will be moving the tower, shortly.

National Public Radio has joined the NAB in asking the FCC to order a recall of all "overpowered" SIRIUS, XM and iPod FM modulators. NPR lab studies showed that 40% of these exceed the Part 15 limits. We found it an interesting (and pretty shocking) exercise to drive down I-5 tuned to 88.1. On average, we heard a new modulator every 30 seconds. Clearly, these could affect fringe reception of NCE stations on this frequency (i.e.: outside Eugene, Bend, and Florence).

Speaking of satellite radio, the persistent buzz is that XM and Sirius will merge within a year. With continuing huge losses and flattening subscribership, we’re not the least surprised.

The local Radio Shack stores we surveyed have noticed brisk sales of the new Accurian HD radio, especially during the recent sale during which they were going for under $100. They’re currently back up to $174.99 (after rebate), but one store indicated that they may be on special again before the holidays. The $100 price barrier has often been bandied about as the necessary tipping point for wide consumer acceptance. Early listening reports are that it is slightly inferior in sound to the Boston Acoustics Receptor HD, which is now retailing for $249.99 after rebate.

This month’s thinker: "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." (Yogi Berra)

JOBS

IN THE PORTLAND AREA

Job Description: Repair, maintain, update and install broadcast electronic equipment. Conceptualize and implement new system designs, maintain and update documentation, construction and on-going maintenance and calibration programs. Assist in the design, installation, emergency repair, preventative maintenance and technical operation of all equipment within the OPB system. Must have a very high level of technical expertise relative to equipment operation and maintenance procedures. Must be highly skilled with a very broad range of equipment types and theoretical disciplines. Must be tactful, maintain harmonious relationships with co-workers and deal with co-workers and the general public in a professional and competent manner. Must maintain technical competency.

Generally work will be done in a shop or studio environment. Work may be done at other locations such as transmitters or remote sites. Work varying shifts, including, evening, weekdays and holidays. Since the broadcast facilities is essentially a 24-hour/day operation, this person is required to report to work during inclement weather conditions and respond to emergencies. This position may also be required to be included in the on call rotation. Some equipment may expose employee to potentially dangerous high voltages and non-ionizing radiation levels. Must be able to lift equipment weighing up to 75 lbs. Must have a valid driver’s license or access to suitable transportation.

• Five years experience in Broadcast and/or IT maintenance engineering. preference will be given to a degree in Computers or Electrical Engineering.

• Must possess good oral and written communications skills as well as good interpersonal skills.

• Must be competent with Broadcast digital formats including Serial Digital, SD, HD, DVB/ASI, and digital file formats such as Mpeg 2.

• Must have a working knowledge of video and broadcast fundamentals including broadcast digital video and digital audio.

• Must understand digital video theory, digital video files formats, and digital video distribution.

• Must have a working knowledge of video editing fundamentals including at least 2 years of Avid non-linear editing systems.

• Must have at least 2 years of experience working in IP including local area networking, file handling and protocol management as it relates to the broadcast environment.

• Must have at least 2 years of experience working with Master Control Automation systems and content management systems.

• Must be familiar with both Mac and Microsoft operating systems, knowledge of technical design, construction, maintenance, and operations of the aforementioned system and the test equipment and tools used there-in.

• Must have a working knowledge of either AutoCAD or Visio used in the documentation of our facilities.

Send cover letter and resume to: Human Resources, Oregon Public Broadcasting, 7140 SW Macadam Avenue, Portland, OR 97219. Phone: 503-244-9900, Fax: 503-445-1859. Email: hr at opb dot org. Website: http://www.opb.org

Job Title: Shop Maintenance Engineer
Location: Wilsonville OR
Post Date: 11/29/2006
SBE Job #: 1129

Job Description: This is a Fulltime, non-exempt (eligible for overtime) position. Minimum requirements and primary job responsibilities for this position:

• Strong operational knowledge of key pieces of television equipment and signal systems on our mobile units, i.e. RTS Adam, Leitch Router, GVG Switcher, Sony Cameras, Yamaha and Soundcraft Mixers.
• Must have working knowledge of data, audio, analog and digital video signals.
• HD experience a plus.
• Must have strong computer skills in Windows XP and DOS.
• Must have electronics and mechanical work experience.
• As a support engineer the Maintenance Engineer may be required to fill in as a backup E2 (second engineer in the field) which may require travel outside the Portland area for an extended period of time.
• Must be able to climb ladders and lift up to 75 pounds.
• Must be able to maintain a professional attitude under critical time deadlines with staff, venders and clients.
• Must possess a valid passport and drivers license.
• Other duties as assigned.

IN OREGON

Job Title: Television Broadcast Engineer
Location: Bend, OR
Post Date: 11/14/2006
SBE Job #: 1105

Job Description: This is an entry-level position, or possibly your retirement job. Bend is a year-round resort area with skiing, hiking, canoeing, hunting and fishing among the recreational opportunities close at hand.

A two-year degree in electronics (AAS or equivalent) and solid Information Technology skills are required. Please respond with details on your areas of expertise within the field of television engineering. You will need the ability to climb ladders and lift up to 70 lbs. This is a full-time position with paid vacation, insurance and 401k benefits.

IN WASHINGTON

Job Title: TV/Radio RF Broadcast Engineer
Location: Spokane, WA
Post Date: 10/17/2006
SBE Job#: 1052
Job Description: Radio/Television RF maintenance duties including television and radio transmitter, microwave, tower, and wireless equipment. Some studio equipment repair.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Associate of Science in electronics and/or computer study
* Experience in RF-related industry desired
* Computer systems knowledge a plus
* Physically fit – low level tower climbing involved
* Valid driver’s license/good driving record
* Non-smoker

ALL U.S.

Job Title: Radio Chief Engineer
Location: USA
Post Date: 9/14/2006
SBE Job #: 973

Job Description:
We are now accepting resumes for potential future openings. Knowledge of RF, IT and audio required. AM DA experience desired.

SEARCH TIPS, JOB LISTS, SBE AND OTHERWISE

OREGON EAS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

All the broadcast stations in Oregon, and the Washington stations that are part of Oregon EAS Operational Areas, are listed at http://www.sbe124.org/or_eas/Oregon_EAS_Monitoring_Assignments.html. We note which stations are ready for the "CAE" Child Abduction Emergency or Amber Alerts.

The Oregon State Relay (Oregon Public Broadcasting) is now ready for the EAS CAE event code, so we won't be seeing any "CEM" (Civil Emergency Message) alerts for Amber Alerts again.

RESUME SERVICE GOES ON-LINE

The SBE Resume Service is now online at http://www.sbe.org/sbe_resume_service.htm ! With increased visibility and ease of use, the Resume Service is the perfect companion to JobsOnline for SBE members searching for new positions and for employers searching for the right candidates.

At no cost, SBE members complete a questionnaire and send the national office copies of their resumes. This information is used to compile an anonymous profile that is posted (not the resume) on the SBE website for employers to browse. Employers interested in one or more profiles will contact the national office and pay a small fee to access the actual resumes.

Only SBE Members may use this service and any broadcast related employer may participate. For more information Contact Angel D. Bates at abates at sbe.org, 317-846-9000 or go to http://www.sbe.org.

E-MAIL LISTS

There are three Oregon e-mail lists you may be interested in: SBE-PDX, which distributes the unabridged e-mail version of this newsletter plus other news and announcements; EAS-OR, for announcements, news, and help on EAS-related topics; and OR-ENG for everything else that interests broadcast engineers, including frequency coordination.

If you have World Wide Web access, you can use it any time to unsubscribe from the lists, to switch to and from digest mode, to check back issues of the list (which will be available after the list has been getting posts for a day or so), etc. The Web addresses for these resources are:

If you do not have WWW access, you can do these same things via email. Send mail to "list name"-request at broadcast.net" (without the quotes and with an "@" instead of "at") with the subject or body containing just the word "help" (also without the quotes). You will receive an automated reply giving you further directions. Or, just send an e-mail message to kent at randles.com, who moderates these three Oregon lists.

CERTIFICATION

The Society of Broadcast Engineers offers a program of certification for broadcast engineers ranging from the entry-level Broadcast Technologist to the 20-plus-years-of-experience-needed Professional Broadcast Engineer. The program includes certification for Audio and Video Engineers, and Broadcast Network Technologist which does not include any RF related questions.

SBE Certification provides recognition of your experience and knowledge in the field of broadcast engineering. It also shows others that you have made a serious commitment to stay current with new technology, regulations, and practices. Application and test dates are listed below in the calendar section of this newsletter.

For more information, contact Chapter 124 Certification Chair Eric Margeson W7OSN CPBE at 503-464-0860 or e-mail certification at sbe124.org.

SBE MEMBERSHIP

WHAT IS SBE?

The Society of Broadcast Engineers, formed in 1963, is a non-profit organization serving the interests of Broadcast Engineers. We are the only society devoted to the advancement of all levels of Broadcast engineering.

WHO ARE MEMBERS OF SBE?

Membership, international in scope, consists of studio and transmitter operators and technicians, supervisors, announcer-technicians, chief engineers of commercial and educational stations , engineering vice presidents, consultants, field and sales engineers. Also, broadcast engineers from recording studios, schools, CCTV and CATV, production houses, corporate audio-visual departments, and other facilities.

HERE'S WHAT SBE MEMBERSHIP CAN DO FOR YOU

All this adds up to keeping you at the top of your field, enhancing your value to your employer, or if you are self-employed, keeping you prepared to meet the changing needs of your clients.

MEMBER SERVICES

COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR PEERS

Each member receives "The SBE SIGNAL", a quarterly publication providing news about SBE members and activities, technical issues and FCC filings of the Society.

Most SBE Members live near one of the more than 100 SBE Chapters located throughout the United States and abroad. Attending regular Chapter meetings keeps you up to date on the latest technology, while you establish a new network of friends within the local broadcast engineering community.

Members can utilize informational and job listing services by using the SBE Web Site http://www.sbe.org.

HAM RADIO

As you may have noticed, many of us are Amateur Radio Operators. The Skyline Amateur Radio Club, run by W7EEH and KD7DNM, has three linked repeaters in northwestern Oregon. You can see the frequencies, PL's, and coverage maps at http://www.w7dtv.us/ plus look at the pictures of our annual Field Day operating event. Note that the TV monitor in the upper left hand corner is the link to the menu.

SBE Chapter of the Air, 0000 GMT, second Sunday of the month. Hal Hostetler WA7BGX in Tucson, AZ is Net Control. The published frequency is 14.205 MHz. Occasionally, that frequency is busy and you may need to move up (no more than 10 kHz) to find the SBE meeting.

FYI

The SBE Chapter 124 Water Cooled Newsletter is published monthly. An unabridged e-mail text version of this newsletter is available, and goes out to over 260 more people (get on the SBE-PDX list at http://www.broadcast.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe-pdx). The last couple years' newsletters are available here on the Chapter web site, http://www.sbe124.org/newsletters . Articles, news items, anecdotes, calendar events, stuff for sale/trade/free, jobs wanted/open, etc. gladly accepted. Fax to 503-777-0747, e-mail to watercooled at sbe124 dot org, or mail to Kent Randles, PO Box 1727, Portland, OR 97207-1727.

ON THE CALENDAR

December 4 (Wednesday) Monthly Eugene SBE Chapter 76 meeting, 11:30 AM. See http://www.sbe76.org .

December 10 (Sunday) SBE Chapter of the Air, 0000 GMT, second Sunday of the month. Hal Hostetler WA7BGX in Tucson, AZ is Net Control. The published frequency is 14.205 MHz. Occasionally, that frequency is busy and you may need to move up (no more than 10 kHz) to find the SBE meeting.

December 29 (Friday) Deadline to apply for taking an SBE Certification exam during the February local test "window."

February 17, 2007 (Saturday) Salem Repeater Association's Salem Hamfair, better known as "Rickreall." Polk County Fairgrounds, in Rickreall, west of Salem where highways 99W and 22 cross. Doors open 9 AM, and it's $8 at the door, or $7 in advance and you don't have to stand in the rain. See http://www.qsl.net/w7sra/ .

SBE NATIONAL
9102 North Meridian Street, Suite 150
Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone: 317-846-9000
Fax: 317-846-9120
http://www.sbe.org

FREQUENCY COORDINATION

For southwestern Washington and ALL of Oregon: >1 GHz call Everett "Ed" Helm W7EEH at 503-977-7752, fax 503 293-4877, or e-mail microwave at sbe124.org; <1 GHz call Mike Steiner KD6LVP at 503-235-8517, fax 503-231-4624, or e-mail under1gig at sbe124.org.

MONTHLY SBE LUNCH IN PORTLAND

At noon on the second Tuesday of every month, broadcast engineers in Portland meet at The Buffalo Gap Saloon & Eatery, 6835 SW Macadam (at SW California), 503-244-7111. After their lot fills up, you'll be searching the narrow streets for blocks around for a space, so get there early. For more information see http://www.thebuffalogap.com . For directions, go to http://www.sbe124.org/SBE124_maps.html. For chapter information call Everett "Ed" Helm at 503-977-7752, or e-mail chairman at sbe124.org. As usual, everyone, member or not, is welcome to attend.

Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 124 - Portland & Salem Oregon, Vancouver, Washington

Newsletter

December, 2006

Editor/Webmaster: Kent Randles K7YXZ - watercooled at sbe124.org