Our Next Meeting

All Are Welcome at SBE Meetings;
SBE Membership is not Required

Meeting Date:

August 13, 2019 at 6:00 PM

Location:

Jetwave Wireless - Wisycom USA 5228 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 22304

Directions:

Jetwave Wireless is located about half a mile east of the Van Dorn Street Metrorail station on the Blue Line.  Note: Due to "platform reconstruction," WMATA has CLOSED this station with planned reopening September 8th.  (More here.) From the Washington Beltway (I-495), take Exit 173 (S. Van Dorn Street) toward Franconia.  Take your second right onto Eisenhower Avenue.  Jetwave Wireless will be on the right.  Free parking is available in front of the building. From Shirley Highway (I-395), take Exit 3A (Duke Street) East, toward Landmark.  Take a slight right onto the exit for S. Van Dorn Street.  After about a mile, turn left onto Eisenhower Avenue.  Jetwave Wireless will be on the right.  Free parking is available in front of the building.

Map: By Mapquest

DTV Repack - T-Mobile Plans for 600 MHz Band

Guest Speaker: Scott Hewitt

Presuming all goes according to the FCC's schedule, many television stations in Washington, DC and the northeast corridor will have transitioned to new broadcast channels just days prior to our timely August meeting.  UHF television channels 38-51 will soon be known as Band 71 and be licensed to T-Mobile and other winning auction bidders.  As the new stewards of this spectrum, T-Mobile has been aggressively deploying new systems soon after the spectrum becomes available. Guest speaker Scott Hewett of T-Mobile will provide an outline of T-Mobile's plans for this spectrum. 

Our meeting will be held at Jetwave Wireless, whose representatives will also provide context from the perspective of production wireless microphone equipment.  Wireless microphone use is now ubiquitous in video production, broadcast, film making, government, operations, corporate communications, sporting events, concerts, houses of worship, and national media events (inaugurations, press conferences, funerals, dignitary visits). So many of us in SMPTE, AES, and SBE served businesses will be affected and will now have responsibility to better coordinate, purchase new equipment, or modify what is already owned.

Contributing to National Spectrum Outreach programs within T-Mobile’s National Development organization, Scott Hewett’s primary focus has been clearing incumbent broadcasters being repacked following the 600MHz Broadcast Incentive Auction. Scott began his wireless career at Alan Dick & CO (UK), where he served as President and GM of ADC’s USA operations. Originally a manufacturer of broadcast antennas, Scott directed the conversion of the business to become a successful provider of base station antennas to wireless carriers. ADC USA became an early provider of cross-polar antenna technology, primarily to domestic (Andrew, now Commscope) and Japanese (Hitachi Cable) OEM partners.

Prior to joining T-Mobile, Scott served in several management roles at Cellular Specialties Inc. , a provider of in-building wireless (iDAS) gear to wireless carriers. Over different assignments, Scott held responsibility for repeaters, antennas, passive components, and active DAS conditioning (UDIT). He rebranded several products as ClearLink ™, to promote their passive low-intermodulation (PIM) features that help reduce unwanted noise during a cellular transmission. Scott later became VP Strategic Partners and a member of CSI’s senior staff. Scott a graduate of Purdue University and works from his office in Bedford, NH.

A bite to eat, kindly provided by our friends at T Mobile, will be served at 6:00 pm. We'll have a bit of SBE/AES/SMPTE business about 6:30 pm, and our presentation will follow shortly thereafter. We'll also be seeking nominations for new Chapter 37 board members so please bring your ideas.  The election will be held in September at the Annual Picnic.  If you think you can attend the August meeting, please register before NOON Monday August 12th by registering using Eventbrite (here) so we know to expect you!