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Fixed and Portable Services
in Broadcast Microwave Bands
Broadcast Microwave
Presented By…Dan Ryson, Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc.
With Assistance and Photos From…Joe Snelson, Craig Strom, & Ray Benedict
SBE National Frequency Coordination Committee
Additional Photos Provided By…Cindy Cavell, Jeremy Lewis, Gary Nadler, & Mike Rhodes
Broadcast MicrowaveIntroduction
What is Broadcast Microwave? How broadcasters use BAS bands
Fixed point-to-point News coverage Sports coverage
Trends in equipment used by broadcasters Considerations in sharing 7 & 13 GHz SBE Frequency Coordinators
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Broadcast Microwave is:
A bit unusual Associated with broadcast licenses
Renewed with broadcast license Expiration concurrent with broadcast
license Originally administered by Media Bureau
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Types of Broadcast Microwave Stations
AS Aural Studio Transmitter LinkTI TV Intercity RelayTS TV Studio Transmitter LinkTP TV PickupAI Aural Intercity RelayCT Local Television TransmissionTT TV Translator RelayTB TV Microwave BoosterAB Aural Microwave Booster
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Types of Broadcast Microwave Stations
Aural Broadcast Auxiliary Stations Issued to AM, FM, LPFM, some FM translator, FM
booster, and TV stations. Aural studio transmitter link stations Aural broadcast intercity relay stations Aural broadcast microwave booster stations
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Types of Broadcast Microwave Stations
Television Broadcast Auxiliary Stations (§74.601) Issued to a TV, Class A TV, LPTV, or TV translator
stations and TV network entities. Television pickup stations TV studio transmitter link stations TV relay stations TV microwave booster stations TV translator relay stations
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Aural Broadcast STL Stations
Radio Service code “AS” Fixed stations for the transmission of aural
program material between the studio and the transmitter of a broadcasting station.
ULS universe: 10,800 or 42.9% (as of May 2012)
There are far more Aural STLs than any other BAS Radio Service.
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Aural Broadcast STL Stations (cont’d.)
Typically licensed by radio stations High Reliability Vital Previously coordinated by local (often SBE)
frequency coordination committees. Now coordinated using Part 101 and PCN
procedures
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Aural Broadcast Intercity Relay Stations
Radio Service code “AI” Fixed stations for the transmission of aural
program material to other radio stations, FM booster stations and FM translator stations, or other purposes per §74.531.
ULS universe: 6,419 or 25.5% (as of May 2012)
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Aural Intercity Relay Stations (cont’d)
Use same frequencies as Aural STLs Typically licensed by radio stations High reliability often required
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Aural Broadcast Microwave Booster Stations
Radio Service code “AB” A fixed station in the broadcast auxiliary
service that receives and amplifies signals of an aural broadcast STL or intercity relay station and retransmits them on the same frequency.
ULS universe: 7 or 0.03% (as of May 2012)
Same frequencies as Aural STL/ICRs
What is Broadcast Microwave?
TV Studio Transmitter Link Stations
Radio Service code “TS” Fixed station that transmits TV program
material and related communications from the studio to the transmitter of a TV, Class A or LPTV station or other purposes per §74.631.
ULS universe: 3,112 or 12.4% (as of May 2012)
There are more TV STLs than other TV services
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Television Pickup Stations
Radio Service code “TP” Land mobile stations for transmission of TV
program material and related communications from scenes of events to TV or LPTV stations or other purposes per §74.631.
ULS universe: 2,616 or 10.4% (as of May 2012)
Because they’re unusual, we’ll focus on TV Pickup Stations in today’s presentation.
What is Broadcast Microwave?
TV Relay Stations
Radio Service code “TI” Commonly known as “ICR” (InterCity Relay) A fixed station for transmission of TV program
material and related communications for use by TV, Class A or LPTV stations or other purposes as per §74.631.
ULS universe: 6,419 or 25.5% (as of May 2012)
What is Broadcast Microwave?
TV Microwave Booster Stations
Radio Service code “TM” A fixed station in the TV broadcast auxiliary
service that receives and amplifies signals of a TV pickup, TV STL, TV relay, or TV translator relay station and retransmits them on the same frequency.
ULS universe: 9 or 0.04% (as of May 2012)
What is Broadcast Microwave?
TV Translator Relay Stations
Radio Service code “TT” A fixed station used for relaying programs and
signals of TV broadcast or Class A TV stations to Class A TV, LPTV, TV translator, and to other communications facilities that the Commission may authorize or for other purposes as permitted by §74.631.
ULS universe: 574 or 2.3% (as of May 2012)
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Common Terms
BAS – Broadcast Auxiliary Service ENG – Electronic News Gathering ENG Truck – A vehicle (typically a van)
equipped with a mast, transmitter & antenna Portable – Temporary fixed links, sometimes
used on building rooftops or mountains and deployed from the trunk of a car.
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Common Terms
Mobile – Transmissions from a vehicle in motion or aircraft
Backhaul link – A fixed link used to transmit program material to the studio
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Broadcast Auxiliary Microwave Bands
Aural 944–952 MHz 18 GHz BAS band – 18.76 to 18.82 GHz and
19.10 to 19.16 (legacy)*
* Shared with other services
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Broadcast Auxiliary Microwave Bands
ENG, STL, ICR, Television Translator Relay 2 GHz BAS band – 2,025 to 2,110 MHz 2.5 GHz BAS band – 2,450 to 2,483.5 MHz* 7 GHz BAS band – 6875 to 7125 MHz* 13 GHz BAS band – 12.70 to 13.25 GHz* 18 GHz BAS band – 17.70 to 18.58 GHz and
19.26 to 19.70*
* Shared with other services
What is Broadcast Microwave?
Broadcast Auxiliary Microwave Bands
Mobile Only 6.5 GHz BAS band – 6,425 to 6,525 MHz*
* Shared with other services
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Studio Transmitter Link (STL) – Transmits program material from the studio to the main transmitter
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Intercity Relay (ICR) – Feed program material back to the studio such as:
TV Network programs from off-site satellite receivers
Remote news bureaus ENG receive sites Studio programming to
other TV stations
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports:
Camera back operation inside a stadium
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):
Television remotes such as parades and sporting events
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):
Multiple non-directional receive antennas were located throughout the NASCAR track.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):
Golf coverage is particularly challenging
This temporary transmitter site is for a multiple golf course event.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):
This is the temporary receive site for the same multi-course broadcast.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):
Some sports coverage requires Herculean effort.
This is 1 of 6 7GHz microwave relays from Mount Everest to Kathmandu, Nepal.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews:
Temporary, transmit equipment for live news coverage of the 2009 inauguration.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
Rooftop Receive Equipment for live news coverage of the 2009 inauguration.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
This is the WLS-TV, Chicago newsroom.
Journalists pick the news stories that deserve coverage.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
The WLS-TV Assignment Desk monitors and dispatches news crews
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
Based on the story and the location, the Assignment Desk may deploy an ENG truck.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
The ENG truck is equipped with AC and generator controls, UHF communications, a digital editor, and ENG/SNG modulators and power amplifiers.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
They may also deploy the WLS-TV helicopter, known as Chopper 7HD.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
ENG signals are received by a steerable antenna atop Willis Tower, the tallest building in the USA.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
From such a tall rooftop, one might think ENG coverage with low antennas wouldn’t be a challenge. Still, “bounce” shots are often necessary.
How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands
Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):
At the studio, Transmission is responsible for remote control of the Central Receive antennas.
BAS Microwave Equipment Trends
Lower Antenna Gain and Height.
Will-Burt “Night Scan” mast doesn’t require any interior vehicle space. Only extends ~15 ft.
BAS Microwave Equipment Trends
Combination of ENG and Satellite Technology.
In some cases, ENG is used for “first mile” and satellite is used to backhaul video to a distant city.
BAS Microwave Equipment Trends
Wireless Camera-back Transmitter
Often used for short “hop” to the ENG truck or in lieu of long cable runs in buildings.
BAS Microwave Equipment Trends
3G, 4G, WiFi, Microwave Combo
Claimed to go where ENG and satellite signals are impractical.
Shared with public, can be problematic.
Sharing 7 & 13 GHz – Possible Issues
Fixed and Mobile in the Same Band:
News crews are often in a rush to get to a news event and quickly establish video.
STLs must have high reliability – or broadcast stations go off the air.
Having these diametrically opposed needs within the same band can be problematic, even among fellow broadcasters.
New FCC Rules preclude FS in markets with 7 & 13 GHz ENG. It’s a good move.
SBE Frequency Coordination Most coordinators are unpaid volunteers Many are familiar with the nuances of
broadcasting and news – in their region. They typically do not assign frequencies Primarily a facilitator to provide contact and
predominant use information May not know precise, day-to-day usage by
every broadcaster in his region. There are a few incorporated coordination
committees
Fixed and Portable Servicesin Broadcast Microwave
Bands
Questions