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Sunday, December 03, 2023

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Dr. Raphael Kiesel Takes Over as Senior Vice President of ARRI’s Business Unit Lighting

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:24:02 -0500

Dr. Raphael Kiesel takes over the management of ARRI’s lighting division on December 1, 2023. In this role, he is responsible for the entire business unit. Dr. Kiesel reports directly to Dr. Matthias Erb, Chairman of the Executive Board at ARRI.

Dr. Kiesel is currently responsible for global quality management at ARRI. In this role, he has refined quality management at the company. The focus of further development is on the structured transfer of customer requirements into the film technology company’s products and services.

Even before joining ARRI, Dr. Kiesel acquired a deep technical understanding combined with entrepreneurial thinking and international experience. He spent time abroad in the USA, France, and China. During his time as a research assistant and department head at the Fraunhofer Institute IPT and Machine Tool Laboratory (WZL) at RWTH Aachen University, he completed his doctorate in mechanical engineering. At the same time, he completed an MBA at the Collège des Ingénieurs in cooperation with Siemens.

Dr. Erb, Chairman of the ARRI Executive Board, remarks: “We are extremely pleased that we have been able to win Dr. Kiesel for this position. As the new head of the division, he will continue to drive the development of ARRI Lighting. I wish Raphael the best of luck and success in this exciting and challenging task.”

Rosenworcel Proposes Protections Against Video Service Junk Fees

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced a proposal to eliminate video service junk fee billing practices by cable operators and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service providers and study their impact on consumer choices. The proposal will be voted on during the December 13 Open Meeting.

“No one wants to pay junk fees for something they don’t want or can’t use. When companies charge customers early termination fees, it limits their freedom to choose the service they want,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “In an increasingly competitive media market, we should make it easier for Americans to use their purchasing power to promote innovation and expand competition within the industry.”

TV video service subscribers may terminate service for any number of reasons, including moving, financial hardship, or poor service. Early termination fees require subscribers to pay a fee for terminating a video services contract prior to its expiration date, making it costly for consumers to switch services during the contract term. Because these fees may have the effect of limiting consumer choice after a contract is enacted, it may negatively impact competition for services in the marketplace. Additionally, billing cycle fees require TV video service subscribers to pay for a complete billing cycle even if the subscriber terminates service prior to the end of that billing cycle. These fees penalize consumers for terminating service by requiring them to pay for services they choose not to receive.

Recently, the Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy encouraged the Commission to consider “prohibiting unjust or unreasonable early termination fees for end- user communication contracts; enabling consumers to more easily switch providers” in order to promote competition and lower prices. In addition to today’s proposal, the FCC is also implementing Broadband Consumer Labels and has proposed ‘all-in-pricing’ for cable and satellite services.

If adopted by a vote of the full Commission, this action, called a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, would propose to adopt customer service protections that prohibit cable operators and DBS service providers from imposing a fee for the early termination of a cable or DBS video service contract. And, propose to adopt customer service protections to require cable and DBS service providers to grant subscribers a prorated credit or rebate for the remaining whole days in a monthly or periodic billing cycle after the cancellation of service.

AJA Announces DRM2 Frame for AJA Mini-Converters

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:49:00 -0500

AJA Video Systems has announced DRM2, a rackmount frame that can house and power up to 12 AJA Mini-Converters of any kind, or up to 24 AJA FiDO Mini-Converters with a new optional DRM2 Y-Cable.

Featuring a 200-watt fanless power supply and sleek 3RU design, AJA DRM2 streamlines broadcast, production, and proAV workflows by enabling professionals to rack mount multiple AJA Mini-Converters for signal conversion needs.

The next generation of AJA’s DRM Mini-Converter rackframe, AJA DRM2 includes customer-requested features like a removable faceplate that allows quick access to the frame. Mini-Converters are mounted to small carriers, which are installed or taken out without removing the frame from the rack. 12 carriers are integrated and replacement carriers can be purchased individually or in a 12-pack. The frame’s power cable harness has 13x D5/10-PC connectors and plugs into a connector on the power supply frame, enabling the creation of custom cabling to power whatever users require. A DRM2-AP model includes an optional active faceplate featuring four fans for maximum cooling in higher ambient temperature environments, facilitating high density installation without heat soak concerns. 

“Power and space remain key considerations across facilities and mobile production environments as M&E and proAV technologies continue to evolve and workflows grow more complex. AJA DRM2 was designed with both taken into account, providing all the power and space needed to support up to any 12 AJA Mini-Converters,” shares AJA President Nick Rashby.

Available next month, AJA DRM2 ships with a standard passive faceplate and is $1295 US MSRP; DRM2-AP ships with an active cooling faceplate and is $1495 US MSRP. The new optional DRM2 Y-Cable is available for $45 US MSRP each. For more information, visit: www.aja.com/DRM2.

FCC Fines Three Pirate Radio Operators More Than $6 Million

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:42:03 -0500

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed fines against three pirate radio operators under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement Act (PIRATE Act). This includes pirate radio stations in the Bronx, Mount Vernon, and Brooklyn, New York that may face fines totaling $6,412,068.

Pirate radio is an unauthorized transmission of radio signals on the frequencies in or adjacent to the FM and AM radio bands. Pirate radio operations pose public safety risks, including causing harmful interference to licensed radio stations which transmit public safety emergency alert messages.

Operating a pirate radio station is illegal under the Communications Act of 1934 and subject to the FCC’s enhanced enforcement capabilities enacted by Congress in the PIRATE Act of 2020.Under the PIRATE Act, the FCC can fine pirate radio operators up to $115,802 per day and a maximum of $2,316,034. In addition to tougher fines on violators, the law requires the FCC to conduct periodic enforcement sweeps and grants the Commission authority to take enforcement action against landlords and property owners that willfully and knowingly permit pirate radio broadcasting on their properties.

Today, the Commission proposed the maximum penalty allowable under the PIRATE Act, $2,316,034, against Johnny Peralta for allegedly operating a pirate radio station known as La Mia Radio in the Bronx, New York, since 2018. A 2022-2023 New York Pirate Radio Sweep by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau confirmed that La Mia Radio continues to operate. The FCC also proposed a maximum fine against Dexter Blake for his suspected operation of a pirate radio station known as Linkage Radio in Mount Vernon, New York. Lastly, the FCC also proposed today a $1,780,000 fine against Matthew Bowen for 89 alleged violations of FCC rules for continued operation of a pirate radio station known as Triple9HD in Brooklyn, New York.

Within 30 calendar days of the release date of the NAL, the radio operators must pay the fine or file a written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed forfeiture. Unpaid fines will be referred to the Department of Justice for collection.

FCC Adopts Rules Modernizing Amateur Radio Service

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:21:18 -0500

WAPThe Federal Communications Commission has adopted new rules to incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur radio bands by removing outdated restrictions and providing licensees with the flexibility to use modern digital emissions.

The Report and Order adopted today eliminates the baud rate limitation—the rate at which the carrier waveform amplitude, frequency, and/or phase is varied to transmit information—in certain amateur radio bands. Instead, the Commission establishes a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limitation in the applicable amateur radio bands. The changes will enable the amateur radio community to operate more efficiently, including in support of emergency situations when appropriate, and foster experimentation, which is a core principle of the amateur radio service.

The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which proposes and seeks comment on the removal of the baud rate – sometimes called the symbol rate—limitation in the VHF and UHF bands and in the 2200 meter and 630 meter bands, which the Commission allocated for amateur radio use after it released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2016. It also seeks comment on the appropriate bandwidth limitation for the 2200 meter band, the 630 meter band, and the VHF/UHF bands.

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Daily Tech Term

Matrix

In communications systems, a matrix refers to an arrangement of potential connections designed to allow any two points to be connected through a switching system. A simple matrix switch would have just two inputs and two outputs, connected by the switch.

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Weekly Tech Tip

 

The ABCs of Multimeter Safety from Fluke

Where safety is a concern, choosing a multimeter is like choosing a motorcycle helmet, if you have a “ten dollar” head, choose a “ten dollar” helmet. If you value your head, get a quality helmet. The hazards of motorcycle riding are obvious, but what’s the issue with multimeters? As long as you choose a multimeter with a high enough voltage rating, aren’t you safe? Voltage is voltage, isn’t it?

Not exactly. Engineers who analyze multimeter safety often discover that failed units were subjected to a much higher voltage than the user thought he was measuring. There are the occasional accidents when the meter, rated for low voltage (1000 V or less), was used to measure medium voltage, such as 4160 V. Just as common, the knock-out blow had nothing to do with misuse - it was a momentary high-voltage spike or transient that hit the multimeter input without warning.

To protect you against transients, safety must be built into the test equipment. What performance specification should you look for, especially if you know that you could be working on high-energy circuits? The task of defining safety standards for test equipment is addressed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This organization develops international safety standards for electrical test equipment.

The good folks at Fluke have put together a truly informative and important guide on the subject. It describes in full detail the how's and why's of the subject and how to get the job done and stay safe every time. You can read the entire paper here.

Fluke Scopemeter 2Ch 200MHZ 2.5 GS/s CAT IV Rated Color - Americas

 

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