The Society of Broadcast Engineers

The Association for Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Professionals

RF Multipath

March 21, 2024

A two-part Series

Part 1

Originally streamed March 21, 2024
Part 1 delves into the intricacies of RF multipath, exploring its impact on both fixed and mobile broadcast reception, and its implications for point-to-point microwave systems.  As part of the webinar, we’ll dissect the various multipath culprits, including signal propagation conditions such as reflections from buildings, terrain and water.  Atmospheric multipath such as ionospheric (skywave) propagation and tropospheric ducting are included.  Techniques for reducing multipath reception are presented and digital transmission techniques that are designed to correct for symbol interference effects, such as differences in coding and modulation, symbol rate, spectrum spreading and forward error correction.

Instructors: John Kean, Gary Cavell, Jeff Welton

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Part 2

Originally streamed June 13, 2024
The webinar focusses on signal multipath, starting with what it is and how it occurs in RF signal paths.  Different types of multipath are explored, such as ground reflection, reflections from structures in built-up areas, and atmospheric refraction.  The statistics of fading and multipath time variability are explained and audio samples will be played. Finally, antenna diversity, digital modulation techniques and error correction to combat multipath are covered.

Instructors: John Kean, Gary Cavell

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Instructors

John Kean, Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc./Capitol Airspace Group

John KeanAs a member of Cavell Mertz and Associates (now part of Capitol Airspace Group), John applies 40 years of experience in television and radio technology. He was Senior Technologist at National Public Radio until retirement in 2015, directing network projects and technical studies at NPR Labs as well as support for FCC filings.

John started in radio as chief engineer at KBZT FM in San Diego, leaving to join NPR in 1980. In 1986 he began consulting engineering with Jules Cohen and Associates, followed by Moffet Larson and Johnson in 1988. He returned to NPR in 2004 to help launch NPR Labs.

John is a recipient of Engineering Achievement Awards from both the NAB and the Association of Public Radio Engineers. He authored chapters of the NAB Engineering Handbook, editions 7, 8, 9 and 11, and remains active in the Audio Engineering Society and National Radio Systems Committee where he has chaired numerous committees. He holds a U.S. patent for an algorithm to determine digital broadcast radio coverage.

Gary CavellGary Cavell, Cavell Mertz & Associates, Inc./Capitol Airspace Group

A 40-plus year broadcast veteran, Gary Cavell is a recipient of the NAB Engineering Achievement Award for Radio, and the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society’s Award for Outstanding Broadcast Engineering.  He served as editor-in-chief for the 11th edition of the NAB Engineering Handbook and has published many articles on practical aspects of broadcasting over the years.

Gary has been a lecturer and faculty member of the NAB Educational Foundation’s Broadcast Leadership Training program, has been a lecturer for the NAB Broadcast Technology and Engineering Internship Program, the Voice of America’s/IBB US Technical Training Institute, and was a developer and co-presenter of RF Bootcamp sessions during several NAB conventions.

Gary is a member of several professional organizations including the SBE and is Life Member of both SMPTE and IEEE. He is a past president of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society.  Gary is a Certified Master Thermographer, holds a Drone Aircraft Pilot Certificate, an amateur radio Extra Class operator’s license, an FCC General Radiotelephone Operator’s License, and is an instrument-rated private pilot.

Jeff Welton, CBRE, Nautel

Jeff Welton took his training in the Radio College of Canada (RCC) Electronics Engineering Technologist program, finishing in 1985.  He has performed component-level repair, field installation and service, technical support and quality assurance roles with various companies and has been with Nautel for more than 26 years, the first 17 of which were spent in field service and technical support positions, as well as assisting engineering with design review of new products and improvement of existing systems. Since moving to sales in 2007, Jeff keeps finding ways to get his hands dirty and can frequently be found assisting in the install of a transmitter he’s sold, as well as performing site inspections and the occasional repair.

 

SBE Recertification Credit

The completion of a webinar from Webinars by SBE qualifies for 1 credit, identified under Category I of the Recertification Schedule for SBE Certifications.

Registration and Pricing

SBE Members: $62
MemberPlus Members: FREE
Non-Members: $92

 

Questions?

If you have questions regarding this course, contact Cathy Orosz via email or by phone at 317-846-9000.

More information about registering using the SBE MemberPlus benefit

All SBE webinars are included at no additional cost for members who upgrade or join using the SBE MemberPlus membership option. You get access to all archived SBE webinars and any new live webinars SBE presents, all for no extra cost.

Access to the SBE webinars through the SBE MemberPlus program is limited to the MemberPlus-purchaser only. You are not permitted to distribute, sell, copy, share, project or otherwise make the webinars available to any other individual or group without express written permission by the SBE.


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