fixed and portable services in broadcast microwave bands

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


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



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



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


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.


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


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.



Aural Intercity Relay Stations (cont’d)

Use same frequencies as Aural STLs Typically licensed by radio stations High reliability often required


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


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.


There are more TV STLs than other TV services


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.


Because they’re unusual, we’ll focus on TV Pickup Stations in today’s presentation.


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.



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.



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.



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.


Common Terms

Mobile – Transmissions from a vehicle in motion or aircraft

Backhaul link – A fixed link used to transmit program material to the studio


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



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*




Mobile Only 6.5 GHz BAS band – 6,425 to 6,525 MHz*


How Broadcasters Use BAS Bands

Studio Transmitter Link (STL) – Transmits program material from the studio to the main transmitter


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


Television Pick-UpSports:

Camera back operation inside a stadium


Television Pick-UpSports (cont’d):

Television remotes such as parades and sporting events



Multiple non-directional receive antennas were located throughout the NASCAR track.



Golf coverage is particularly challenging

This temporary transmitter site is for a multiple golf course event.



This is the temporary receive site for the same multi-course broadcast.



Some sports coverage requires Herculean effort.

This is 1 of 6 7GHz microwave relays from Mount Everest to Kathmandu, Nepal.


Television Pick-UpNews:

Temporary, transmit equipment for live news coverage of the 2009 inauguration.


Television Pick-UpNews (cont’d):

Rooftop Receive Equipment for live news coverage of the 2009 inauguration.



This is the WLS-TV, Chicago newsroom.

Journalists pick the news stories that deserve coverage.



The WLS-TV Assignment Desk monitors and dispatches news crews



Based on the story and the location, the Assignment Desk may deploy an ENG truck.



The ENG truck is equipped with AC and generator controls, UHF communications, a digital editor, and ENG/SNG modulators and power amplifiers.



They may also deploy the WLS-TV helicopter, known as Chopper 7HD.



ENG signals are received by a steerable antenna atop Willis Tower, the tallest building in the USA.



From such a tall rooftop, one might think ENG coverage with low antennas wouldn’t be a challenge. Still, “bounce” shots are often necessary.



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.


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.


Wireless Camera-back Transmitter

Often used for short “hop” to the ENG truck or in lieu of long cable runs in buildings.


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

fixed and portable services in broadcast microwave bands

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