While I haven't tallied the number of transmitter companies exhibiting at NAB this year, walking through the exhibit halls, it seemed to me there were fewer high-power broadcast TV transmitters on display. Two of the largest TV transmitter manufacturers, Harris and Thomson/Grass Valley (formerly Thales) had a few TV transmitters in their North Hall exhibits, but they were somewhat hidden behind the wide range of non-RF products both companies were highlighting. Acrodyne Industries (AI) took over the Harris spot at the entrance to the Central Hall, and was showing its Quantum line of high-power transmitters. Nearby, Larcan was showing its wide range of low- to high-power solid-state TV transmitters.
Continuing a trend noticed last year, most TV transmitter manufacturers, including Axcera and Rohde & Schwarz, showed lower power transmitters for mobile/handheld TV services based on DMB-T, DVB-H and MediaFLO technologies. Similar transmitters were shown for U.S. broadcasters to use when they flash cut existing analog low-power TV and translator stations to digital or begin broadcasting on new digital companion channels.
I'll have more on the transmitters at NAB2007 in my June RF Technology column.
