Happy Holidays everyone. We are about to turn the corner on a new year, and I'm optimistic for what lies ahead. In the new year, the SBE will continue to develop more educational opportunities for our members, with the plans already being laid for the NAB Show among other events. Our widely recognized Certification Program continues to keep up with new technologies. We'll launch the updated station self-inspection guidelines for broadcast inspections. There's plenty more in the works as the SBE continues to identify ways to better serve you, the SBE member, and broadcasting in general.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Reach me at [email protected].

Ted Hand, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, ATSC3, DRB

SBE President

Your Resolution for 2024:

Get SBE Certified

The SBE provides four convenient periods each year when SBE certification exams may be taken locally, proctored by local SBE chapters. The next exam period is in February. The deadline to apply to take an exam during this period is Jan. 3, 2024. The full 2024 exam schedule is at the end of this newsletter.

Make your resolution for 2023 now to become SBE certified. See your local SBE Certification chair and visit the SBE website for details.

Did You Update Your EAS Equipment?

In November 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing changes in the distribution and operation for improved EAS messages. As of Dec. 12, 2023, all EAS participants must be able to transmit EAS messages that are received in the IP-based Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) format, when available.

Equipment updates for Digital Alert Systems, Gorman-Redlich and Trilithic are already available. Because of a manufacturing delay, the FCC has allowed Sage Endec users until March 11, 2024, to make the update.

December SBE WEBxtra Discussed SBE Educational Opportunities

The SBE Ennes Workshop at the 2024 NAB Show and free Webinars by SBE were the focus

The December SBE WEBxtra streamed live on December 18. Our guest was Geary Morrill, CPBE, AMD, CBNE. The SBE offers many educational opportunities, including SBE Ennes Workshops and Webinars by SBE. Geary covered the details of the upcoming SBE Ennes Workshop that will be held at the 2024 NAB Show. The conversation also covered the available free Webinars by SBE, which are an easy way to earn SBE recertification points.

Watch the replay on the SBE YouTube Channel.

Mark the Dates for the 2024 SBE Leadership Development Course

The 2024 SBE Leadership Development Course is being planned for August 7 - 9, 2024. The location has yet to be determined. Mark your calendar now and add it to you budget to attend this respected and long-running education event.

SBE Ennes Workshop Returns to the NAB Show

Plans are proceeding for an SBE Ennes Workshop to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center's West Hall immediately preceding the 2024 NAB Show on Friday April 12 and Saturday April 13. The SBE is working with the NAB to present the Workshop this year.

There will be two program tracks. The SBE will again present the RF 101 Bootcamp, designed to give those with a predominantly IT-oriented background the foundational information regarding transmission methods and equipment so that they can effectively function in these disciplines.

The second educational track, Media Over IP (MoIP) Essentials, will introduce the essentials of IP-delivered media, covering video and audio implementations. Individuals involved with non-broadcast media delivery, whether a house of worship, post-production facility or as an audio-visual professional will also benefit from grounding in the installation and maintenance of modern non-analog facilities.

The last portion of the Workshop will bring the tracks for a combined session on management skills: How to speak in terms of ROI, cost of acquisition and cost of ownership/operation, using language that owners, managers and financial colleagues understand, with a goal toward helping bring engineering back into the management team.

Once the registration page is available on the NAB Show website, there will be Training Only Registration of $259 which includes a free exhibits pass and access to the Broadcast Engineering and IT Conference opening session on Saturday morning, and a registration code for SBE members that offers a free exhibits pass or $150 off the NAB Show Conference pass.

The two-day workshop includes lunch breaks. More details and registration will be available on the SBE website.

Webinars by SBE Are the Ongoing Education You Need

Applied RF Basics - Module 3 - VHF/UHF Television Systems

January 18, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET

This is part three of the four-part Applied RF Series. Module 3 moves into the television spectrum to look at VHF/UHF broadcast. There will also be significant discussion on the RF portion of ATSC 3.0.

Instructors: Jeff Welton, CBRE, Nautel; Gary Cavell, Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc.

Spectrum Analysis and the Use of the Spectrum Analyzer in Radio Broadcasting

January 25, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET

The fundamentals of spectrum analysis and troubleshooting of systems will be covered, including operation of a spectrum analyzer.

Instructor: Greg Buchwald; Motorola

Applied RF Basics - Module 4 - UHF and Above - Microwave Systems and Satellite Systems

February 15, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET

The four-part Applied RF Series concludes with Module 4, which extends from megahertz to gigahertz. At these wavelengths, a drop of rain can act as an attenuator. What can be done to maximize reliability? How can redundancy be built in? What are the options for most improved performance?

Instructors: Jeff Welton, CBRE, Nautel; Gary Cavell, Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc.

Put an SBE Ennes Workshop on Your 2024 Calendar

2023 was a successful year for SBE Ennes Workshops, hosting workshops in El Paso, TX; Nashville, TN; Jekyll Island, GA; New York City and Overland Park, KS. The SBE also hosted a Workshop at the 2023 NAB Show. Start planning your 2024 Ennes Workshop today.

The SBE and the Ennes Educational Foundation Trust present a number of one-day educational programs for broadcast engineers, called SBE Ennes Workshops. These programs feature multiple topics and speakers that provide television and radio engineers with the "nut and bolts" information they need to do their jobs. An SBE Ennes Workshop can serve as a highlight of your chapter's program year.

Contact SBE Education Director Cathy Orosz at 317-846-9000 or [email protected] for more information and to schedule a Workshop in your area.