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Newsletter Issue 4

Inside this issue:

Comrex Comments

by Kris Bobo
Vice President, Comrex Corporation

I’m home!! It seems like a long time since I’ve been home. This summer I went to the SMPTE conference in Sydney, Australia, visited various networks in New Zealand, checked out the IBC show in Amsterdam and let’s not forget the NAB Radio show in Orlando. That’s just me. Other Comrex passports have become frayed and tattered with trips to China, Slovenia, Japan and even Syracuse, NY.

But it all pales in comparison to what YOU have been doing with our equipment! Comrex customers have been travelling extensively this year! We have heard many reports from US customers who have been to various Caribbean Islands and to the Far East, to the United Kingdom and to Germany. Vector and HotLine codecs have been globetrotting from eastern Europe to deliver news from Kosovo to New Zealand to cover early America’s Cup qualifiers. Comrex’s new Euro-Nexus has been working in France, Israel, Portugal, Croatia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong and has an equally full itinerary ahead.

It is impressive that you guys have been putting our gear to such widespread use and we’d love to report on your experiences in this newsletter. If you have a story you’d like to share, please give me a call or send an email to info@comrex.com.

Hurricane Floyd Floods Cumulus in Myrtle Beach

floyd3.jpg (8227 bytes)

Cumulus stations, WJXY FM (HOT93), WSEA FM (Pirate) and WJXY AM went off the air on the night of October 14th when Hurricane Floyd hit north Carolina. Chief engineer Eddie Harrell and his crew arrived early the next morning to find 5-6 feet of water in the Myrtle Beach studios.

A fortune in equipment was under water and the flood wasn’t receding. The stations were off the air indefinitely. "I frankly didn’t know what we were going to do," states Harrell.

The radio industry fosters resourcefulness, and the Cumulus crew exercised their ingenuity by pulling in extra engineers, Earl Welsh of Augusta GA and George Mimbs of Wilmington NC, who assisted Ed in building alternate studios in another facility. It took them a few days to get the three stations set up in the new site. The only snag was how to get the audio to the transmitter site. They happened to have a couple of HotLines on demo and decided that this was a viable option to get them on the air in a pinch. They called Harris for two more HotLines and ordered a couple of extra lines from the phone company. On the 18th, four days after the storm, they were back on the air on dial-up lines. Harrell states "It was a dream...I have never worked with a piece of equipment that you plug in and the thing works perfectly the first time out. I was very happy with the audio quality we got. They sounded very very good." The three stations stayed on the air for more than three weeks using the HotLines. Harrell raved, "We didn’t lose as much revenue as we could have. We did get a few calls asking why we were in mono, but no calls complaining about the quality. These boxes are worth their weight in gold." At the time of this article, WSEA Pirate had been able to move back into its main studio and they were hopeful that WJXY, HOT93 would be able to move back sometime in the next few days. What about the HotLines? Harrell says, "We’re keeping them. Harris is definitely NOT getting these back!"

We obviously did not design our POTS codecs to be studio-to-transmitter links, but even we have to admit that using a HotLine for an STL is way better than silence! We’re very proud that our equipment could help Cumulus stations get back on the air in this emergency situation.

Envoy ISDN Codec:   The New Kid in the Comrex Lineup

Envoy ISDN CodecThe Envoy ISDN Codec is a good example of a "customer driven" product. Shortly after the Vector POTS codec started shipping in September ‘98, we started hearing: "The Vector is great ... but now the producers et al are requesting the same package for ISDN." "Please, please, please ... make a version of the Nexus (ISDN codec) that has the same built-in mixer as the Vector ... put it in the same box and change the color or something ... tell me when you get done, so I can buy a few." Now, "a few" doesn’t drive any manufacturer to production, and there are certainly plenty of ISDN codecs on the market, so we’re not talking "breakthrough" new product. But similar requests kept on coming and we listen to our customers.

What they like about the Vector packaging is its completeness. They like the fact that mic mixer, headphone amps, PA feed, etc. are all combined into a 3.5 lb remote studio that can be set up in minutes by nontechnical people. This customer demand, motivated us to produce some beta units and send them around. KIIS-FM in Burbank, one of our first beta sites, came up with the name "Envoy." The beta testers provided some very useful input which convinced us to bring this product to market. The Envoy was introduced at the ‘99 Radio NAB and will ship before the end of the year.

Here are the Envoy details:

First, the Envoy delivers full fidelity, 15 kHz, low delay audio. Terminal Adapter and NT1 are built in for easy, direct connection to the ISDN line. The Envoy is also a 4-channel mixer with two channels switchable between mic and line level. There are three headphone feeds with adjustable mixes of local and return audio. The separate PA output provides complete control over the mix sent to the local audience, with the ability to selectively mute either the local or return audio (or both). The 4th input channel can be switched from program output to headphones for local cueing. There’s an internal peak limiter and LED VU meter. An ancillary data channel allows two way text messaging via computers. The Envoy will pre-store ISDN profiles along with a 39 number dialing directory. The features list continues with contact closures, last-number redial, and more. In short, the Envoy is a complete, compact remote ISDN studio that’s REALLY EASY TO USE!

For further information, use the attached reply card. For a 10-day trial, contact Comrex at 1-800-237-1776.

Vector at the America's Cup Races in Auckland, NZ

New ZealandNew Zealand Broadcasters, The Radio Network of New Zealand (TRN) have set up a portable studio right on the waterfront in the America’s Cup Village in Auckland, NZ. TRN, the biggest New Zealand radio network, are using the studio to host shows for their various stations around the country. The host has a control screen for his automation system, which allows him to play any necessary cuts, and a Comrex Vector POTS codec to return his audio, including interviews, back to his home station via dial-up phone line.

Because the portable studio is "permanent" and the stations using it change day by day, a rackmount Vector is used in the Cup Village studio and the portable Vectors are sent to the stations as required. When we visited Wellington, announcer Craig Stanaway was hosting his Saturday afternoon sports/music show over the 600km of plain old telephone line between Auckland and Wellington and keeping the listeners up to date on the activities of the competing yachts, with a perfect view across the water to the highly secure compounds of Abracadabra, America True, AmericaOne, Fast2000 etc. and, of course, Team New Zealand! The high quality and short processing delay of the Vector make it sound as if he has never left home and the simple set up of the Vector means that Craig and his colleagues from other stations don’t require any technical help.

Story provided by Geoff Durrant of Cobalt Technologies, Ltd., Comrex’ dealer in New Zealand

Ask the Codec Answer Guy

Codec Answer Guy

Back by popular demand, this month the Codec Answer Guy does dialing. For a complete list of the Answer Guy questions and answers, either give us a call or send us a completed reply card.

Q. I use my Nexus to do a talk show with a local radio station every Saturday. I want to do a show with a station at the other end of the state, but when we test the ISDN, I get a "Disconnecting" message every time I call them. They can dial me without problems. Help! Am I stuck being a local guy?

A. Not at all. Assuming there is intelligent life at the other end of your state, you should be able to communicate with it. You may not be signed up with a long-distance company for your ISDN line, or they might not have you set up correctly. We suggest going with one of the major companies for ISDN, as you stand a better chance of always getting your call through. If you are signed up already, call their data support numbers: AT&T (800-367-7956), MCI (800-283-6272), or Sprint (800-546-3282). If you use Fred’s Long Distance, be aware that Fred has ISDN tin cans, but is still using analog string.

Q. When I make a credit card call with my HotLine, how do I make it pause to wait for the "bong" or the message that tells me to enter the rest of the numbers?

A. Easy one. While entering the numbers, just use the QDIAL key to insert two-second pauses. You’ll see a comma on the screen for each of them. With the Vector, use the "Insert Pause" key next to the screen.

Q. OK, genius…when I start putting all those numbers and pauses into my Vector, I run out of space, and it won’t dial the whole thing!

A. Your timing is superb, as is your characterization of my intellect! We have brand new software for the Vector which allows up to 44 characters in the dialing sequence. Just contact Comrex Tech Support. A genius will help you. (And a genius is working on the same thing for the HotLine…)

Q. Our station will be doing three days of remotes in Outer Snorovia. Will our HotLine (or Vector) work from there?

A. First, try to get a direct outside line, if possible. If you must use a hotel phone system, ask questions about how well modems work on those lines. Second, check your manual for Country Code settings. If there isn’t a specific one for that country, try the North American version first, and then experiment if you have trouble getting dial tone or receiving calls. Third, realize that the greatest problems may be in calling in or out of the country. If Outer Snorovia is connected to the rest of the world by fiber-optic cable, you will probably do very well. Satellite, old microwave links or old undersea cable will give the greatest troubles. Be prepared to try different long distance companies, and dialing in both directions. Fourth, the Codec Answer Guy reminds you that they call it "Snorovia" because of sounds made by their sleepy telephone workers.

The Answer Guy is happy to respond to your questions. Send an email to answerguy@comrex.com or fax questions to 978-635-0401.

How Comrex Got Its Name

While searching through a dusty file cabinet on the 13th floor, looking for some wireless mike diagrams, we came across a yellowed file entitled, "Name for Company." Never having realized the depth of the research that went into the choice of "Comrex" back in 1961, we had thought that it meant "Communications King," or something else from Latin II. Here are some reflections on the list of finalists:

Combex: While many of our employees felt that Beck’s was a fine beer, there was no general agreement that it was the best. "Combud" just didn’t ring right, either.

Comdex: We admit to really blowing this one. Imagine having two huge Vegas conventions each year, with your company’s name all over the town.

Comhex: Sure. And our company spokesperson would ride a broom.

Comlex: Sounded like a communications law firm. While we like attorneys, the idea of "billable hours" seemed a turnoff, particularly for tech support.

Commex: We loved Mexican food, but we didn’t want that ugly little dog for a mascot.

Compex: Bodybuilding wasn’t a big thing in those days.

Complex: A term not applying to either our equipment or the writer of this piece.

Comrex: A dynamic sounding name. A company with this name would really amount to something.

Comsex: Remember, this was in the early sixties, and the World Wide Web did not exist. Might have been an interesting choice, though. It would have given a whole new meaning to the term, "Frequency Extender."

Comtrex: Take two of these and call us in the morning if the phone company still hasn’t fixed your line.

Comwex: Barbara Walters might have bought a lot of our stuff.

So, as you already know, we picked "Comrex," and the world hasn’t been the same since.

Y2K Update

We just wanted to remind you that when the clock strikes 12 midnight, on December 31st, 1999, we are ready. All of our products are thoroughly Y2K compliant and all of our systems at the factory are certified as ready.

The BBC is so confident that Comrex products will survive the turning of the date, that they are planning to use Vectors...in 4 time zones! The BBC millennium broadcast will consist of multiple broadcasts spanning the globe to welcome in the year 2000. The Vectors will be used for the broadcasts in Honolulu, New York, Cape Town and Bondi Beach, Sydney. Watch the next issue of the Access Newsletter for details about this exciting event.

P.S. We are aware of the controversy as to whether the year 2000 is or is not the beginning of the new millennium. While we agree that, technically, the next millennium doesn’t officially begin until 2001, let’s face it, there is nothing sexy about 2001. Y2K plus ONE just doesn’t cut it. We also DO love to party. So the only right thing to do is celebrate the coming of the year 2000 and party again next year. Is there anything wrong with celebrating twice?

FYI: EuroNexus

Comrex is proud to announce the newest version of our popular Nexus ISDN codec, the EuroNexus. This model works on International S/T interfaces and features the EURO ETSI standard. It has been tested in many sites around the world and will be available by the end of the year.