Many of Albuquerque's TV stations had already shut down their analog signal by the time our meeting started. KNME Director of Engineering Jim Gale planned his station's shutdown for 12 noon so we could all witness one of the biggest changes in broadcasting history. As noon approached, Jim drew everyone's attention to TV set tuned to the station's analog signal. The last event scheduled before the shutdown was a 90 second history of KNME's 50 plus years on the air and a preview of the several DTV channels the station broadcasts that the production folks at KNME had put together. When it ended, KNME's analog transmitter was shutdown, the screen went snowy and we applauded TV's step into digital.
After some more eating, it was time to let Larry Bloomfield present this year's offerings from A Taste of NAB. The product offerings included the latest from Aja, ESE, Ensemble Designs, Henry Engineering and Wheatstone. There was a good amount of discussion about the various products and the changing state of our business. We wrapped up with the awarding of door prizes.
If you missed the meeting, Larry was good enough to post pictures on his website. Here's the link: www.tech-notes.tv/2009/14-Albuquerque.htm
Despite it being a very hectic day for many of us, we had a great turnout. I'm planning our next meeting for mid-August. Look for details soon on our chapter 34 website http://www.sbe34.org/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=SBE+Chapter+34
Thank you to Jim Gale and KNME for hosting this event. Thank you as well to Brad Hamlin and Burst Electronics for buying a great lunch. Finally, thank you to Larry Bloomfield and his "Road Show" associates, Shawn Wixted and Erik Thompson for bringing A Taste of NAB Road Show to Albuquerque.
Mike Snyder, CPBE, KB0MJW
SBE Chapter #34 Chairman
Assistant Chief Engineer
Citadel Broadcasting Company-ABQ
500 4th Street, NW-Fifth Floor
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-767-6763
mike.snyder@citcomm.com
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Roger