As the LBA Antenna Turns

LBA has partnered with Balboa Capital Corp. to provide lease financing plans for LBA Technology RF and test equipment resellers and customers.

Recognizing the needs of our customers for financing flexibility, LBA has made available leasing services from one of the preeminent business oriented finance groups in the US.  Balboa Capital is a national leader in equipment leasing and financing that was twice named to Inc. 500’s list of Fastest Growing Companies.

Featuring a fast application, approval, and funding process, the new leasing program applies to most higher value RF and test equipment.  Typical covered equipment includes LBA EMFaraCages®, antenna tuning systems, diplexers, directional antenna systems, Schomandl-Kathrein MSK-200 and MSK-125 digital TV analyzers, frequency generators, antenna analyzers and more.  The program is applicable to direct purchases, as well as purchases through our US dealer network.

For details and immediate application, Contact LBA!

LBA Technology is offering the top-of-the-line Kathrein MSK-200 TV Signal Analyzer for hands-on demonstrations at the following October events:

October 6-7 in Verona, NY at the SBE22 Broadcast Technology Expo presented by LBA Reseller Broadcasters General Store in booth# A18

October 13-15 in Madison, WI at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association “Broadcasters Clinic“, presented by LBA Reseller Broadcasters General Store.

October 14-16 in Alexandria, VA at the IEEE 2009 Broadcast Symposium http://www.ieee.org/organizations/society/bt/abs09/abs09program.html

October 14-15 in New York City at SATCON, presented by LBA Reseller Satellite Engineering Group in booth# 705 www.satconexpo.com

October 27-30 in Denver, CO at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, presenteed by LBA Reseller Mega Hertz Company in booth# 5065 http://expo.scte.org/

If you are in the area of these events, please stop by to experience yourself the quality and functionality of the Schomandl/Kathrein line of RF Test Instruments.

New and improved MSK-200 Analyzers have arrived!
(LBA Sales Executive Paulo Fernandes)

Since LBA introduced the Kathrein MSK-200 TV Signal Analyzer to the Americas last year, it has been enthusiastically welcomed by TV engineers. As an economical portable or fixed 6 ‘n 1 digital signal test solution it was without compare. And we have had extensive wish list feedback.

Now the German engineering wizards at Kathrein have added a whole galaxy of new features, as you requested, shipping immediately – Same old price!

• ATSC/8VSB analysis for new USA DTV signal standards
• MPEG-4 decoding and transport stream information
• Dolby AC-3 audio decoding/demodulation
• SMPTE-310 HD video analysis
• Automatic loop testing
• DVB-S2 satellite standard analysis capability
• Automatic channel scanning
• MER/BER/Signal-to-Noise automatic measurements
• And more…..

Here is an overview of the major new features and how they will make your engineering life easier. Please contact the LBA Helpline or your authorized dealer to order or for more information.

ATSC/8VSB Decoding:
The MSK-200 has recently been updated to support and analyze the new USA DTV ATSC signal standard as well as measure and analyze 8VSB sideband modulation in real time.  Broadcasters and Cable operators can now diagnose and repair issues in multi-path transmission.  In addition, the MSK-200 can scan and find transport stream information for this new standard and allow broadcasters to find issues in PID, PMT-PID, PCR, CA and elementary stream ID’s as well as decode video images and demodulate audio including Dolby AC-3.  This is essential for installing, maintaining and repairing our new DTV signal standards.

MPEG-4 Decoding and Viewing:
The MSK-200 has always supported MPEG-2 streams. Now it does MPEG-4 decoding! MPEG-4 is especially important as it is used for compressing different formats (audio/video/speech).  Key features of MPEG-4 are improved coding efficiency, robust transmission, enhanced bit rate usage and compressed services.  MPEG-4 is also playing a large role in new HD technologies such as blue-ray.  Now the MSK-200 can decode and view video and audio for picture and audio quality analysis.

Dolby AC-3 Audio Demodulation:
New digital audio formats can now be demodulated and listened to while viewing the image. The MSK-200 becomes a major aid in real-time transmission quality control.  The AC-3 audio format is prominent on HD TV and MPEG-4.

SMPTE-310 HD Analysis:
The MSK-200 now allows viewing and analysis of transport streams using SMPTE-310 for HD video.  It can display video and decode audio to measure HD streams and signals and provide transport stream information.

Automatic CATV Loop Testing:
This new feature will help Cable engineers to measure ingress from headend to subscriber for signal quality issues.  CATV systems need to test nodes for proper distribution of signals to customers and loop testing will allow for these measurements to be made and ensure functionality from headend to customer and provide RF information.

DVB-S2 Satellite Standard Monitoring:
The MSK-200 now supports the new generation of the older DVB-S broadcast standard for high definition via satellite.  This is especially helpful in transmitting HDTV satellite news gathering content back to the station.  When compression is added, DVB-S2 allows for MPEG-4 services to be delivered.  DVB-S2 performs about 30% better than the previous DVB-S standard.  Now you can analyze and monitor these streams in real time.

Automatic Channel Scanning:
Automatic channel scanning enhances a user’s ability to customize their own channel plan in the MSK-200 for quick access to each carrier, channel and frequency of interest.  Users can program modulation symbol rates, frequencies, associated channels, satellites and transponders, so each can be accessed quickly eliminating the need for repetitive manual parameter entry. This is a real time saver- even better, you can download and select multiple channel programs!

MER/BER/Signal-to-Noise Automatic Measurements:
Now signal quality measurements are automatically displayed during measurements to show MER, BER Pre and Post Viterbi and Signal-to-Noise levels.  This allows for users to monitor essential quality levels while making using most measurements in the MSK-200.

LBA Technology’s presentation of Kathrein / Schomandl RF Test Instrumentation generates overwhelming interest from South American visitors at the LABS’09 (Latin American Broadcast Show) going on now in Miami, FL. The MSK-200 TV signal analyzer can be seen in the center of the photo above.

LBA’s latest Authorized RF Instrument Reseller, 305 Broadcast, was also on hand promoting our products. 305 Broadcast’s President, Mr. Alfonso O Lopez and part of his sales staff preparing to engage eager visitors.

Instruments on display include:
MSK-200 TV Signal Analyzer, 3024 Power Monitor, FIT-70 In-Line Wattmeter, SafeOne Personal RF Safety Monitor. Click here for more info.

LBA Technology’s sales representatives, Javier Castillo & Paulo Fernandes waiting for the crowds.

Geographically isolated and local community analog TV watchers soon can see their favorite shows in high-definition television. The Federal Communications Commission has issued a public notice on how low power television stations can go digital, beginning in rural areas not served by full-power stations.

Though most of the American viewing public switched to DTV in June, TV translator and low power stations were temporarily exempted from the mandated analog ban. Those stations were to be given the eventual choice of switching over to digital broadcast, starting up a companion digital station, or becoming a TV translator station for a full-power digital broadcaster.

Decision time for the stations now looms, probably much to the delight of their long-suffering viewers eager to see if high-definition TV is all it is cracked up to be. Beginning Aug. 25, three kinds of applications will be accepted by the FCC:

(1) new digital-only LPTV and TV translator stations in rural areas;
(2) changes to analog and digital LPTV and TV translator stations in those areas;
(3) digital companion channels for existing analog LPTV stations.

Five months later – on Jan. 25 – the FCC will open a first-come, first-served application period for low power and TV translator stations located outside rural areas. Some of the station applications must be accompanied by a filing fee of $705 – wouldn’t you love to know how a bureaucrat arrived at that figure? – and all must be filed electronically using FCC form 346. Please note that this application schedule doesn’t preclude LPTV, TV translator and Class A analog stations from switching over to digital on an earlier schedule. In fact, the FCC is encouraging the stations to perform flash-cuts to digital any time.

The transition is not expected to occur without some awkward moments, including displacement. We’ll take this opening to plug LBA Technology’s lineup of Kathrein-Schomandl DTV test equipment, which can solve some of these anticipated problems and prevent future ones. For more information on these stellar testing devices, check out the MSK-200 TV analyzer.

Along with procedures for filing the applications, commissioners published a list of cities and geographical coordinates that rural digital LPTV and TV translator station applicants must use in siting their antennas. We hasten to suggest that local AM stations can provide a convenient tower for some of these LPTV and translator antennas. Lawrence  Behr Associates is an expert source of AM collocation solutions. Read more about it at http://www.lbagroup.com/associates/wiream.php.

Please join LBA Technology in Miami, Florida for this year’s LABS’09 event at the Hyatt Regency Downtown, July 9th and 10th. LBA will display, in booth# 307, not only our time-tested AM Antenna System products and solutions, but also a full line of RF Test & Measuring instruments from world renowned Kathrein & Schomandl.

Demonstrations will be available on:

MSK-200 Universal TV Signal Analyzer, a top-quality DTV & MPEG-2/4 instrument
FIT-70 In-Line Wattmeter with removable RF heads
3024 RF Power Monitor with remote monitoring over Ethernet connection
SafeOne® Personal RF Safety Monitor, alerts to hazardous RF for 50% less than competition

The MSK-200 Digital Transport Stream antenna monitor is just the ticket for adjusting and maintaining multiple transmitter DTV systems as recently authorized by the FCC. A host of timing, synchronization, and quality aspects can be assessed by the portable, but very sophisticated Kathrein DTV monitor. Read more about the MSK-200 in our blog “Hear no RF Evil, See No RF Evil”.

Exciting things are happening for LBA Technology test equipment solutions customers!

German RF equipment manufacturer Kathrein and subsidiary Schomandl will exclusively distribute its radio frequency test equipment, including devices for digital TV, radio, wireless, CATV, satellite and laboratory use, through the RF systems expertise of LBA Technology, throughout the western hemisphere.

Kathrein test equipment joins a lineup that includes LBA’s noted EMFaracage™ shielded enclosures, Tomco vector impedance analyzers, and Comet and Jennings components.

The primary sales contact for Kathrein equipment is LBA Account Executive Paolo Fernandes. He can be reached at 252-757-0279 or pfernandes@lbagroup.com. Information on all instruments currently available through LBA can be found at: www.lbagroup.com/test-equipment. Sales are being supported in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Representative inquiries are welcome.

SafeOne™ Personal RF Monitor

Among the products distributed by LBA is the SafeOne™ Personal RF Monitor. This economical, wearable personal alarm warns tower climbers, technicians, and other personnel working around “hot” antennas of RF hazards.

MSK-200 Digital Transport Stream Monitor

An exciting new instrument is the MSK-200 Digital Transport Stream Monitor. Designed to analyze digital and analogue RF systems, it is a high performance, portable unit that combines a range of terrestrial TV, CATV, and satellite test equipment functions into one unit. It can test RF signals through antennas, cable transport, and over-air transmission while handling most conventional formats such as DVB-T, DVB-S, DVB-C, AM, FM and ATSC.

SG-1000 Signal Generator

For test laboratory, medical MRI, and other research applications, LBA now offers an array of ultra-stable frequency synthesizers, RF signal generators, and frequency standards. These Schomandl units are known for their extreme spectral purity, broad-frequency capabilities, user-friendly operation, and versatile remote control and system-interface features.