Carl Cordes

Comment period has been extended to March 1, 2010 primarily due to recent inclement weather.

In case you have been procrastinating like the FCC and have 700MHz gear eligible for a trade-in rebate time is running out to cash in. Audio Technica and Electro-Voice trade-in programs have expired. Sennheiser - must purchase by December 1st and send 700MHz gear/proof of purchase UPC by December 15th. Shure - must purchase by December 31st and send 700MHz gear/proof of purchase UPC by January 31, 2010. The FCC, in their infinite wisdom, has yet to move on the proposed order and rule making to set a date certain for Part 74 devices to vacate 698-806MHz. Verizon, on the other hand, has been sending form letters to venues telling them they have interfered with services and to cease operation immediately. Since by their own filings with the FCC they have only done limited testing in Seattle and Boston and "will launch commercial service using LTE technology in the 700 MHz band in 30 cities in mid-year 2010..." their claims of interference are premature.

Another experimental license has been approved for White Space testing. "· WF2XBT MICROSOFT CORPORATION 0170-EX-PL-2009 New experimental to operate in 174 – 216 MHz, 512 – 608 MHz and 614 – 698 MHz to conduct research and experimentation regarding use of the television broadcast bands (the white spaces). Fixed & Mobile Redmond (King), WA" The preliminary FCC agenda for October does not include discussion or action on 08-166 which proposes the ban of Part 74 devices, including wirelss mics, from 698 to 806MHz. Public Safety has implented operations in some regions. (763-775 and 793-805MHz) Verizon, one of the most vociferous spectrum owners urging the FCC to set a date for eliminating Part 74 users, plans to have operations in 20 to 40 locations by mid 2010 with testing beginning in a few months. And QualComm contiues to add cities to its Media Flo operations on Channel 55 (716-722MHz) nationwide. Probably over 100 loctions now.

716 to 722, Channel 55, is owned by QualComm nation-wide. They bought the license in an earlier auction a couple years ago. Before the transistion date they were operating in 40 cities. They had another 20 transmitters ready to turn on February 18, 2009. Not sure how many more they prepped between then and June 12. End of year total is expected to be over 80. The service is Media Flo for Verizon and ATT. And it will be marketed direct to the public soon as Flo TV, I presume for users of other cell carriers. The signal appears very similar to a DTV signal - one large square wave from the beginning of the channel to the end. The significant difference is the abscence of the leading spike noticable on most DTV signals. As will DTV, if it is close enough and strong enough you will not be able to use wireless in that channel. Note that the FCC still has not set a date for all Part 74 devices (which includes wireless mics/IFB) to vacate 698-806MHz. Verizon, Public Saftey groups and other owners of the spectrum along with microphone manufacturers call on the FCC weekly to announce a date to the public. It was not on the draft agenda for July 2. Verizon has joined other 700MHz band owners asking to have Part 74 users out no later than February 18, 2010. They would have preferred June 12, 2009. Verizon will begin testing new services in multiple cities the first quarter of 2010 with anticipation of going live by the end of 2nd quarter. Some public service use has already begun in parts of their new spectrum, too (763-775MHz and 793-805MHz). edit- corrected typo

Jeff, Missed you at NAB. Did you make it to the booth when I wasn't there? I'm flying out Thursday afternoon. Carl

Telex has invited me to hang out in their booth C7025 to give our perspective on the changes taking place and those yet to come. I am scheduled to be there 11-4 Mon-Tue-Wed. If you are in the hall, stop by and say hi.

The three microphone holder was made exclusively for the White House Communications Agency. There was an indoor version for standard SM57 windscreens and outdoor verstion for the large mic enveloping windscreens. Yes they were bulky, but still the best mic for what neded to be done regardless of wheather, power or SPL. Made of metal with nylon inserts to hold mic body. Similar construction to the A26M dual mount. Yes, it was two side by side and one top middle forming a triagle. Why 3? One direct mic for Presidential Archive recording and PA, one backup and one direct press feed (with on/off control). There was also a side by side dual mount for indoor and one for outdoor that was somewhat exclusive, too. Off stage announce uses the over/under dual mount A26M. To my knowledge, Shure never marketed the triple holders to the public. You may or may not be able to call them and request it. But your typical sales person on the phone is going to say it does not exist.

It was probably just a ploy to give more work to lawyers! Anyway, the Commission has also been petitioned by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). Two petitions have been filed with the Federal Court of Appeals (if you go to the courts you can not simultaneously petition the FCC as Shure, SBE and NCTA did) DC Court of Appeals: Association for Maximum Service Television (MAST) and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed joint petition to hold unlawful, vacate and set aside the FCC decision allowing the devices. Second Circuit Court of Appeals New York: ESPN and on/off Broadway theater owners/producers argue that the commission exceeded its authority and that its order permitting white space devices was " arbitrary, capricious, abuse of discretion" unsupported by substantial evidence or otherwise contrary to law. The FCC has asked the Court(s) to hold off on hearing the petitions until after it considers the petitions for change submitted to the commission. Yet to be addressed (publicly) by the commission is the solicitation to manage the geolocator database which is a significant component to the ruling. Probably still another 6 to 8 months before the googleites have a device to submit for certification. If someone was really close, I would suspect the court petitions would have included injunctive clauses (or more prominently if they are listed deep in the filing), as well. So stock up on popcorn and diet soda. We're going to be here a while.

We have sold the Helical to New Zealand and Australia customers and shipping was expensive but not that much! I have often wondered what Shure dealers in other countries were charging for our antenna.

Here's my antenna placement practice. Let me preface it with results and circumstances vary based on constraints that may be beyond your control including but not limited to antenna cable lengths, transmit power, "the look", line of sight obstructions, space restrictions etc. For directional antennas such as Helicals or paddles I try to use the moving X pattern whenever possible. Assume a rectangle stage. One antenna is rear left corner aimed at front right corner and the other is rear right aimed at front left. Height of both is 7FT or more. The higher I can go the imaginary center of the antenna is aimed at a spot about five feet above that front corner. Aiming height will be different when mounting in truss or lighting grid. Around the center of the stage will be the intersection of the two RF pickups. Ideally, a transmitter in this spot 'X' would be picked up equally by both antennas. As you move left/right or front/back the 'X' moves. Now the pickup will favor one antenna or the other depending on the 'X' position. The antennas provide two unique "views" of the transmitter and maximizes the diversity function which is to avoid drop outs. Helicals and the A5000CP are circular polarized antennas. As such, when you have two side by side there will be more overlap of pickup patterns than with paddle antennas which are linear polarized. Imagine two circles moving toward each other versus two vertical lines moving toward each other. In our diversity scenario, in either instance you are moving toward the same 'view' of the transmitter and defeating any advantage that diveristy offers. The antennas are not 'fighting' each other but depending on the diversity switching method of your receiver it may sound or look like a battle with the internal relay changing rapidly between the two antennas and/or the antenna A/B LEDs flashing rapidly. If my placement width is restricted, I would still attempt whatever X pattern I could achieve. Assuming a four foot bar with antennas on each cross them to give that X in the middle of your desired pickup area. Again you take advantage of the moving X at the transmitter moves, If you aim both antennas straight ahead you will end up operating on only one antenna as the transmitter moves left or right and potentially experience a drop out. Omni antennas - the whips on the receivers or a dipole like the Lectrosonics SNA600 - have a pickup pattern like a doughnut. Most manuals tell you to position the whips at 90 degrees to each other. Imagine those doughnuts tilted at 90 degrees. See how they are picking up different in different planes? Both straight up would have a larger intersecting area. Now not to alarm anyone with receivers that have fixed whip antennas you can't move. That's okay. These receivers can also be looking at the time or phase difference of the received signal relative to each whip. But enough higher learning for one post. I hope I haven't confused anyone more than necessary. Any omissions are the fault of the author who is not a professor and has never played one on TV.

Just a few words to let you know I signed up and will check the pulse of RF discussions from time to time. I'm the General Manager for Professional Wireless Systems which was founded by James Stoffo. Most of you know us by our Helical antenna which Dan described as lookiong like "something out of Babylon 5" and others called it the "top hat". To my knowledge, the only two antennas on the market today for UHF utilizing circular polarization is our Helical and the Sennheiser A5000CP dome. A couple answers to questions or misquotes I have seen: 1. The Helical is a passive antenna, no power required. True for the A5000CP, also. 1a. For long runs (greater than 100FT of quality cable--not RG58), you might desire a line amp. 2. You can use it for recieve or transmit applications. 3. Shure does not license or make the Helical. They stock and distribute them. But every Helical is made right here in our Orlando Floirda shop. We sell direct, as well. If you have any questions feel free to call or write. In the meantime, I'll settle into the lower quadrant of the pond in alligator mode. Thanks