Modulation Sciences (MSI) is reminding broadcasters that after the analog shutdown, many ENG and live sports operations will be without IFB. The PRO Channel will shut down along with its carrier, the analog channel. Use of wireless phones for IFB invites disaster, the company warned. Other technologies have been proposed, but they remain in the talking stage and have inherent disadvantages.
MSI notes that one of the lesser-known assets of the 2GHz BAS relocation is the creation of the data return link (DRL) service, which provides BAS users 40 narrow band channels in every market. The company has been investigating DRL for more than a year and holds an FCC experimental license for on-air DRL testing.
After much consideration and testing of narrow band FM on-air, MSI settled on a digital modulation that will allow up to four voice channels in each 25kHz channel of DRL. This means up to 160 channels of IFB per digital market. That's a sufficient number of channels to allow every BAS user to provide all of their remote on-air personnel with individual mix-minus feeds, even in the largest markets, MSI said.
DRL cannot be activated until the new 2GHz band plan goes into effect. Under the terms of the relocation, stations are converting to digital microwave with its attendant audio delay, so many are opting for Modulation Science's delay correcting PRO-3 system.
While this is a short-term solution, MSI said, the useful life of PRO Channel is limited by the analog shutdown. Recognizing both the short-term need for PRO Channel, as well as its impending obsolescence, MSI will offer all owners of its PRO-3 PRO Channel receivers a 40 percent discount on its forthcoming DRL Receiver.
The DRL equipment will be available six months before the analog shutdown, or one year after 25 percent of the market converts to the new 2GHz BAS band plan.
Modulation Sciences will soon feature a series of white papers about DRL on its Web site at: www.modsci.com.
